VZCZCXRO7270
RR RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0392/01 1731246
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221246Z JUN 06
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8466
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1050
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1552
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1438
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

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 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000392  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶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. 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000392  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
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