Dissident NCOs Start Insurrection in Suriname

F-1988-00163

Z 0 251230Z FEB 80 ZFF-4

Subject: Dissident NCOs Start Insurrection in Suriname

  1. At about 2:00 a.m. local time Monday February 25 a group of dissident NCOs, disgruntled over the trial of their union leaders and government failure to act on their complaints, took over the “Memre Boekoe” military caserne in Paramaribo. The caserne had been empty since the strikers were evicted by police several weeks ago, but guarded by policemen. Two policemen were killed in heavy small arms and machine gun fire.
  2. At the same time other members of the group took over the Surinamese coast guard base, capturing the three oceangoing patrol vessels, the ammunition dump, weapons and other boats. One of the large boats is currently patrolling the river and, starting at about 7:00 a.m. local time, has been attacking police headquarters on the waterfront with small arms and occasional rounds from the vessel’s 40mm guns, the heaviest artillery in Suriname. At present rebels control no other points.
  3. We are unable to get through to police headquarters or to other officials to obtain more facts, but will report when we do. The government has no forces with which it can effectively oppose the rebels, whose strength is unknown but probably totals between 100 and 150 men, key NCOs of the Surinamese Defense Force.
  4. After the early morning attacks a spokesman for the dissident NCOs gave a statement to a local radio station in which he stated the rebels had begun their action “the American Marines had just landed in Suriname.” Later, we understand, this statement was modified to “foreign Marines.” The statement may refer to the arrival late yesterday at Zanderij Airport, some miles from the capital, of three USAF EC-135 satellite tracking aircraft on a routine mission, and with the usual approval of the government for the stopover.
  5. The Embassy has sent home all unessential personnel, since the Embassy building is probably the most obvious target on the Paramaribo skyline. Communications will remain open until further notice, including HF.
  6. For WPAFB re ARIA aircraft, Col. Ward has been alerted to situation and will be at Embassy shortly to discuss possible action. Though we doubt rebels would take any action against aircraft or crew, unstable situation, high visibility and vulnerability of aircraft lead us to report fully if so.
Date:
February 25, 1980
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UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01 PARAMA 00315 251224Z
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ADS-00 CCO-00 ANAL-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-05 H-02 INR-10 L-03 NSAE-00 PA-02 SP-02 SS-15 NSCE-00 SSO-00 ICAE-00 INRE-00 FBO-06 OCT-02 HA-05 SR-04 AID-07 ACDA-12 OC-06 OPR-02 USSS-00 CA-01 A-02 OCS-06 OMB-01 SY-05 SPH-01 SYE-00
/115W
122461 251231Z /14

FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC FLASH 6011
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA IMMEDIATE
USSOUTHCOM QUARRY HEIGHTS IMMEDIATE
ARIA AOCC WPAFB OHIO//OOMM//IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 0315
E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: PINT, MILI, NS

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