Suriname – Immediate Next Steps and an Interagency Process to Define a Strategy 1983

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NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20506

MEMORANDUM FOR LANGHORNE A. MOTLEY
Assistant Secretary for Inter-American Affairs
Department of State

SUBJECT: Suriname–Immediate Next Steps and an Interagency Process to Define a Strategy

Following the murder of Prime Minister Bishop and the Grenada operation, the Suriname dictator, Bouterse, ordered the Cubans to leave, and our best information is that they have done so except for two embassy staff. There is a large and potentially fragile opportunity to bring about the restoration of democracy in Suriname–a result which could have enormously positive implications as a followup to Grenada. However, Bouterse now faces a potential threat from the far left component of his dictatorship and expects some signs of support from the US. There is consensus that we should assist the genuinely democratic opposition of Suriname in their effort to bring about an interim government and a restoration of democracy.

The following is the outline of a three-stage approach which seems to have interagency support:

(1) Taking appropriate steps to assure that the far left element of the Bouterse coalition does not take power and bring back the Cubans while using the economic incentive of a phased and politically conditioned $35 million US bauxite purchase to move Bouterse towards a new interim government.

(2) Establish political milestones with Bouterse and the genuinely democratic opposition for the formation of an interim government which would include the genuinely democratic opposition groups represented by the Council for the Liberation of Suriname; the bauxite purchase would be undertaken in three or four tranches as Bouterse implemented the political agreement. The last phase of this transition would have Bouterse and his inner circle leave Suriname for safe exile.

(3) The interim government without the Bouterse or far left group would conduct democratic elections which result in a constitutional government.

I request that an interagency group work out a specific action plan for a program which can bring about the restoration of democracy in Suriname in the near future.

Formulation of the strategy and implementation plan should be completed as soon as possible.

Constantine C. Menges
Special Assistant to the President
and Senior Director for Latin American Affairs

Date:
November 21, 1983
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