Arron Sets Election Date as Valk Departs on Leave

Parliamentary elections scheduled for March 27, 1980, as Dutch military advisor leaves Suriname during critical…

Date: Mid-December 1979

Stage is Set for Confrontation: Election Date Announced as Col. Valk Departs

Details: Two key events in December 1979 set the stage for the political crisis of early 1980.

  • Election Deadline: Prime Minister Henck Arron announced that early parliamentary elections would be held on March 27, 1980. This set a hard deadline for all political maneuvering.
  • Valk's Absence: At the same time, Colonel Hans Valk, the influential and controversial head of the Dutch Military Mission, departed Suriname for an extended leave for a family visit in South Africa.

Significance:

  • The announcement of the election date put immense pressure on both the Arron government and the increasingly dissatisfied military union (BMK).
  • Colonel Valk's absence during this critical two-month period meant that the primary Dutch military advisor—who had deep connections with the NCOs—was not present to influence, mediate, or potentially control the escalating situation, leaving a power vacuum in the barracks.

Source:

Chronologisch Overzicht Gebeurtennissen in Suriname (1974-1983), Dutch Ministry of Defense.

Link:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lu7k8uot246h673qibqy4/Chronologisch-Overzicht-gebeurtennissen-in-Suriname-1974-1983.pdf?rlkey=uwgsyv3wtffymuflswevjgwpv&st=98u0jjea&dl=0

Internal Link:

Date:
December 1, 1979
Categories:
Log, Matthew Smith, Media, Research, Soft War, The Suriname Archive
Tags:
Coup Detat Prelude, Election Date Announced, Election Deadline, March 27, 1980
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1979
Persons:
Hans Valk, Henck Arron
META DATA
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