Authorities in Suriname have returned the body of former military strongman and ex-president Desi Bouterse to close relatives and to his National Democratic Party (NDP) after learning over the weekend that he had died of liver failure linked to excessive drinking while in hiding from a 20-year prison sentence for mass murder.
The autopsy performed on Bouterse, 79, showed that “that the probable date of death was on Monday or Tuesday. The cause of death was determined to be complication of liver failure in severe liver fibrosis, caused by chronic alcohol use,” the report stated.
The former army sergeant major who along with about 15 other comrades had toppled the elected government in a February 1980 coup, had vanished into hiding in January after an appeals court had upheld a 20-year prison sentence for the December 1982 murders of 15 government opponents that the military-led regime had accused of plotting with The Netherlands and other western nations to reverse the coup.
A second coup by telephone on Christmas Eve in 1990 occurred while an armored vehicle was placed near the presidential secretariat with its turret facing the building.
As Surinamese were preparing to celebrate Christmas, news began to spread that Bouterse had died, that his body had been spirited from his hiding place likely in a southeastern district to his riverside home in Leonsberg for his wife, Ingrid and top party officials to view and enjoy final moments.
How the body reached a home that was being heavily monitored by the state remains a mystery and is currently the basis of a major investigation by police. The only information they say they have is that an “unknown indigenous man” had brought the news to the family and it remains unclear as to exactly where he was hiding and who were his fellow cohorts.
As the probe steps up, police say they have a well thought out security plan for the funeral that is likely to be held in the first week of the New Year as emotions among NDP supporters and those who did not love or support him remain high and could cause tension.
Bouterse’s death came just days after police had raided several places linked to the former two-term elected president and as the country prepared for general elections in late May. NDP officials say they are fixing to capitalize on emotions linked to his death by opening condolences books across the country. Bouterse is expected to be cremated.
At the weekend, Minister of Foreign Affairs Albert Ramdin announced that there will be no state funeral for Bouterse because of a series of political mishaps and tragedies associated with him since the 1980 coup and because of the execution of the 15 prominent citizens 42 years ago.
Ramdin also said that there will be no official mourning period, no condolence book by the government but flags at state buildings will be flown at half staff. A government minister will sign the NDP’s book, while President Chan Santokhi will telephone Mrs. Bouterse and express condolences on behalf of the government.
“These are the government’s decisions based on all kinds of information we have.” In this regard, authorities appear to have the backing of the December 8th Foundation as it welcomed the decision not to have a state funeral and a mourning period.
“We are very pleased with the government’s decision not to give Bouterse a state funeral. This is actually a historic decision. With this decision by the government, they have shown respect to Suriname, in particular the relatives and victims of all human rights violations during the military period. When the verdict was pronounced, the case was actually closed for us. Bouterse was a thing of the past for us at that time. But when he fled, it turned out that there was still a tail. But now it’s over for this part,” said Sunil Oemrawsingh, the foundation chairman.
Bouterse’s NDP that had been founded while still de facto army chief in the mid-80s is likely to be a major player in the May 25th general elections but what effect his absence will have on party popularity remains to be seen, officials said.
