Further Details on Maj. Horb’s Alleged Suicide and Assassination/Coup Plot

F-2012-32749

Confidential
Page 01 PARAMA 00479 181853Z
Action: ARA-16
Info: OCT-00 COPY-01 ADS-00 INR-10 EUR-01 SS-10 CIAE-00 EA-10 H-01 IO-15 NEA-06 NSC-01 NSCE-00 NSAE-00 SSO-00 SY-06 HA-08 L-03 PM-09 PA-01 MCT-02 INRE-00 USSS-00 SYE-00 FBIE-00 SP-02 SNP-01 PRS-01 /104 W
243501 181855Z /41

O 181434Z FEB 83

FM: AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO: SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9662
Info: AMEMBASSY BRASILIA, AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN, AMEMBASSY CARACAS, AMCONSUL CURACAO, USMISSION GENEVA, AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN, AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE, USINT HAVANA, AMEMBASSY JAKARTA, AMEMBASSY KINGSTON, AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI, AMEMBASSY PARIS, AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN, USIA WASHDC 0493, DIA WASHINGTON DC//, COMUSFORCARIB, USCINCSO QUARRY HTS PN

Confidential Section PARAMARIBO 0479
USIA for AR; Geneva for UNHRC
E.O. 12356: Decl: 02/17/89
Tags: PGOV, NS

Subject: Further Details on Maj. Horb’s Alleged Suicide and Assassination/Coup Plot

Refs: U) PARAMARIBO 0362, B) PARAMARIBO 0398

  1. Confidential – entire text.
  2. Summary: Military Auditor R.M. deFrietas concluded after review of police and pathologist reports on death of Major Horb that Horb did, indeed, commit suicide by hanging. There have been no further reports on others who were arrested along with Horb on January 30 in connection with alleged assassination/coup plot. End summary.
  3. According to articles in GOS-controlled daily “De Ware Tijd” (DWT) of February 16 and 17, Military Auditor deFrietas submitted report to Military Court on February 11 in which he concluded that Major Roy Horb died by his own hand. deFrietas reviewed pathologists’ and police reports, and in words used by police investigator during February 4 televised reconstruction of Horb’s alleged suicide in his cell, said: “With probability bordering on certainty” Horb hanged himself (Ref A).
  4. According to 17 February edition of DWT, deFrietas report allegedly said that pathologist characterized Horb’s hanging as “atypical” because body rested on floor and knot in rope used in hanging rested at side or front of neck, not back. Additionally, only fraction of body weight of victim was necessary to close off carotid artery or jugular vein. Allegedly, pathologist said that this “atypical” form of hanging was seen more often than not. In addition, report claimed no evidence of injection or violence were found on body.
  5. According to both 16 and 17 February newspaper reports, samples of Horb’s blood and stomach contents were sent to a reputable laboratory in Netherlands for examination.
  6. There has been no further news since military police report of February 9 (Ref B) concerning ministers Sariman and Hardjoprajitno who were arrested along with Horb on January 30 in connection with alleged assassination plot.

Duemling

Released in Full
Unclassified
U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2012-32749 Doc No. C05267178 Date: 01/03/2013

Source:

C05267178

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Further-Details-on-Maj.-Horbs-Alleged-Suicide-and-Assassination-Coup-Plot-February-1983-C05267178.pdf

Date:
February 18, 1983
Categories:
Desi Bouterse, Foiled Coups & Plots, Planned Suriname Invasion
Tags:
Boxes:
F-2012-32749
Years:
1983
Persons:
Duemling, Roy Horb
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