Bouterse Press Conference

F-2012-32749

RELEASE IN FULL

  1. (U) Summary: During an April 28 press conference, Army Commander Bouterse spoke on: Suriname’s future political course; the status of the Revolutionary Front; freedom of the press; the recall of Suriname’s ambassador to The Hague; a rumored coup attempt by naval personnel; and the installation of two ministers. It was also announced that Bouterse would vacation in Grenada for two weeks, beginning May 1. Garrison Commander (Major) Roy Horb will assume command of the military authority during Bouterse’s absence. End summary.
  2. (U) On April 28, Army Commander Bouterse held a news conference which was televised later on the same day. He was accompanied by Garrison Commander Horb and newly-appointed Battalion Commander Boerenveen. In response to a question concerning Suriname’s political course, Bouterse replied that, “It is a progressive course aimed at the realization of the aspirations of the Surinamese people. A course whereby the profits from our natural resources will benefit the people; a course that will establish an economy controlled by Surinamers, not as before February 25, 1980 when it served foreign capital and a small privileged group. We made it clear on March 5, 1981 what we will do, but the establishment of socialism can’t be done in a couple of years. Revolution goes in phases, and the phase in which we now find ourselves is clearly anti-imperialistic.” Concerning the adoption of a new constitution, Bouterse said that it was now under study and asked the populace to have patience.
  3. (C) Comment: The reappearance of the word “socialism” after a long period during which it was avoided in favor of less connotative terms, is noteworthy.
  4. (U) Bouterse admitted, in response to another question, that the Revolutionary Front (RF) had accomplished very little, due to a lack of unity among its members. However, recent talks with representatives of two labor groups, C-47 and the Federation of Poor Farmers (FAL) had improved chances for unity and he urged the people’s committees and other mass organizations connected with the RF to work toward greater cooperation within the front in order to further the revolution.
  5. (C) Comment: The RF was intended to bring together the mass organizations (labor, students) and leftist parties in support of the revolution. Eventually, it was to play an important role in the establishment of Bouterse’s “people’s democracy.” Thus far, the effort has failed miserably. The leaders of the mass organizations have indeed refused to cooperate and public response to the Front has been apathetic.
  6. (U) The issue of freedom of the press was also raised. Bouterse said the MA recognized the right of press freedom and had included it in the “transition constitution.” However, “Press freedom does not mean that people can act in lawless disregard for the community. Press freedom does not give the right to undermine the legal governing authority or to incite the citizenry … We cannot tolerate all sorts of gossip while we are involved in trying to stabilize the situation here. All that we ask is room to work.” Horb added that the transition constitution also makes provision for the curtailment of the established rights, such as freedom of the press, during states of war or emergency. He reminded the audience that a state of emergency continues to exist, hence some restraint on the part of the press would be necessary.
  7. (C) Comment: As previously reported, freedom of the press here is a sham. News sources are restricted, MA sympathizers censor what is shown on TV, and publishers of articles critical of the military or its programs are intimidated or arrested and in some instances, papers have been temporarily shut down. The guarantee of press freedom in the transition constitution is emasculated by the caveat concerning limitations during a state of emergency.
  8. (U) Concerning the replacement of Suriname’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Hans Prade, Bouterse said it had been under consideration for some time. Initially, the MA was dissatisfied with Prade for his failure to create a workable structure within the embassy in The Hague and for his critical statements concerning his superiors and the developments in Suriname. According to Bouterse, “Prade too often expressed his personal opinions and did not deport himself as a diplomat.” Recently, a number of actions had added to the MA’s disenchantment with Prade: he was reported to have had contact with Rambocus during the coup attempt and received instructions from him; he informed some political leaders in Holland (falsely) that the MA had been liquidated by the coup plotters; and he greeted the Dutch ambassador to Suriname at the Amsterdam Airport when that ambassador was recalled for consultation following the Rambocus/Hawker affair.
  9. (C) Comment: We reported in March that the MA planned to replace Prade, but action was not taken until now. We suspected that Prade was too closely associated with the Chin A Sen government to retain the trust of the MA.
  10. (U) Rumored coup attempt: Bouterse said he wished to lay to rest that there had been a coup attempt mounted by members of Suriname’s navy. He admitted that there had been some instances of misconduct by a small number (less than ten) of naval personnel but claimed it had not been part of a coup attempt and that the episode was now under investigation.
  11. (C) Comment: Embassy had some information to the effect that the incident involved the commandeering of one of the naval patrol boats by a number of naval personnel for what amounted to a joy ride. We have no indication that it was intended as a coup attempt.
  12. (U) Bouterse announced the appointment of two ministers. Lt. Ivan Graanoogst was named Minister of Army, Police and Information. Sgt. Hardjoprajitno is to assume the duties of Minister of Culture, Youth, Sports and People’s Mobilization.
  13. (U) Comment: Graanoogst was appointed Minister of Youth, Culture, Sports and Information on March 31. He has now been switched to Army and Police but retains the information function. Hardjoprajitno replaces Graanoogst with additional responsibility for “people’s mobilization.” Both Graanoogst and Hardjoprajitno were members of the National Military Council (NMR), which reportedly is scheduled for abolishment. The MA appears busy finding new, appropriately significant, posts for ex-NMR members.
  14. (U) May 1, Army Commander Bouterse will begin a two-week vacation in Grenada. According to Bouterse: “I have always been fascinated by the simplicity of Grenada and have built up a certain circle of friends there.” During his absence, the MA will be under the leadership of Garrison Commander Horb.
  15. (C) Comment: This is a potentially worrisome development. Bouterse, who has been under constant (at the time of the coup, acute) mental stress during the past two months, is psychologically primed to be open to the stroking which Bishop and others in his “circle of friends” (which may well extend beyond Grenadians) are able to likely to administer. If Bouterse is as suggestible as we have often been told he is, the optimum circumstances will be present for Bishop and others to persuade Bouterse of the benefits of Cuban or Grenadian socialism. It is also possible, although we have no evidence, that Bouterse may even travel on to Havana during this “vacation” trip.

La Roche

Source:

C05267147

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Bouterse-Press-Conference-April-1982-C05267147.pdf

Date:
April 30, 1982
Categories:
Desi Bouterse, Foiled Coups & Plots, Planned Suriname Invasion
Tags:
Boxes:
F-2012-32744, F-2012-32749
Years:
1982
Persons:
Desi Bouterse, Roy Horb
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META DATA

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2012-32744 Doc No. C06033924 Date: 02/22/2017
CONFIDENTIAL

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AMCONSUL MARTINIQUE
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CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 1 OF 2 PARAMARIBO 0945
E.O. 12065: GDS 04/30/88 (La Roche, Richard R.) OR-M
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