Surinamese Situation Report – Morning, February 29, 1980

F-1988-00163

  1. Embassy senior FSN who visited Memre Boekoe Kazerne reports that he was allowed to visit with a group of 12 to 14 detainees, including former police commissioner Jimmy Walker. While the observer did not ask detailed questions concerning their treatment, he noted that they were properly dressed and were talking and joking freely.
    It was his impression that the NMC had fulfilled their promise to treat the prisoners humanely and with the respect called for by their former positions.
  2. Other reports have shown that humane treatment of prisoners is not practiced in all instances. Our FSN also says that workers at the military hospital have reported that at least two military officers are in the hospital recovering from bruises and cuts sustained in beatings following arrest. It is believed that these officers had been strong supporters of the Arron government who had acted aggressively against the NCOs during the recent labor dispute, which was one of the catalysts for the coup. Evening news here also carries film clips of criminals, alleged looters, and thieves being “caned” and beaten by the military.
  3. It was also reported to the embassy FSN that former Prime Minister Henk Arron surrendered himself to the NMC on Thursday, February 28, 1980. It is believed that he was subsequently released and placed under house arrest. The ambassador has not been able to contact him at home. Nevertheless, unofficial sources report that all of the Arron government ministers have turned themselves in with the exception of:
  • Minister of Public Works and Traffic, Karamat Ali (brother of the Surinamese ambassador to the U.S.)
  • Minister of Labor and Housing, Parmessar, whose whereabouts are known
  • Minister of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Fisheries, Kasantarogeno, who fled to French Guiana

    An NMC bulletin has given all former ministers until 2 P.M. on February 29, 1980, to report.

OS Trander

Source:

C09000009

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Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Surinamese-Situation-Report-–-Morning-February-29-1980-C09000009.pdf

Date:
February 28, 1980
Categories:
Desi Bouterse
Tags:
Boxes:
F-1988-00163
Years:
1980
Persons:
Trander
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Department of State

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PAGE 01 PARAMA 00371 292057T
ACTION: ARA-15
INFO: OCT-01 EUR-12 ADS-00 OCT-02 HA-05 SR-04 AID-07 CCO-00 PM-05 H-01 INR-10 L-03 ACOA-12 NSC-05 SP-02 OC-06 OPR-02 PA-01 USSS-00 CA-01 A-02 OC-06 OMB-01 SB-15 SY-05 CIAE-00 000E-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 SSO-00 ICAE-00 INRE-00 SYE-00 LAB-04 SIL-01 EB-08 COME-00 FBO-05 10-14 /155 W
026390 2921212 /20
O P 2918102 FEB 80

FM: AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO: SECSTATE MASHOC IMMEDIATE 6064
INFO: AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY, AMEMBASSY CARACAS, AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN, AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN PRIORITY, AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE PRIORITY, AMCONSUL CURACAO PRIORITY, USMISSION USUN PRIORITY
DEPARTMENT OF STATE A/CDO/MR OCT 17 1980

TAGS: PINT, NS
SUBJECT: Surinamese Situation Report – Morning, February 29
CLASSIFICATION: C – Entire text

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