SUMMARY OF SURINAMESE PRESS COVERAGE OF ROGER KHAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PARAMARIBO 000392

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR LLUFTIG, INL, L/LEI, WHA/PD
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
CARACAS FOR LEGAAT

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PREL PGOV KPAO NS
SUBJECT: SUMMARY OF SURINAMESE PRESS COVERAGE OF ROGER KHAN
ARREST

REF: GEORGETOWN 433

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1. The arrest of Roger Khan and the USG's request for his
extradition has dominated the news since Friday. Post
provides a summary of Surinamese press coverage in
chronological order to explain the action-reaction of
Surinamese officials as they attempt to gain consensus on
the disposition of Roger Khan.


2. On Friday June 16, 2006 the Public Relations Department
of the Suriname Police Corps issued a press release
announcing the seizure of 213kg of cocaine and the arrest
of eight suspects, including several Guyanese.


3. On Saturday June 17, the media reported that one of the
arrested suspects was Shaheed "Roger" Khan, one of Guyana's
most wanted fugitives sought by U.S. authorities on drug
charges.


4. On Monday June 19, the media quoted Justice and Police
Minister Chandrikapersad Santhoki, saying that on Saturday
the Government of Suriname had received an informal request
from the U.S. Government for extradition of Shaheed Khan.
Mr. Santhoki said that Suriname was capable of mounting a
trial against Khan. Santhoki left open the possibility of
extradition by adding that if evidence and local law
wouldn't allow for a strong enough case against Khan then
GOS would send him to where he could be put away for a long
time.


5. On Tuesday June 20, the daily newspaper De Ware Tijd
reported that, according to reliable sources information
provided by an alleged corrupt Surinamese police officer
led to the arrest of Shaheed Khan and others. The newspaper
also quoted Embassy's spokesman Tom Walsh who confirmed
that a dipnote was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affair
requesting provisional arrest for the purpose of
extradition of Shaheed Khan to the U.S. to stand trial. The
paper also quoted Khan's Guyanese lawyer Glenn Hanoman, who
traveled to Suriname after his arrest. Speaking to Guyanese
and Surinamese journalists, Hanoman said that he thinks
that his client is much safer in Suriname than in Guyana.
According to the lawyer his client came to Suriname to
escape persecution in Guyana. According to his lawyer, Khan
fears the Chief of the Guyanese Police Winston Felix's
intent to do him harm or possibly kill him. He colorized
Guyana's attempts to arrest him as a politically motivated
manhunt. Per Hanoman, "I hope that Khan will not be
extradited to Guyana, because we don't trust Guyanese
justice." Hanoman also said that he is concerned about
possible extradition to the USA. If Surinamese authorities
extradite him to the U.S. that would be tantamount to
providing assistance to the illegal kidnapping of a suspect
as according to Hanoman no extradition treaty exists
between the U.S. and Suriname.


6. In Dagblad Suriname on Tuesday, Justice Minister
Santhoki said that possibly Khan will be extradited to the
USA because he is a serious threat to national, regional
and international security.


7. On Tuesday, the Embassy received follow-up inquiries
from De Ware Tijd, De West, STVS (national TV station),AP,
Reuters and AFP. All media wanted confirmation that the
U.S. Government had submitted an official request for
extradition of Roger Khan. The Embassy confirmed that on
Monday June 19 a formal request was delivered via
diplomatic channels. Reuters asked if Khan was the same
Khan named in INCSR 2006 report (volume I Guyana pg 187
part II). Embassy confirmed. Odd inquiry from local
reporter at STVS (state run TV) asked if Roger Khan had
earlier met with Embassy officials here at hotel Ocean View
(see reftel).



8. On Wednesday June 21, press began reporting results of
their inquiries of Embassy as to whether formal
notification to GOS has been made. Press reports that
formal diplomatic channels informed GOS and that the U.S.

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request for extradition is based on the 1887 (amended in
1904) Extradition Treaty between the U.S. and the
Netherlands along with the 1988 UN Convention Against
Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances (DeWareTijd - 21 June).

9. AG, Subhas Punwasi, was quoted as saying that the
Government is still ascertaining the validity of the 1904
extradition treaty. He opined that if the agreement doesn't
apply, then the UN Convention might come into play. The AG
further explained that a suspect could challenge the
legitimacy of his extradition; in that case a judge will
have to decide whether or not there are legal objections
against it. The Government has the final say however (DWT
21 June). The Attorney General's Office has prohibited
contact between Kahn and his lawyers, but the defense has
objected to this (De West 20 June).

10. Khan's lawyer, Glenn Hanoman, reports being very
skeptical of the U.S. extradition request and says that
there is no legal basis for extradition of his client,
stating once again that there is no bilateral extradition
treaty between the U.S. and Suriname and that his client
cannot be extradited on the basis of a multilateral UN
agreement. (DWT 21 June)

11. De Ware Tijd refers to a case, roughly a year ago, in
which the U.S. also asked for extradition of a Columbian
woman and the request was denied (DWT 21 June). [Note: She
was prosecuted locally and sentenced to more than eight
years in prison. End note.]


12. Minister Santokhi (MOJ) told press that the Guyanese
Government has decided not to request extradition of Khan.
Per Santokhi, "a request has been received from the U.S.
and the GOS is seriously considering this request, but the
most important thing is that we reach a decision which is
beneficial for Suriname and the region." Santokhi also said
that Khan was a member of a criminal organization, which
had ties with the Columbian FARC. The two organizations had
regular arms for drugs exchanges. The Minister proudly
stated that previously whole armies have tried to apprehend
Khan, but that only the Surinamese Police was successful
(Times 21 June).


13. De Ware Tijd reported that technology, donated by the
U.S. Embassy, was used to arrest Khan last week. It states
that local authorities used satellite technology to trace
Khan's exact location and tap his phone calls (Khan was
using a satellite phone) and the Surinamese authorities
were monitoring Khan's calls even before he fled to
Suriname (DWT 21 June).


14. By the end of workday Wednesday number of press
inquiries to Embassy have dropped off. News has left the
impression that next step will need to be a decision by the
GOS as to whether to try Khan here or grant extradition
request.

BARNES