Bouterse discusses December 9 military action

F-2012-32744

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2012-32744 Doc No. C06033930 Date: 02/22/2017
CONFIDENTIAL
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CONFIDENTIAL PARAMARIBO 2567
USIA FOR AR

E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PINT, NS

SUBJ: Bouterse discusses December 9 military action

REF: Paramaribo 2561

  1. (C-Entire text).
  2. Summary: Lt. Col. Desi Bouterse, head of ruling Policy Center and head of National Army, said in television speech December 8 that military government was forced to crush “centers of power” of those who were plotting to overthrow government and prevent emergence of “new democracy.” According to Bouterse, preemptive action by government headed off “bloodbath” and “anarchy” in country. He also announced imposition of measures to silence private media, seal off country and limit organized response by people. In staged interview following Bouterse’s speech, alleged plotter claimed coup makers were to have received help from expatriates in Holland to overthrow government during Christmas holidays. Bouterse presentation coupled with events of past two days indicate he is moving forcefully to consolidate his control and move ahead with his revolutionary program. End summary.
  3. In speech on state-run radio and television on December 9, Lt. Col. Desi Bouterse, chairman of ruling Policy Center and commander of National Army, said that military moves against business, media, labor, and university were taken to avert a seizure of power by “small, rich, economic elite” who were using their organizations “wrongly” to mislead and misinform people about state of affairs in country and that they planned to overthrow government to advance own narrow economic interests. Bouterse said his advisers and people’s committees had given him information on these activities.
  4. Bouterse said GOS chose to destroy “centers of power” of these anti-government elements in order to prevent massive bloodshed and anarchy in country and protect revolution. He also noted that if any of those now being held were innocent they would be released. He emphasized present situation constituted new stage in building of his revolutionary “new democratic” society.
  5. Bouterse also said that further measures would be made known later, and also announced following measures:
    — nightly 1900–0400 curfew;
    — closing of Suriname airspace and borders;
    — gatherings of more than 4 persons prohibited;
    — all private radio stations and newspapers with exception of daily De Ware Tijd to be closed;
    — university closed.
  6. Additional news tape following Bouterse’s speech showed, apparently, staged performance in which Jozef Slagveer, head of independent news agency Informa and one of those arrested on December 8, answered question from Maj. Horb (vice-chairman of Policy Center and Garrison Commander) about anti-government plotting. Slagveer said he had been involved in planning with several union, business, and media figures (naming those previously known to have been arrested) who were working with Andre Haakmat (former adviser to Horb and to Moederbond labor federation, now in Holland) and expatriate “Committee to Restore Democracy” on plan to free recently sentenced March coup plot leader Rambocus and overthrow Bouterse government on 25–26 December. Slagveer also claimed that several other business and media leaders now in Miami (he named Wilfred Lionarons and Cyriel Karg.) were in contact with unspecified other foreign elements to help further their plan.
  7. Comment: Bouterse TV performance and staged interview by Horb indicates dictatorship in Suriname has made decision to exert iron hand to consolidate its rule. Bouterse justified government action on basis of “revolutionary” criteria only he and advisers have established. He is obviously betting that people of country have been sufficiently intimidated by military actions of December 8 so that he can proceed unhindered to “new stage” of “revolution”.

Duemling

Note by OC/T: Message delayed in transmission….

CONFIDENTIAL
NNN

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2012-32744 Doc No. C06033930 Date: 02/22/2017

Source:

C06033930

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bouterse-discusses-December-9-military-action-December-1982-C06033930.pdf

Date:
December 10, 1982
Categories:
Foiled Coups & Plots, Planned Suriname Invasion
Tags:
Boxes:
F-2012-32744
Years:
1982
Persons:
Andre Haakmat, Desi Bouterse, La Roche, Roy Horb
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