Press Reports of U.S. Mercenary – Surinamese Exile Groups Plans to Invade Suriname 1983
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- January 20 edition of Dutch daily Volkskrant carries banner headline reporting that Surinamese in U.S. are planning invasion of Suriname with help of American mercenaries. Report is based largely on ANP story outlined in reference.
- Following is text of Volkskrant article:
Surinamese in the U.S. are preparing, with the aid of American mercenaries, an invasion of Suriname to bring down the Bouterse regime. The Surinamese in the U.S. have had contacts with Surinamese groups in the Netherlands in order to obtain support for this operation. This was confirmed Wednesday evening (January 19) by a spokesman for the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Suriname.
The spokesman confirmed ANP reports that the Surinamese have already talked to an American, a Vietnam veteran, who has ample experience in leading military operations with mercenaries in Latin America. This American is the director of a training center for mercenaries. The man, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the ANP he was “unable to comment on current operations.” He would only give more information if the Surinamese involved in the operation permitted him to do so.
Telephone calls to a number of Surinamese organizations in the Netherlands indicate that they were not informed about Surinamese groups in the U.S., but they considered it “quite possible” that one of these groups is preparing violent actions in the U.S. in order to bring down Bouterse. A spokesman for the Loson National Consultation Group of Surinamese in the Netherlands declared that “people in Suriname are expecting something to happen any moment now.” According to the spokesman, Fort Zeelandia has been transformed into a kind of bunker and the military stationed there are on alert.
The Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Suriname was the only group to have been in contact with Surinamese in the U.S. and to have knowledge of preparations for an invasion. A spokesman for the committee, the most militant in the Netherlands, declared that he will travel to the U.S. in order to be present at further talks. “If you call me tomorrow, you will know whether I am still here,” he said. Asked whether he was taking the plans in America seriously, he replied: “I take them terribly seriously; I invite you to be present when hell breaks out in Suriname; I will warn you in advance.”
The contacts between Surinamese in the U.S. and the American mercenary took place in Miami on December 19 and January 2. A spokesman, who told the ANP that he was present at these talks, declared that the financial issues of the American did not meet with objections.
The American requested a guaranteed sum of 1.5 million dollars, an amount which has already been paid, and another ten to twelve million dollars for the entire operation. This amount would be paid in installments after the invasion. According to the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Suriname, this sum will be paid for by American companies with interests in Suriname. Commitments have already been made, a spokesman stated. One also counts on the assistance of rich Surinamese in the U.S. In the Netherlands, no commitments have been made, “but we are working on it,” the spokesman said.
The intention is for the American mercenary to work out a military plan, with the assistance of a number of former Surinamese soldiers. The American is supposed to know his way around the international arms trade. “The carrying out of an invasion is a question of weeks rather than of months,” a Surinamese negotiator in the U.S. stated.
The spokesman of the earlier mentioned committee confirms this statement: “We do not do business with groups which do not intend to overthrow Bouterse in the short term. Although this committee is part of China Sen’s Liberation Council, which advocates non-violent means, the committee has little confidence in the possibility of bringing down Bouterse by political and diplomatic actions. We support China Sen, but we also claim the right to independent actions,” the spokesman commented.
Asked whether it is not strange to make the invasion plan public in advance, the negotiator said it is a good thing that the Surinamese population and army already know what is going to happen so that it will be prepared and can support the operation.
Our correspondent from New York confirms the existence of mercenary organizations, primarily in Florida. Many Vietnam veterans make a living from clandestine warfare. There are even two specialized magazines, which include personnel ads for mercenaries. In the nature preserves in Florida, mercenary groups stage complete military exercises. One of the most well-known mercenary leaders is a Cuban, Jorge Gonzalez, who now lives in the U.S. and who is better known as “Bombillo.”
An NOS radio program reported that Bouterse’s supporters circulated plans for an occupation of the American Embassy in Paramaribo, comparable to the one in Tehran. The plan is supposed to have been abandoned.
- The Dutch daily Trouw carried a reaction from China Sen (datelined Pittsburgh) on the military invasion plan. He said: “With mercenary armies, you know what you are starting with, but you do not know where you will end up.” He confirmed having received many offers for armed assistance by telephone.
- Another Dutch daily, the Algemeen Dagblad, reports on January 20 that a representative of an American Vietnam veteran’s organization consulted with a representative from the Committee for the Restoration of Democracy in Suriname at the Promenade Hotel in The Hague the evening of January 19.
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