CHAPTER XXIV THE ARMED FORCES

Article 177

1. The National Army is the military vanguard of the people of Suriname and shall have as its task the defense of the sovereignty and independence as well as the protection of the supreme rights and liberties of land and people through service to legal o rder, peace and security.
2. The National Army also labours for the national development and for the liberation of the nation. In order to fulfill that task effectively, a continuous organizational, technical and social adjustment of the National Army shall be required.

1. The Military Command is the representative organ of the National Army that shall direct the task of the National Army as laid down in Article 177, always respecting the powers which the constitution confers on other state organs.
2. The creation and the composition of the Military Command shall be regulated by law. That organ shall moreover be charged with guaranteeing the conditions under which the Suriname people can bring about and consolidate a peaceful transition to a demo cratic and socially just society.

Article 179

1. The Suriname Policy Corps shall have as function to defend and to protect the democratic legality of the citizens’ rights, and to guarantee the security of the community.
2. The police shall execute its tasks, conform the legal regulations with respect of the rights, the freedoms and guarantees of all who are on the territory of Suriname.
3. In general the police shall have as task to assure:

   a. The maintenance of public order and security, the prevention of violation thereof and the protection of persons and goods;

   b. The detection of punishable acts and the supervision of the abidance to legal rules that are sanctioned by punishment.

4. Without prejudice to what is laid down in the previous paragraphs, the police can be entrusted with special tasks to be regulated by law.
5. The police executes its tasks in submission to the competent authority and in conformity with existing legal rules.