Suriname Coup: SITREP 10 – Bouterse Interview

F-2012-32744

CONFIDENTIAL
U.S. Department of State
Case No. F-2012-32744
Doc No. C06033904
Date: 02/22/2017

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O 121930Z MAR 82 ZFF-4

FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC NIACT IMMEDIATE 8519
INFO AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
AMCONSUL CURACAO IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY PANAMA IMMEDIATE
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN IMMEDIATE
AMCONSUL MARTINIQUE IMMEDIATE
USCINCSO QUARRY HGTS PN IMMEDIATE
DIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
USCINCLANT NORFOLK VA IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL PARAMARIBO 0468
E.O. 12065: GDS 03/12/88 (LaRoche, Richard R.) OR-M
TAGS: PINT NS

SUBJECT: Suriname Coup: Sitrep 10 – Bouterse Interview

  1. C – Entire text.
  2. Shortly after 2 PM March 12, a taped interview with Army Commander Desi Bouterse was broadcast on STVS. He said that he learned of the takeover of the Memre Boekoe Kaserne by the Rambocus/Hawker forces March 11 at approximately 5:30 AM and, with Major Horb, established a defensive position at Fort Zeelandia.
    The problem of lack of weapons was solved when the police provided guns and ammunition and, according to Bouterse, as the day continued more and more soldiers reported to Fort Zeelandia to assume duty. On the morning of March 12, a counterattack to retake Memre Boekoe was launched. Although the attack was repelled, many of the Rambocus/Hawker faction were wounded and Hawker was captured. According to Bouterse, Rambocus and some of his followers remained inside Memre Boekoe and would probably continue to fight, but he clearly implied that the Military Authority (MA) had regained the upper hand and would soon be in complete control. Bouterse ended by thanking all those, military and civilians, who had supported the MA, thereby facilitating its success against the attempted coup-makers.
  3. Comment: Since STVS has no capability for mobile live broadcasts, this interview had to have been taped and we are not certain what time it was actually made. At that time, Rambocus still controlled Memre Boekoe. However, whether that is still true at 1430, March 12 is not certain. We have overheard a military shortwave report that Memre Boekoe has been overrun by MA forces.
  4. We are unsure whether resistance by Rambocus at Memre Boekoe has ended or whether any portion of the Rambocus forces are located outside Memre Boekoe and will have to be rounded up. Indications are that the MA are once again in control. At the interview, Bouterse appeared very relaxed and very relieved. He smiled often and gave every indication of being totally confident in the outcome of the present situation.

LA ROCHE

Review Authority: Leonard Kusnitz, Senior Reviewer

CONFIDENTIAL
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