Arron Government Suppresses Abendanon Report on Army Grievances

Official inquiry into military discontent buried to avoid criticism of defense policy, foreclosing peaceful resolution.

Date: May 1979

The Government Suppresses the "Abendanon Report" on Army Grievances

Details:

  • To end the January 1979 crisis, Prime Minister Arron appointed an official Commission of Inquiry, led by Judge Abendanon, to investigate the problems in the army.
  • The commission heard testimony from all ranks and submitted its report to the government around May 1979.
  • The Arron government, however, never published or discussed the report. It was completely suppressed, allegedly because it was an "indirect disapproval of the government's defense policy." Even the Commander of the Armed Forces was reportedly denied access to its findings.

Significance:

  • A Critical Failure of Governance: The suppression of the Abendanon Report was a monumental failure by the Arron government. It signaled a clear refusal to seriously acknowledge or address the legitimate, documented grievances of the military personnel.
  • The End of a Peaceful Path: This act of burying an official report destroyed any hope for a peaceful, managed resolution to the conflict. It ensured that the underlying problems would continue to fester, making a more radical and violent explosion almost inevitable.

Source:

Rapport Surinaamse Leger (1980-1983).

Link:

Internal Link:

Date:
May 1, 1979
Categories:
Foiled Coups & Plots, Log, Matthew Smith, Military & Intel, Research, The Suriname Archive
Tags:
Abendanon Report Suppressed, Coup Detat Prelude, Government Failure
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1979
Persons:
Abendanon, Henck Arron
META DATA
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