⚖️Former President Bouterse convicted to 20 years in prison

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This week, we cover a timeline of former President Desi Bouterse's life and the crimes he was convicted of on December 20th, 2023. Lastly, we look at expectations now that he has been convicted.

Suriname is hailed as a “rechtstaat” a state where the rule of law is respected. Former president Desi Bouterse is convicted of the December 8, 2023 murders of 15 people.

Former President Bouterse and 4 other defendants are held accountable for their involvement in the December 8th murders of 1982.

• Former President Desi Bouterse, the main suspect in the December 8th criminal case, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Surinamese Court of Justice.

• The Public Prosecutor's Office had sought a 20-year sentence, and the verdict must be enforced, although immediate imprisonment was not requested by the Court.

• The court found that 15 critics of the military regime that was in power at the time were ruthlessly murdered with premeditation, rejecting all defenses presented by the defendants and their lawyers.

• While Bouterse, aged 78 was advised to attend the hearing by his lawyer, he did not attend after receiving a wave of support from NDP (National Democratic Party) members.

• The appeal case began on July 29, 2022, and has now confirmed the charges.

• Bouterse had previously been sentenced in absentia to 20 years by the Military Court. This decision was appealed by him and four other co-defendants which is now upheld.

• Desi Bouterse along with 15 other sergeants from the Surinamese military overthrew the government of Henck Arron on February 25th, 1980.

• Desi Bouterse ran the country as a dictator from 1980 to 1987.

• From 1980 to 1982, the country was embroiled in economic woe as expenditures increased rapidly, foreign aid and foreign investment stopped and Bauxite exports, a big part of Surinamese exports decreased rapidly.

• In 1982, as the country was roiled in crisis, trade unions, business associations, and professional groups stated how unhappy they were with the direction of the country.

• On December 7th, 1982, the military grabbed several prominent critics, which were journalists, scientists, and lawyers, of the regime, 13 of them in the middle of the night and brought them to Fort Zeelandia on the Paramaribo River in the middle of the city where Bouterse was headquartered.

• According to reports a sham trial was held there where Bouterse accused the critics of attempting to overthrow the government. After the “trial“, the critics were tortured and eventually killed by the military dictatorship on December 8th, 1982.

• On December 10th, 1982, Bouterse went on the national television station and stated that the critics were shot while attempting to flee.

• Bouterse later claimed that he was not personally responsible, however, he has been accused of personally shooting two of the men.

• As a result of the murders, a large number of Surinamese citizens fled the country. This followed large international protests and the removal of aid from the Netherlands and the United States of America.

• Suriname which following independence saw a lot of its citizens leave the country, saw another large number of citizens flee the country during Bouterse’s period in charge.

• While Bouterse led the country, he appointed two Presidents, Henk Chin A Sen from 1980 to 1982 and Fred Ramdat Misier who served from 1982 to 1988.

• When national elections were held in 1987, Ramsewak Shankar won in 1988. Shankar ran the country until 1990 and was then overthrown once again by Bouterse. In 1990, President Johan Kraag was appointed as president until 1991 when he was followed up by democratically elected President Ronald Venetiaan.

• The trial for the December 8th murders started on 30th of November 2007 with Desi Bouterse as the chief figure of the trial among the 25 defendants.

• The trial underwent many delays and eventually, Desi Bouterse was elected as President on May 25th, 2010, and inaugurated on July 19th, 2010.

• Bouterse’s running for government was widely seen as a manner to escape prosecution from the ruling.

• The trial, however, did not stop regardless of his becoming President and in December 2019 while he was president, he was convicted to 20 years in prison.

• He appealed the decision which on December 20th, 2023 came to a conclusion finding Bouterse and four fellow defendants guilty of these killings.

Expectations going forward

• Desi Bouterse’s lawyer Irvin Kanhai submitted a pardon request to the government and the Public Prosecution Service to grant Bouterse clemency.

• As the pardon is requested, the conviction is currently suspended until a decision is made on the pardon.

• While Bouterse was convicted no arrest warrant was handed out for Bouterse and as such he currently remains free.

• The country was expecting a wide range of unrest as Bouterse has many supporters in Surinamese society still.

• After the verdict, there were pleas by many in government, and the party led by Bouterse, the NDP, called for peace in the country as there were expectations of protest.

• Suriname continues to remain gripped by Desi Bouterse’s grasp, however, after 41 years from from the December 8th, 1982 murders, the country can begin to heal.

• However, going forward Suriname awaits what will happen to Desi Bouterse and if he will be arrested and sent to jail.