Clandestine Surinamese “Liberation Army” Calls for Overthrow of New Government

  1. A one-page, mimeographed clandestine pamphlet has been mailed to addressees here in Paramaribo (and perhaps elsewhere) by the “National Liberation Army” (NLA) calling on the people of Suriname to join in the struggle against the “tin soldiers” and the “criminals” of the Chin A Sen Government and warning citizens to avoid places where the military find themselves,” since the NLA does not wish to hurt innocent bystanders. Text of phamplet follows (rough translation):
  2. Quote:
    “Countrymen: The time has come to act against those who destroy our rights, take away our liberty from us, put aside our elected leaders by illegal means, etc. We shall act against these murderers, who do not wish to develop the country but simply want the power in their hands. Your help is indispensable. Here are some guidelines for you:

(1) Avoid, as much as possible, places where the military find themselves. You will make it difficult for us if you are at such places. We do not want innocent victims (which the NMC has done although the President has taken them into his protection for these deeds).

(2) Give this pamphlet to your neighbors so that they all know about it.

(3) Join with us to fight against these murderers; your participation is indispensable.

(4) Police agents, stay out of this. We fight also for you, you whose honor has been insulted.

(5) Stand openly in opposition. Don’t be misled any longer by all kinds of sweet talk.

People of Suriname, we want neither an Arron government, nor a Lachmon government; but neither do we want a government by Bruma and the NMC. What we want is our democracy, which has already been put aside. We will keep you informed and shall give you guidelines.

Away with Bruma. Away with the NMC. Away with Chin A Sen and his government, these men with criminal records; we do not want to become a puppet of Cuba. Away with the tin soldiers. Countrymen cannot and need not say any more than that their days—indeed, their hours—are numbered.

National Liberation Army ‘Makandra’ (‘Together’).”

End quote.

  1. (C) Most likely explanation, however, in our view is that this is simply a couple of the “closet radicals” inevitably found in every country, who happen to have access to a mimeo machine. Pamphlet has not, so far as we can discover, received wide distribution. Nevertheless—whether genuine or false—it is the first sign of any threatened overt resistance to the NMC.

OSTRANDER

Source:

Link:

C09000026

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Clandestine-Surinamese-Liberation-Army-Calls-for-Overthrow-of-New-Government-May-1980-C09000026.pdf

Date:
May 2, 1980
Categories:
Desi Bouterse
Tags:
Boxes:
F-1988-00163
Years:
1980
Persons:
Oostrander
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META DATA

Department of State
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 01 PARAMARIBO 00800 021432Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ADS-00 CIAE-00 PM-05 H-01 INR-10 NSAE-00 PA-01 SP-02 SS-15 NSCE-00 SSO-00 ICAE-00 INRE-00 SY-05 SYE-00 DCT-02 /072W
127207 021522Z /62

OR 021917Z MAY 80
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6326
INFO AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY CARACAS
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
AMCONSUL CURACAO
USINT HAVANA
DIA WASHDC
USSOUTHCOM QUARRY HTS PANAMA

CONFIDENTIAL PARAMARIBO 0800
E.O. 12065: GDS 5/02/86 (OSTRANDER, NANCY)
TAGS: PINS, PGOV, MILI, NS
SUBJECT: CLANDESTINE SURINAMESE “LIBERATION ARMY” CALLS FOR OVERTHROW OF NEW GOVERNMENT

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