JUNGLE COMMANDOS BLOCK PARAMARIBO-ALBINA ROAD

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000511 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT, INL FOR KBROWN, INR FOR RCARHART E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV NS SUBJECT: JUNGLE COMMANDOS BLOCK PARAMARIBO-ALBINA ROAD ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Former rebel forces blockaded the main East-West route on September 17, effectively closing down traffic from Paramaribo to Suriname's eastern-most city Albina in the district of Marowijne. The roadblock was lifted following Government of Suriname assurances that it would implement the terms of the 1992 peace accord that ended the Interior War. This is another worrisome sign for troubled eastern Suriname. END SUMMARY ¶2. (U) Members of the former "Jungle Commando" guerrilla group that fought against government forces during Suriname's Interior War (1986-1992) blocked the east-west (Paramaribo-Albina) road on Monday, September 17 to protest the Government of Suriname's (GOS) failure to implement the terms of the peace accord that ended the war. According to sources, between 25-40 unarmed protesters, led by commanders initially identified only by their "noms de guerre," "Oom Ieo," "Ajongpong," "Che," and "Paptoe," prevented vehicles (but not pedestrians) from passing through the roadblocks, which they set up at 3:00 a.m. between the Marowijne District capital of Moengo and the easternmost city in Suriname, Albina (exact location of roadblock: between Moengo and Ricanau Creek). ¶3. (SBU) The former "Jungle Commandos" communicated via local officials with Paramaribo to negotiate with the GOS and threatened to continue to block the route until the government gave firm assurances that the peace accords would be fully implemented as they were signed in 1992. The historical complaint of the Maroon population in Marowijne is the failure of the GOS to support social and economic development, defend natural resources against exploitation by multinational companies, and assure the indigenous of land rights. The more specific demand in this case concerned the failure to give former combatants government jobs, or a stipend which would allow them to seek jobs independently. Note: The "Jungle Commando" members were reportedly drinking hard liquor and allowing some vehicles to pass upon paying a bribe, leading Post to conclude that the blockade was less a political cause and more a matter of convenience used to help attain narrowly self-focused demands. END NOTE. ¶4. (U) According to published reports confirmed by an Embassy source Ronnie Brunswijk, former leader of the Jungle Commando (and currently a member of parliament within the governing coalition),had a telephone conversation with President Venetiaan, who gave him firm assurances that the peace agreement, as-signed, would be executed. The delay in implementation was attributed to bureaucratic procedures within the Ministry of Home Affairs. ¶5. (U) Embassy source and media reports indicate that the roadblock was lifted at 4:30 p.m. on September 17, and the situation is now back to normal. The protesters have set no further deadlines. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Bitter complaints and threats of civil unrest by the former 'Jungle Commandos" over the failure of the GOS to implement the 1992 peace accords are not new; they threatened to blow up a large dam in 2006. However, this time their roadblock appeared to rapidly achieve its objective. Oft-sensationalist newspaper "Times of Suriname" (average circulation 18,000) editorialized that it was a "terrorist" action, but also said they were impressed with how effective the action was, perhaps setting a dangerous precedent for how to get things done in Suriname. While there is no evidence that Marowijne parliamentarian Ronnie Brunswijk organized or authorized the roadblock, his apparent intervention to negotiate its end through his telephone conversation with the President attests to his role as a key player in the banditry-plagued East, where he often seems to have more sway than the central government. President Venetiaan's reportedly rapid capitulation speaks not only to Brunswijk's apparent power but also, unfortunately, to Venetiaan's lackluster leadership style. END COMMENT SCHREIBER HUGHES