Former military strongman Desi Bouterse has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in a December 1982 mass murder of 15 government critics authorities said were plotting to reverse a military coup two years earlier. A court in Suriname on Wednesday handed down a verdict that perhaps would have been a surprise only to supporters and the defense.
Bouterse, 78, was noticeably absent from the final local ruling of the case and so were his four other co defendants and former soldiers, all accused of masterminding and executing the murders of the 15 that had included four journalists, clergymen, labor leaders and academics.
The former president had held a sentencing preparation rally at the weekend of his main opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) when he was advised by angry supporters not to turn up at the hearing despite advice to the contrary from main attorney Irwin Kanhai. The court did not order his immediate arrest nor imprisonment as this wlll be left to the prosecutor general’s office in the coming days. The first hearing in the trial was held 16 years ago. Critics say this saga will end more than 40 years of turmoil over the unprecedented modern day mass murders of prominent citizens.
Prosecutors had argued that the defense had presented no new arguments or facts to change the original late 2019 verdict so it was no surprise when the court reaffirmed the previous sentence on Bouterse, a two-time elected president who lost power in general elections three years ago.
The charismatic former president and leader of the NDP has said he would abide by the ruling and submit to prison authorities if he has to. His attorneys have, however, talked about the possibility of appealing to the hemispheric Inter American Human Rights Commission as a final external opportunity to keep him put of prison.
Local media said that the court did not order his immediate arrest and or imprisonment, apparently well aware that it could rile up his supporters and raise tensions in the Dutch speaking CARICOM country.
Security was tight for the verdict. Schools and roads near the courthouse were closed and so were some commercial buildings. Bouterse was facing the verdict along with four other ex soldiers, none of whom appeared in court for the ruling.
General elections are due in Suriname in May of 2025 but it is unclear whether the former strongman will still be at the helm of the NDP by then, being nearly 80 years old.
Prosecutors say the 15 were rounded up, and shot by firing squads for allegedly plotting to stage a counter coup against the military.
Bouterse has always accepted collective responsibility as the then national leader but has always denied giving any orders to do so as he had not pulled any trigger during the mayhem at a Dutch era colonial fort ironically right next to the presidential secretariat and the palace.
The case had burdened down the country of about 500,000 people for four decades but it should breathe a sigh of relief now as Bouterse had urged his supporters to act responsibly.
