CSM Strike

After German submarine attacks on 16 February 1942, tankers of the Curaçaosche Scheepvaart Maatschappij (CSM) stayed in port. On 25 February, unrest began when Chinese crew members — about 50% of CSM’s workforce — refused to sail, demanding better pay. A similar strike on Aruba ended quickly after an agreement with the LAGO Oil Company.

On Curaçao, talks with the CPIM Oil Company stalled. The Chinese asked for a 50 guilder raise; the company offered 4 guilder. Strikers were replaced, and 18 leaders were arrested. Eventually, 428 Chinese sailors entered a camp voluntarily, under relaxed conditions.

In mid-March, Dutch officers also went on strike over crew quality. They were briefly imprisoned, then released after an agreement. CSM ships resumed sailing — without the Chinese. To break the deadlock, authorities tried to separate hardline leaders from the rest. On 20 April, during an early morning operation, violence broke out as Chinese detainees resisted. Dutch troops opened fire.

Fifteen Chinese sailors died, and five Dutch personnel were wounded. The deceased were later buried at Kolebra Bèrdè Cemetery in Willemstad.