Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PARAMARIBO788
2006-12-12 18:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:
BOUTERSE, SEEMINGLY FIT, MAKES APPEARANCE AT PARTY
how-toVZCZCXRO3165 PP RUEHGR DE RUEHPO #0788 3461843 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 121843Z DEC 06 FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8981 INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1594
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000788
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG, INR FOR ROBERT CARHART
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV NS
SUBJECT: BOUTERSE, SEEMINGLY FIT, MAKES APPEARANCE AT PARTY
CONGRESS
REF: PARAMARIBO 00707
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000788
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG, INR FOR ROBERT CARHART
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV NS
SUBJECT: BOUTERSE, SEEMINGLY FIT, MAKES APPEARANCE AT PARTY
CONGRESS
REF: PARAMARIBO 00707
1. (SBU) The National Democratic Party (NDP) re-elected
former military dictator Desi Bouterse by acclamation as
undisputed chairman and leader of the party at its December 9
party congress. In his keynote address, Bouterse blasted the
government and ministers for corruption and mismanagement and
said that his party was ready to step in and set things
right. Bouterse,s participation in the party congress, his
first public appearance in months, seems to throw doubt on
rumors that he was in ill health (reftel). The NDP congress
was one day after the 24th anniversary of the December 1982
murders of 15 adversaries and opponents of the Bouterse
military dictatorship. Bouterse called for a &truth
commission8 in lieu of the trial against him planned to open
in early 2007, which would possibly settle the criminal case
against him out of court. He called the court case a waste
of resources.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: While many take Bouterse's involvement in
the murders for granted, others are reluctant to speak out
against him for fear of intimidation--and still others
blithely declare him innocent. The former military dictator
still casts a dark shadow over Surinamese politics. END
COMMENT
SCHREIBER HUGHES
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
WHA/CAR FOR LAURA LUFTIG, INR FOR ROBERT CARHART
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV NS
SUBJECT: BOUTERSE, SEEMINGLY FIT, MAKES APPEARANCE AT PARTY
CONGRESS
REF: PARAMARIBO 00707
1. (SBU) The National Democratic Party (NDP) re-elected
former military dictator Desi Bouterse by acclamation as
undisputed chairman and leader of the party at its December 9
party congress. In his keynote address, Bouterse blasted the
government and ministers for corruption and mismanagement and
said that his party was ready to step in and set things
right. Bouterse,s participation in the party congress, his
first public appearance in months, seems to throw doubt on
rumors that he was in ill health (reftel). The NDP congress
was one day after the 24th anniversary of the December 1982
murders of 15 adversaries and opponents of the Bouterse
military dictatorship. Bouterse called for a &truth
commission8 in lieu of the trial against him planned to open
in early 2007, which would possibly settle the criminal case
against him out of court. He called the court case a waste
of resources.
2. (SBU) COMMENT: While many take Bouterse's involvement in
the murders for granted, others are reluctant to speak out
against him for fear of intimidation--and still others
blithely declare him innocent. The former military dictator
still casts a dark shadow over Surinamese politics. END
COMMENT
SCHREIBER HUGHES