Suriname Coup: SITREP 11

F-2012-32744

CONFIDENTIAL
U.S. Department of State
Case No. F-2012-32744
Doc No. C06033907
Date: 02/22/2017

PAGE 01 PARAMA 00477 132331Z
ACTION ARA-16
INFO OCT-00 ADS-00 INR-10 SS-10 CIAE-00 H-01 NSCE-00 NSAE-00 SSO-00 HA-06 L-03 PM-09 PA-01 INRE-00 ICAE-00 SP-02 SPRS-02 /060 W
243570 132336Z/63

O 132040Z MAR 82

FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8525
INFO AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
AMEMBASSY CARACAS
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN
AMCONSUL CURACAO
AMEMBASSY PANAMA
AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN
AMCONSUL MARTINIQUE
USCINCSO QUARRY HGTS PN
DIA WASHDC
USCINCLANT NORFOLK VA
CONFIDENTIAL PARAMARIBO 0477
E.O. 12065: GDS 03/13/88 (LaRoche, Richard R.) OR-M
TAGS: PINT NS

SUBJECT: Suriname Coup: Sitrep 11

REF: PARAMARIBO 0251 (NOTAL)

  1. Confidential – Entire text.
    Release in full.
  2. In a 0900 interview with the press, National Army Commander Bouterse announced that Sergeant Wilfred Hawker had been executed this morning at 0600 “to protect the population.” Comment: This execution without trial, an unequivocal violation of internationally accepted human rights standards, may be explained in part by Bouterse’s fear of Hawker, who proved himself a threat even from behind bars, and may also have been intended as a warning to other potential coup makers. We note no particular sense of outrage locally.
  3. As of 1600 local time, the second principal in the coup, Surinder Rambocus, had not been reported captured; however, he was believed to be isolated with a few of his supporters and surrounded by National Army troops somewhere in West Suriname. According to news services, the two armored cars in which he and his men fled Paramaribo were captured earlier today.
  4. According to a 1400 radio broadcast, two persons being sought in connection with the coup attempt are Salam Somohardjo, a former MP during the NPK (Arron) government and one of two principal Javanese political leaders at the time; and Professor Oemrawsingh, former MP of the VHP party. Comment: Apart from Hawker, who was released from jail and apparently took part in the coup for the same reasons that he planned an earlier coup and because he wished to regain his freedom, the persons associated with the present venture appear to be chiefly Hindustanis and Javanese. A confidential source has told us that Oemrawsingh was captured at home this afternoon.

LA ROCHE

Review Authority: Leonard Kusnitz, Senior Reviewer

CONFIDENTIAL
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