Horb coup court martial conclusion

F-2012-32749

Page 01 PARAMA 02055 081623Z
Action: ARA-16
Info: OCT-00 COPY-01 ADS-00 AID-07 INR-10 EUR-12 SS-10 CIAE-00 H-01 NSCE-00 NSAE-00 SSO-01 HA-08 L-03 PM-08 PA-01 OMB-01 INRE-00 USIE-00 SP-02 SNP-01 PRS-01

P 081512Z SEP 83

FM: AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO: SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0423
INFO: DIA WASHINGTON DC//
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE

Confidential PARAMARIBO 2055
Released in full
E.O. 12356: DECL: 09/06/89
Tags: PGOV, NS

Subject: Horb coup court martial conclusion

Ref: PARAMARIBO 1961

  1. (U) Summary: Court martial of four persons charged with conspiring with late Major Roy Horb to assassinate CINC Bouterse ended with release of three and sentencing of one to 10-month prison term. Account of court judgment was carried in daily paper September 1 and made no reference to United States. End summary.
  2. (U) Court martial of four bodyguards of late Major Roy Horb who were charged with conspiracy to assassinate CINC Bouterse (reftel) ended with court conclusion that the crime—knowledge of conspiracy to commit a crime and failure to disclose such information to military authorities—was punishable only if the act was committed. The court cited Articles 183 of Criminal Code and 126 of Military Criminal Code as basis for its decision. The court also pointed out that investigation of the case did not prove that said crime was committed.
  3. (U) The court also pointed out that the proper military authorities had foreknowledge of the conspirators’ plans, and in fact took “timely and precise” action on January 30 to prevent execution of the assassination plot. Hence, the prosecution’s argument that army’s proper function was damaged because it was not informed could not be upheld by the court.
  4. (U) One suspect, Rudy Chotkan, was sentenced to ten months imprisonment for mistreatment of Major Horb’s bodyguard. Three months of sentence are probationary, and Chotkan will remain on probationary status for three-year period. All four offenders retain their status in army.
  5. (C) Comment: Press account made no reference to former Minister Hardjoprajitno, still interned and thought to be facing trial in October.

Killough

Source:

C05267193

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Horb-coup-court-martial-conclusion-September-1983-C05267193.pdf

Date:
September 8, 1983
Categories:
Desi Bouterse, Foiled Coups & Plots, Planned Suriname Invasion
Tags:
Boxes:
F-2012-32749
Years:
1983
Persons:
Desi Bouterse, Killough, Roy Horb, Rudy Chotkan
Download PDF
META DATA
    Scroll to Top