The High Court of Justice of Suriname upheld on Wednesday a 20-year prison sentence for former President Desi Bouterse in connection with the murder of 15 political opponents during his regime in the 1980s.
Bouterse, who served as president of Suriname from 2010 to 2020, initially rose to power as Suriname’s de facto leader from 1980 to 1987 after launching a coup and establishing military rule. During this period, the murder of 15 prominent opposition figures took place. These “December Murders,” consisted of lawyers, journalists and military officials who were tortured and executed without trial for their criticism of Bouterse’s military dictatorship or their involvement in the countercoup of March 1982. At the time, Bouterse claimed that the victims—whom he called “detainees”—had been fatally shot when they attempted to flee.
Bouterse’s initial conviction occurred in 2019 after the overturning of a previous law proposed by members of Bouterse’s political party, which aimed to grant immunity to the suspects in the “December Murders”. This amnesty law was protested within Suriname and globally, with human rights organizations condemning its passing. The Netherlands, which had colonial rule over Suriname until 1975, immediately suspended 20 million euros in development aid to its former colony.
The amnesty law was eventually overturned by a court ruling. In November 2019, a Surinamese military court handed down a 20-year prison sentence to Bouterse for the “December Murders”. He appealed in January 2020 and remained free whilst awaiting the outcome. The decision taken by the High Court on Wednesday wraps up a significant legal battle.
Under Suriname law, Bouterse now has eight days to request clemency from his successor, incumbent President Chan Santokhi. In an interview with Dutch programme Nieuwsuur, Santokhi affirmed that Bouterse’s imprisonment was inevitable: “There is no other choice,” he stated, “the laws of the country must be followed.”
Incumbent President Santokhi expressed hopes that the Public Prosecutor’s Office would handle the matter promptly. He emphasized the gravity of the verdict’s enforcement, asserting: “One thing is certain: there is a verdict, and this verdict must be executed.”
Five other suspects have been sentenced in connection with the killings, with an additional two convicted, though they are believed to have fled Suriname. Following the ruling, the Dutch embassy in Paramaribo issued a warning about potential unrest within the country.
Full details of this development can be found on JURIST – News.