Press Reports: Coup Aftermath

F-1988-00163

Dutch Military Mission to Suriname: De West of March 5 reported that Colonel Valk, head of the Dutch military mission in Paramaribo, talked with the National Military Council (NMC) March 5, with the consent of the Dutch ambassador. The Dutch military mission stopped its activities after the coup, awaiting “recognition of the new government by the Netherlands.”

De Ware Tijd of March 6 reported: “Various Dutch political parties want the activities of the Dutch military mission in Suriname to be discontinued or even pulled out.” (Note: The mission consists of nine military men and five civilians. Four of the civilians are Surinamese.)

De Ware Tijd of March 6 also noted the following:
A. “The Brazilian embassy has declared that the diplomatic relations between Suriname and Brazil are continuing normally because Brazil does not interfere with internal affairs of other countries. Brazil has no comment on the situation.”
B. VDP leader Jaggernath Lachmon (head of opposition coalition to former government) refuses to comment on the coup. He has told various journalists he does not want to say anything about it.
C. A delegation of the Hindu congregations met with the NMC to express its willingness to be represented on the civilian board. “The new government must represent a cross section of the population,” said delegation leader Dr. Nanan Panday. He said, “The Hindus are sympathetic and hopeful about the future.”
D. Armed soldiers visited a second-grade classroom in Paramaribo after hearing a “woman teacher had taught her pupils some unfavorable things about the coup.” Pupils were questioned. The military were convinced that the teacher had talked merely about human rights, including rights of criminals. The soldiers left without taking further action.

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Source:

C09000020

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Press-Reports-Coup-Aftermath-March-1980-C09000020.pdf

Date:
March 7, 1980
Categories:
Tags:
Boxes:
F-1988-00163
Years:
1980
Persons:
Good
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META DATA

Department of State
TELEGRAM

UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 01 PARAMA 00433 0922262
ACTION ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 EUR-12 ADS-00 INR-10
093533 0923352 /20
R 0713302 MAR 80
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO USINFO WASHDC
INFO SECSTATE WASHOC 6109
AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 0433
USICA
E.O. 12065: N/A
TAGS: N/A
SUBJECT: PRESS REPORTS: COUP AFTERMATH
AN: D800122-0738 /038 W
DEPARTMENT OF STATE A/CDC/MA

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