⚖️ Bouterse flees the coop?

Ex-President and army leader nowhere to be found.

De Brief
January 15, 2024

Ex-President Desi Bouterse did not report to the Public Prosecution Office to serve his term in jail in Suriname.
Suriname lived on a knife’s edge for the past couple of months leading up to the conviction of ex-President and army leader Desi Bouterse.
After Bouterse’s conviction, Suriname remained on a knife’s edge as many of his supporters continued to support him, and Suriname remained fearful of what would happen if he was arrested.
On the 11th of January 2024, Bouterse was directed to report to the jail, Santo Boma, to serve his 20-year sentence. He was expected to serve his sentence in a military hospital.
The ex-president’s wife, Ingrid Waldring-Bouterse, on the 12th of January 2024, stated that Bouterse would not go to jail in Santo Boma as she continued to state that the case was politically motivated.
She stated that her husband already had amnesty from his crimes and as such should not have been convicted.
She argued that the military judge, Dennis Kamperveen was related to one of the victims of the crimes, Andre Kamperveen.
She further claimed that Bouterse did not shoot anyone. She stated lastly that she was uncertain about his whereabouts.
Alongside Bouterse, Bouterse’s former bodyguard Iwan Dijksteel, did not report to the jail.
The Public Prosecution Office has opened a new investigation into the men after they did not report to the jail as required.

Bouterse was reportedly seen by his legal team on January 9th, 2024, and had a lengthy meeting with his legal team.
Some reports in Surinamese newspapers stated that Bouterse fled to Brazil and further to Venezuela to escape his jail sentence in Suriname. Bouterse continues to have loyalists who support him in Suriname, but there are no clear indications that he has left the country.
After Bouterse’s sighting at the mass party meeting of the National Democratic Party (NDP) on December 16th, 2024, he was no longer seen publicly, however, he received many guests at his residence as well as lawyers.
The ex-president’s wife stated that Bouterse was in the interior of the country, and continued to focus on the 2025 elections and the political future of the party and regaining power in Suriname.
Three of Bouterse’s co-conspirators, Ernst Gefferie age 81, Benny Brondenstein age 68, and Stephanus Dendoe age 68 reported to the Surinamese jail and are reportedly in the infirmary of the jail.
They are currently expected to serve 15 years in jail.
All three of the convicts are experiencing major health issues which will see them continue to suffer in jail.

The NDP has reported that the Amnesty Law for the December 8th murders still applies. After the appeal from Bouterse’s team was rejected by the Attorney General, Bouterse’s team further objected to the appeal and is waiting for the response from the Court of Justice.
The party is focused on the 2025 elections and winning the elections. Furthermore, she states that Bouterse’s threat in the upcoming elections is threatening the current government, and as such they have decided to act.
The party stated that the government is stuck and may try to postpone or cancel the elections. They continue to state that Bouterse is a revolutionary and a fighter who will never give up.
The party states that they pledge to do everything to win the next election even not knowing where their party leader is.

The Suriname Economic Oversight Board (SEOB), is an independent body that oversees the government’s implementation of Suriname’s IMF recovery plan.
In 2024, they expect growth in the economy with increases in investor confidence in the country due to continued inflation rates decreasing and stability of the exchange rate.
As the country continues to expect a massive windfall from oil discovery, the SEOB recommends investment in non-mining sectors and sectors that are more vulnerable to climate change effects.
The IMF expects a 15% inflation rate in 2024, as inflation is expected to remain high due to the continued phasing out of subsidies. The SEOB has recommended focusing on institutions, combatting corruption, focusing on social security, and stimulating small and medium enterprises in the future.
A foundational part of increasing government revenue is the better collection of taxes in the country. This can provide fiscal stability for the government’s goals.