United States Southern Command Historical Report 1982
Plans and Force Development
During 1982, the US Southern Command contingency planning capability, although quite lean at first, matured at a rapid pace as the new division began to flesh out with the required manning after mid-year. The year got off to an active start with a December 1981 CJCS tasking to develop an operations plan for certain contingencies relative to the Nicaraguan situation. This led to the publication of USCINCSO OPLAN 6150-82 in January 1982 — a major project. This was the first of several important CONPLAN/OPLAN developments and reviews. The pace never let up throughout the year.
For OPLAN 6501-83, two teleconferences were conducted for TPFDD plans maintenance and OPLAN review with the final product published in October. This plan provides for unilateral defense of the Panama Canal and protection of U.S. lives and property in the Panama Canal area in non-mobilization and mobilization contingencies. Closely related, USCINCSO Regulation 500-1 was published in November. The regulation prescribes procedures to be utilized and restrictions imposed while conducting civil disturbance operations to contain, isolate, and suppress civil unrest and mob action and to restore order in the Panama Canal area. The regulation superseded USCINCSO Emergency Action Procedures, Volume III, CIDREP System; Appendix 12 to Annex C to USCINCSO OPLAN 6501-82; and the USCINCSO Civil Disorder Plan.
DEC
Reviewed CINCLANT OPLAN 2360 and CTF-145 OPLAN 2150-82. Completed Change 1 to CONPLAN 6100-79. Published CONPLAN 6160-83 on 1 Dec 82. Received CJCS tasking on 6 Dec to develop a plan to counter potential Nicaraguan aggression. Conferences at MacDill and Key West led to finalization of concept and ultimate CONPLAN 6170. Formal briefing to CJCS scheduled for 26 Jan 83. Per request of ASD/Comptroller during DRB presentation in November, submitted to CJCS a consolidation of priority near-term USSOUTHCOM force/employment requirements.
Near the close of the year, planning conferences were conducted for concept development of CONPLAN 6170, and a concept briefing to JCS is scheduled for late January 1983. This plan resulted from a 6 December 82 tasking by the CJCS to prepare for certain defensive operations in the event of Nicaraguan aggression. Also at year’s end, planning and close coordination were ongoing for USCINCSO Joint Field Training Exercise Kindle Liberty 83, to be conducted in February 83. FTX 6583 will test measures for unilateral canal defense under OPLAN 6501, but will also employ concepts contained in CONPLAN 6700, which provides for combined U.S.–Panamanian defense of the Panama Canal. This office was involved in planning and coordination for Exercise Ahuas Tara, a combined exercise with Honduras to practice/assess concepts of air defense, deployment/employment of U.S. and Honduran forces, and combined operations. This latter exercise is planned for late January or early February 1983.
Chronological listing of plans and force development actions (Jan–Dec 82)
JAN
Published USCINCSO OPLAN 6150 on 15 Jan 82. Conducted special air defense study in Honduras; the study included a site survey to determine requirements, constraints, and optimum location. (Reference: OPLAN 2360.)
MAR
Contingency planning review of CONPLAN 6100 and related specific area plans.
APR
Attended USSREDOM conference to address role of special operations in USSOUTHCOM contingency plans.
MAY
Biennial review of UCP. Worked actions on change of SE attendance at JDS Steering Committee meeting at MacDill with DCINC.
AUG
Recommended USSOUTHCOM changes to FY 84 JSCP and furnished USCINCSO OPLAN/CONPLAN review schedule for FY 84 cycle. Attended conference at MacDill to merge relevant TPFDDs of CINCLANT OPLAN 2348, CINCLANT OPLAN 2150, and USCINCSO OPLAN 6150. Resulting TPFDD was titled 615AC. Conducted combined planning assessment of Honduran Armed Forces in conjunction with preparations for Ahuas Tara. Submitted USCINCSO proposed changes to FY 83 JOPS Vol I and II.
SEP
Published Change 2 to OPLAN 6501-80 IAW FY 83 JSCP review schedule. Assisted with inputs to USCINCSO for a 6 October presentation to JCS on USCINCSO’s concept of theater operations.
OCT
Helped coordinate air defense site survey conducted in Panama and selected areas in the USSOUTHCOM AOR by TAC team. Attended Phase II OPLAN 2348 TPFDD refinement conference at MacDill. Visited USFORCARIB HQ at Key West, FL, to establish formal planning liaison. Provided input to JSCP Civil Affairs Annex to obtain area studies for Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. Developed Rapid Reaction Evacuation CONPLAN 6160 in response to USCINCSO tasking; initial concept approval obtained at meeting on 10 Sep 82 at MacDill called by JS/J3. Subsequent USCINCSO planning session here on 6–8 Oct 82 resulted in final coordination.
NOV
Sponsored teams from Armed Forces Staff College and Air Training Command to conduct JOPS III/JDS users courses for USCINCSO and service component staffs.
DEC
Reviewed CINCLANT OPLAN 2360 and CTF-145 OPLAN 2150-82. Completed Change 1 to CONPLAN 6100-79. Published CONPLAN 6160-83 on 1 Dec 82. Received CJCS tasking on 6 Dec to develop plan to counter potential Nicaraguan aggression. Conferences at MacDill and Key West led to finalization of concept and ultimate CONPLAN 6170. Formal briefing to CJCS scheduled for 26 Jan 83. Per request of ASD/Comptroller during DRB presentation in November, submitted to CJCS a consolidation of priority near-term USSOUTHCOM force/employment requirements.
POLITICO-MILITARY SUMMARY
SURINAME
1982 was a year characterized by continued economic decline, further repression of personal liberties, and an ever-alarming drift towards the Cuban camp.
The Surinamese strongman, [DESI BOUTERSE] Commander-in-Chief of the Surinamese National Army, continued to consolidate his power and make the ruling inner circle which surrounds him ever tighter. The civilian government of President Chin A Sen was forced to resign in January and was replaced by a provisional government comprised of a mixture of civilian and military officials more entrenched in the Bouterse camp. General elections were again postponed—this time for at least two years.
An attempted coup by some dissatisfied military personnel occurred the night of 11–12 March. The plotters were unhappy with Bouterse’s drift to the left and desired a return to civilian government with a constitution and free elections. The coup failed due to poor planning and execution, but it did bring out the latent discontent of two of the three racial groups in the country—the East Indian and Javanese—who are held to a second-class citizen role as long as the Creole-dominated military remains in power. Those of the coup plotters who did not escape were jailed and tortured. One of the plotters was caught in the interior and was summarily executed. The summary execution, without due process, brought a hailstorm of international denunciation. The Dutch temporarily suspended their economic assistance program in protest to Bouterse’s extra-legal action.
Following the abortive coup attempt, Bouterse again reshuffled the government and on 1 April established the Policy Center. This body, chaired by Bouterse, assumed authority to determine the policies for the government as a whole and legislate by decree in consultation with the second official governing body—the Council of Ministers.
On the international scene, Bouterse’s policies attempted to portray Suriname as a truly non-aligned nation, but he continued to attack the “imperialist” industrialized nations as the cause of international discontent and poverty. An ever-increasing number of Surinamese military were sent to Cuba for intelligence training, several bilateral cultural and economic agreements were signed, and increasing numbers of Cuban technical advisors were visible throughout Paramaribo. And, a resident Cuban Ambassador arrived to occupy the embassy which had opened the previous year. Increasing contact with North Korea was also evident and in September a resident Soviet Ambassador arrived to take his place among the Paramaribo diplomatic corps. Bouterse also attempted to strengthen relations with two of his South American neighbors—namely Brazil and Venezuela. Brazil promised some modest economic and military assistance. Venezuela sent in a military survey team, and plans were drawn for military training and equipment assistance. However, by year’s end not much had materially appeared. Suriname has small economic assistance programs with Belgium, the European Economic Community, and the Organization of American States, but such assistance totals less than one million dollars annually. The Dutch continued to provide the largest share of economic and military assistance and, until the events of December, were the backbone of Suriname’s economic survival.
For FY 82, U.S. support totaled one million dollars in the Economic Support Fund and $60,000 of IMET. The Surinamese military continued to display indifference toward taking advantage of their IMET opportunities. The only items programmed were a ten-position English language lab and the training of two individuals at IAAFA. In fact, $36,000 were returned from the FY 81 IMET due to their indecision and/or indifference. The only training to take place in 1982 involved two students at IAAFA in the fall. Due to the events of December, the language lab never materialized.
Fearing further attempts to overthrow him and a general mistrust of all but a handful of extremely loyal subordinates, on the night of 8–9 December Bouterse ordered the bombing of the largest local newspaper and the headquarters of the largest labor union. Then he coordinated the systematic arrest and execution of 15 to 28 (the numbers were never totally confirmed) of his perceived rivals and adversaries. Prominent business leaders, labor leaders, former politicians, and military personnel succumbed to the bloodbath characterized by torture and mutilation of bodies after death.
The Dutch and U.S. immediately terminated all economic and military assistance programs. The international community, except for Cuba, North Korea, the Soviet Union, and like-minded Soviet surrogates, heaped condemnation upon Bouterse for the brutality of his actions. The flight of Surinamese out of the country heightened, with many escaping across the border to French Guiana and on to the Netherlands. Many military officers revulsed by these events deserted and fled as well. Bouterse once again dissolved the government and established a new order, essentially placing all power in his personal hands and those of his closest conspirators. The military was completely purged, all news media were placed under his control, and a curfew established in Paramaribo.
Thus, 1982 ended for this former Dutch colony and the smallest nation on the South American continent in an unfortunate mess. There was no doubt that Bouterse was successful in his naked grab for power, and prospects for the future of the Surinamese people and economy looked decidedly bleak.
The new U.S. Ambassador, Robert W. Fleming, presented his credentials in October. We had the opportunity to host him at USSOUTHCOM while he was en route to his new post.