ANP
NOS News•today, 12:54•Changed today, 2:19 PM
Desi Bouterse did not show up at the prison in Paramaribo when he was supposed to report. A few minutes earlier, his wife, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring, had told NOS correspondent Nina Jurna that he will not report either.
The Surinamese former army leader and former president had to report to Santo Boma, the largest prison in Suriname just outside Paramaribo, at 1 p.m. Dutch time. His wife also tells Jurna that she does not know where Bouterse is.
Bouterse was finally sentenced to twenty years in prison in December for his role in the December murders in 1982. Four other men were also convicted. Three of them did report to prison.
The NDP, Bouterse’s party, had called on party members to make themselves heard today at the house of the former army leader. About a hundred supporters of the former president responded. A number of party leaders are also present.
‘He will not be humiliated’
Party prominent Ramon Abrahams, among others, spoke there, writes the Surinamese news site ABC. According to the site, Abrahams said that Bouterse himself has indicated that he will not report to prison. “Believe me,” said Abrahams, “Bouterse is good where he is.”
The party member further said that Bouterse is “a real revolutionary” who will not allow himself to be humiliated. “Not now, not ever,” said the crowd to loud applause.
So far it has been quiet in Paramaribo. The police had taken into account unrest on this historic day for the country in advance: “We do not hope that there will be excesses, but we are taking it into account. The intelligence and security services are now working around the clock.”
It is unknown what next steps the Public Prosecution Service will take now that Bouterse has not reported to prison.
Brief
The Surinamese Public Prosecution Service previously rejected a petition from Desi Bouterse’s lawyers. The legal team had asked to stop the execution of the sentence against the former president and four co-convicts. In their petition, the counselors invoked the amnesty law, which was amended in 2012, under which Bouterse and other suspects were released.
The request was seen in Suriname as a kind of last attempt to keep Bouterse out of jail.
December murders
On the night of December 7 to 8, 1982, fifteen men were tortured and killed in Fort Zeelandia, in the Surinamese capital Paramaribo. They were opponents of the then military regime led by Bouterse. He and a group of sergeants came to power in a coup in 1980. The fifteen people, including journalists, union leaders and lawyers, were trying to stage a coup, according to the regime.
There will be elections in May next year. Bouterse’s party, the NDP, could possibly become a coalition partner. The future president can then be called upon to pardon Bouterse.
A separate cell is being built for Bouterse at the prison:
Cell for convicted Bouterse is still being built
2024-01-12 11:54:55
#Bouterse #prison #wife #report
