Suriname's Former President Desi Bouterse Sentenced to 20-Years in Jail

PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The Suriname government has urged citizens to regard the verdict of the Court of Justice “as an important moment of healing” as it upheld the 20-year jail sentence imposed on former president Desi Bouterse for his role in the controversial multiple murder of 15 men on December 8, 1982.

Desi Bouterse (File Photo)In addition, the Court also sentenced Bouterse’s four associates to 15 years in jail, down from the original 20 years. Stephanus Dendoe, who was sentenced to 10 years at the end of the trial a few years ago, will now serve 15 years.

The three-member Court, chaired by Justice Dinesh Sewrattan, did not not accept the request from the Public Prosecution Service that Ernst Gefferie, Iwan Dijksteel and Benny Brondenstein ber be sentenced to 20 years in jail, deciding instead to lower their sentences to 15 years in prison.

Bouterse and the others were not present during the ruling with the Court ignoring the plea by their lawyer,  Irwin Kanhai, that they be acquitted. The men have so far made no public statement following the verdict.

“Those who sought justice had angelic patience,” said Justice Sewratan  as he read the judgment.

According to Suriname law, Bouterse now has eight days to write President Chan Santokhi to ask for clemency.

There was heavy police security around the court building with Justice Minister Kenneth Amoski in a statement noting “the police are on alert, backed up by other security forces”.

In August 2021, the Court Martial of Suriname upheld the 2019 military court ruling of a 20-year-jail term on Bouterse following a trial that had been going on for several years.

In 2017, Bouterse along with 23 co-defendants appeared in the military court after the Court of Justice had earlier rejected a motion to stop the trial. The former military officers and civilians had been charged with the December 8, 1982 murders of the 15 men that included journalists, military officers, union leaders, lawyers, businessmen and university lecturers.

The prosecution had alleged that the men were arrested on the nights of December 7 and 8 and transferred to Fort Zeelandia, the then headquarters of the Surinamese National Army. They said the men were tortured and summarily executed.

“The government sees the verdict of the independent judiciary in the December 8 criminal trial as an important moment of healing. The process has kept the Surinamese people and the international community in suspense for the past 41 years,,” the government said in a  statement.

“This case revolves around the human rights violations that took place on the nights of December 7, 8 and 9, 1982, in which 15 Surinamese people died,” it added, calling on “the community in general, and in particular those directly involved and their sympathizers, to respect the ruling of the judiciary.

”The Republic of Suriname is now a well-functioning democratic constitutional state, with an independent judiciary and respect and protection for fundamental human rights. The government calls on citizens to see it as our individual and collective responsibility and duty to protect and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.

“An independent and honest judiciary is of great importance in this social system. As a responsible and respectful administrative authority, the government will in the coming period, in close consultation with the relevant authorities, in compliance with the legal provisions, follow up on the stated take judgment,” the government statement added.

The government said history has shown that Suriname has a resilient population and that it is  determined to work towards a

“Today’s verdict is an important step on this path and the government will do everything it can to further strengthen this step. Together with the population, Suriname will work towards healing, reconciliation and a just society for everyone,” it added.

Last weekend, at a meeting of his main opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) .Bouterse told the meeting that he hoped the judges would use their common sense on Wednesday, maintaining that his case is a political one, and pointing an accusing finger at the Netherlands.

Bouterse had urged supporters not to be provoked on Wednesday, saying “we shouldn’t make a mess”.

Meanwhile, the Heads of Mission of Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union, say they have taken note of the ruling on Wednesday, saying it closes a very difficult chapter in the history of Suriname.

In a statement, the diplomat praised the Court of Justice and its departments that have presided over the matter for the past 23 years.

They have done it often under very challenging circumstances, trying to uphold the rule of law and bring justice to the fifteen victims of December 8, 1982 and their families. We praise the integrity and independence of the Surinamese judiciary,”  they said.

They said they hope that the ruling will enable the people of the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country to come to terms with the past and promote peace.

“At the same time, we wish society to reconcile while ensuring that atrocities such as those committed in December are never repeated,” they added in their statement.

The verdict was also welcomed by the Hague-based International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), whose Commissioner and executive member, Reed Brody, was among those present here when the ruling was delivered.

“It took 41 years, but the long arm of the law has finally caught up to Desi Bouterse,” said  Brody, adding “today’s decision is a victory for the families of Bouterse’s victims, who never gave up, and for all those around the world seeking to bring powerful abusers to justice”.

He hailed the  judges for “their fortitude and their independence”.

On February 25, 1980, Bouterse staged a coup,  promoting himself to commander-in-chief and de facto ruler. He stepped down in 1987 but returned to power after being elected to office in 2010 until 2020.

In 1999, a court in the Netherlands,  sentenced Bouterse to 11 years in prison in absentia for cocaine smuggling, a charge he has denied.