Suriname SITREP 2: COB December 9 – Multiple Executions – Resignation of Neijhorst Government

F-2012-32744

UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2012-32744 Doc No. C06033932 Date: 02/22/2017
CONFIDENTIAL

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CONFIDENTIAL SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 2568
E.O. 12356: DECL: OADR
TAGS: PINT, NS, US

SUBJ: Suriname SITREP 2: COB December 9 – Multiple Executions – Resignation of Neijhorst Government

REF: A) PARAMARIBO 2561; B) PARAMARIBO 2567

  1. Confidential – entire text.
  2. Summary: At 1330 local time December 9, state radio announced that “a number” of those persons arrested December 8 in connection with an alleged plot to overthrow the military leadership had been shot “while attempting to escape”. Same broadcast carried announcement of resignation of Neijhorst government. Acting president was also expected to quit. Multiple executions may be expected to bring sharp public reactions. Significant acts of violence are not probable, however, and there is no immediate danger to the safety of Americans or other foreigners. By afternoon, most business activity had ceased and bauxite companies had begun phased close down of their operations. Essential services continued uninterrupted. End summary.
  3. State radio announced at 1330 that “a number” of persons arrested on December 8 in connection with the alleged Christmas plot had been shot during the night “while attempting to escape”. No details were provided.
  4. Radio announcement confirmed what were already widely circulating rumors of multiple deaths. While complete official list of those persons arrested and held is not available, names mentioned most often include the following:
  • Cyrill Daal of Moederbond Labor Federation
  • Fred Derby of C-47 Labor Federation
  • A. Kamperveen – owner of Radio Station ABC
  • J. Kamperveen – radio announcer and son of A.K.
  • Jozef Slagveer – head of press agency Informa
  • FNU Rahman – associate editor of newspaper De Ware Tijd
  • Braam Behr – editor of newspaper Mokro (radical left)
  • G. Leckie – dean, Economic and Social Faculty of University of Suriname
  • Kenneth Goncalves – head, Bar Association
  • H.C. Riedewald – lawyer
  • FNU Radikishun (2) – members of family which owns Radio Radika
  • E. Hoost – lawyer
  • J.K. Baboeram – lawyer
  • S. Rambocus – recently sentenced as leader of March ’82 coup
  • FNU Shoembar – also sentenced as participant in ’82 coup
    (Comment: Embassy sources suggest that of these names all with exception of Derby are likely to have been shot.)
  1. “Attempting to escape” motive announced for shooting deaths is feeble effort to cover what are generally believed to have been stark executions. In early hours of December 9, sporadic shooting was heard in the center of town and it is possible that it came from Fort Zeelandia Barracks where all arrestees were believed detained. (The shooting was later explained by GOS as an unscheduled military readiness exercise.) At mid-day a large crowd had gathered at one of major hospitals where, according to observers, between thirteen and twenty body bags had been delivered earlier in day.
  2. An additional terse announcement on state radio at 1330 made it known that the Neijhorst government had resigned. Subsequent bulletin said government was “dismissed.” The acting president, Fred Ramdat-Misier, had told the Dutch ambassador earlier in the day that he was resigning his post.
  3. A handbill was being distributed in Paramaribo late on December 8 which characterized GOS military action as “act of terror” and called for workers to mobilize to protect their fundamental rights. It appealed to workers to take part in general strike. While there has been no immediate response to the appeal, Suralco and Billiton workers have walked off jobs and companies have begun an orderly closing of facilities in response.
    Most banks closed after opening for several hours in morning; major department stores were closed, although many small businesses were still open until mid-day. Private bus service was available, although there were few riders. Ferry service appeared to be unaffected. Water and electric services were continuing.
  1. In afternoon radio bulletins: (1) Bouterse called upon all citizens to cooperate in effort to return the country to normality; he appealed especially for resumption of normal work schedules. (2) People’s Committees, regional and district councils, women and youth groups were invited to attend a mass rally on December 12.
  2. Comment: The scale of this outrage probably puts it beyond the comprehension of most Surinamers whose society has not experienced such callous bloodshed since slave days. The first reactions are stunned disbelief. It is clear that most will find Bouterse’s actions totally alien and repellent. Our assessment, however, is that while the populace will be shocked, it will not in the near term be driven to significant acts of violence. We do not, therefore, anticipate immediate threats to the safety of Americans. (Ambassador met with Director of MFA Kolader on morning of December 9 and received assurances that GOS was aware of its responsibilities and could guarantee safety for Americans here.)

DUEMLING

NOTE BY OC/T: Telegram delayed in transmission.
CONFIDENTIAL
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UNCLASSIFIED U.S. Department of State Case No. F-2012-32744 Doc No. C06033932 Date: 02/22/2017

Source:

C06033932

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/1982/12/Suriname-SITREP-2-COB-December-9-Multiple-Executions-Resignation-of-Neijhorst-Government-December-1982-C06033932.pdf

Date:
December 10, 1982
Categories:
Desi Bouterse, Foiled Coups & Plots, Planned Suriname Invasion
Tags:
SITREP
Boxes:
F-2012-32744
Years:
1982
Persons:
Baboeram, Behr, Daal, Derby, Desi Bouterse, Duemling, Goncalves, Hoost, Kamperveen, Kolader, Leckie, Radikishun, Rahman, Rambocus, Ramdat-Misier, Riedewald, Shoembar, Slagveer
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