Surinamese Ex-President Desi Bouterse Passes Away
Death Confirmed
PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC—Well-placed sources have confirmed that Former Surinamese President Desi Bouterse, 79, died on Tuesday following a short illness.
They said that he died at his hiding place and that the body had since been transferred to the capital, Paramaribo.
The family has not yet announced the death, but several members of his National Democratic Party (NDP), as well as close family friends, have confirmed his death. Members of the NDP have gathered at the party center in Geyersvlijt to comfort each other and await the formal announcement.
A Controversial Figure in Surinamese Politics
Bouterse first came to power when he and 15 other soldiers of the National Army carried out a successful coup on February 25, 1980, deposing the democratically elected government of Henck Arron. Large parts of society welcomed the coup, and the military rulers initially received support from left-wing political parties.
Bouterse ruled as de facto head of government from the time of his seizure of power as chairman of the then Policy Centre until the elections of November 25, 1987, when the Front for Democracy and Development (NPS, VHP, and KTPI), led by Arron, achieved a resounding victory, winning 40 of the 51 seats in parliament.
However, this defeat did not diminish Bouterse’s political power and military. He remained commander of the National Army, and on December 24, 1990, the army staged another coup after Bouterse clashed with the government led by President Ramsewak Shankar.
The So-Called ‘Telephone Coup’
The so-called ‘telephone coup’ was accompanied by the threat of an armored car at Independence Square, the barrel of which was aimed at the Presidential Palace, where Shankar had his office.
Johan Kraag was then elected president with the cooperation of the VHP and parliamentary chairman Jagernath Lachmon, and Jules Wijdenbosch became vice president.
A Turbulent Political Career
The subsequent 1991 elections were again lost by Bouterse and the NDP, and Ronald Venetian became president. After the 1996 elections, the NDP did come to power after some of the VHP assembly members and the KTPI broke away from the New Front and entered into a convention with the NDP.
Bouterse then put Jules Wijdenbosch forward, who was elected president, and in May 2000, Wijdenbosch held early elections after weeks of public demonstrations against his failed economic policy.
The New Front then came back to office, and Bouterse had to wait until 2010 to be elected president. Bouterse was re-elected for a second term in 2015.
A Life of Controversy and Legal Troubles
But Bouterse and his bodyguard, Iwan Dijksteel, had been on the run from justice since December 2023, after they were both charged and convicted with the December 8, 1982, murders of 15 men, including journalists, military officers, union leaders, lawyers, businessmen, and university lecturers. Bouterse was given a 20-year jail term, and Dijksteel was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
The prosecution had alleged that the men were arrested on December 7 and 8 nights and transferred to Fort Zeelandia, the then headquarters of the Surinamese National Army. They said the men were tortured and summarily executed.
Bouterse, who was not present when the Court of Justice issued the ruling in December last year, had appealed against his conviction, which had been handed down in August 2021. The Court Martial of Suriname upheld the 2019 military court ruling of a 20-year jail term following a trial that had been going on for several years.
A Life of Controversy and Legal Troubles (Continued)
In 2017, Bouterse and 23 co-defendants appeared in the military court after the Court of Justice had earlier rejected a motion to stop the trial.
Bouterse had been placed on an International Police (INTERPOL) Red Notice list, an official request to law enforcement authorities worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is based on an arrest or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country.
Earlier this week, the police raided Bouterse’s home as part of operation ‘Christmas Bread’ but came up empty-handed. The Suriname Police Force has not issued a statement regarding the raids.
Conclusion
Desi Bouterse’s life was marked by controversy, power struggles, and legal troubles. His tumultuous political career spanned over three decades, leaving a lasting impact on Surinamese politics.
FAQs
- When did Desi Bouterse pass away?
- He passed away on Tuesday following a short illness.
- What was Desi Bouterse’s role in Surinamese politics?
- He was the President of Suriname from 1980 to 1987 and again from 2010 to 2015.
- What was the outcome of his trial for the murders in 1982?
- Bouterse was given a 20-year jail term, and his bodyguard, Iwan Dijksteel, was sentenced to 15 years in jail.
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