US embassy cable - 04PARAMARIBO197

UNCLAS  PARAMARIBO 000197 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR -- MSEIBEL, WHA/PD - APRUITT, HAITI 
MONITORING TASK FORCE 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, KPAO, NS 
SUBJECT: SURINAMESE FOREIGN MINISTER LEVENS EXPRESSES 
SUPPORT FOR CARICOM"S POSTION ON HAITI; CORPORAL TELLS PRESS 
SURINAME'S "BLUE HELMET UNIT" READY TO SERVE 
 
REFS: (A) PARAMARIBO 183, (B) PARAMARIBO 159 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  Following her return from a visit to China, Surinamese 
Foreign Minister, Marie Levens announced publicly that 
Suriname stands behind CARICOM on Haiti and is concerned 
about allegations made by ex-President Jean-Bertrand 
Aristide that the US forced him out of Haiti.  Levens 
suggested that if the US used strong-armed tactics in Haiti, 
the US could apply these tactics to any country. 
In other reactions to Haiti, a junior military soldier 
proclaimed that the Surinamese contingent of a UN Blue 
Helmet Unit, which had been deployed to Haiti previously, is 
ready to serve there once again.  He accused the government 
and the Armed Forces of neglecting the specially-trained 
unit and of failing to establish a crisis center to receive 
Haitian refugees.  By calling attention to these issues with 
his unauthorized remarks, the soldier hoped to pressure the 
government to take a proactive stance toward the Haitian 
crisis; instead, he is likely to face disciplinary action. 
End Summary. 
 
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FOREIGN MINISTER LEVENS ON HAITI 
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2.  Upon her return from a state visit to China, Foreign 
Minister Marie Levens publicly expressed support for the 
CARICOM position on Haiti, namely CARICOM's concerns over ex- 
Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's allegations that 
the US had forced him to leave Haiti.  According to the 
March 5 edition of local daily "De Ware Tijd," Levens stated 
that, despite its absence at the March 3-4 emergency session 
convened by CARICOM President/Jamaican Prime Minister 
Percival Patterson in Kingston, Suriname was kept abreast of 
the deliberations, had studied CARICOM's position, and had 
written to CARICOM to offer support on the matter.  Levens 
was quoted as saying, "if it can happen in Haiti, it can 
happen anywhere," echoing sentiments voiced by Patterson at 
a March 4 press conference. 
 
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JUNIOR MILITARY PERSONNEL: MY UNIT IS READY TO GO TO HAITI 
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3.  Leven's comments followed press reports of a junior 
enlisted soldier's March 3 proclamation that the Surinamese 
contingent of a "United Nations Blue Helmet force" is ready 
to serve in Haiti.  The soldier, Corporal Dennis Duiker, 
told the press that the 31-member unit would like to put to 
use its United Nations training.  Moreover, Duiker pointed 
out that the unit brings experience to the table, not just 
training, referring to the unit's deployment to Haiti in 
1995.  Duiker criticized the Surinamese Armed Forces and the 
government for their alleged neglect of his unit and failure 
to establish a crisis center to receive Haitian refugees as 
yet.  In closing, Duiker expressed hope that his public 
statements would press the government to begin preparations 
to receive Haitian refugees. 
 
4.  Note:  The DATT spoke to a military contact who 
confirmed that in 1995, one military police squad and three 
squads of infantry personnel were deployed to Haiti.  Upon 
its return to Suriname, the unit was disbanded and its 
members returned to their branches.  The contact also said 
that the corporal would be disciplined for making 
unauthorized statements to the press.  End Note.) 
 
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COMMENT 
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5.  Given Suriname's penchant to fall in line with CARICOM's 
pronouncements and to call in to question US motives, Marie 
Leven's comments on Haiti come as no surprise.  Her 
sentiments do not seem to be shared by all Surinamers, 
however, as exhibited by the editorial line of Suriname's 
leading news dailies, which take a much more objective line 
 
on Aristide's claims.  The boldness exhibited by military 
personnel like Corporal Duiker and Major Goerdeyal (See Ref 
B) in discussing foreign policy matters with the press, 
however, is surprising and troubling.  These incidents 
display the GOS' weak civilian control over the military -- 
a non-laughing matter given Suriname's turbulent history -- 
and a general willingness by GOS officials to speak freely 
to the press without taking into account possible negative 
repercussions.  End Comment. 
 
6.  Minimize considered. 
 
FAUCHER 
 
 
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