PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC -The main opposition party, the National Democratic Party (NDP), has reiterated its support for fugitive former president Desi Bouterse, whom it named last week as “honorary chairman.” The party insists that Bouterse significantly contributed to Suriname’s national unity and development during his political career.
“Mr. Bouterse has contributed greatly to the development and unity of our country during his political career. We recognize that December 8 is a dark page in our history. Still, we believe that steps towards greater unity can be taken by recognizing the positive contributions,” the party said in its latest statement.
In March, Bouterse was placed on the International Police (INTERPOL) Red Notice list, three months after he was sentenced to 20 years in jail for murder. His whereabouts remain a mystery after he failed to keep his scheduled appointment in January to report to the prison in Santo Boma just south of Paramaribo’s capital.
Bouterse, 78, who was not present when the Court of Justice issued the ruling in December last year, had appealed against his conviction, which had been handed down in August 2021. The Court Martial of Suriname upheld the 2019 military court ruling of a 20-year jail term following a trial that had been going on for several years.
In 2017, Bouterse and 23 co-defendants appeared in the military court after the Court of Justice had earlier rejected a motion to stop the trial. The former army officers and civilians had been charged with the December 8, 1982, murders of 15 men, including journalists, military officers, union leaders, lawyers, businessmen, and university lecturers.
Last week, the NDP took issue with the group Foundation December 8, 1982, in which it described the announcement by the NDP as a “shocking turn of events,” noting that the former military strongman had been named honorary chairman “despite his recent conviction for multiple murders and his status as a convict in hiding.
“This appointment raises serious questions about the integrity of this political party and is a direct attack on the legal system, the legal profession, and other related institutions,” said the group that is dedicated to keeping the memory alive of persons who were killed in 1982.
In its latest statement, the NDP said it appreciates the “critical comments and understands the sensitivity of the events of December 8, 1982; however, it is also important for our country to maintain a broader perspective.”
The party said that it agrees that respect for the rule of law is crucial for the development of Suriname, and the “fact that Mr. Bouterse did not intervene in the December 8 trial, despite political pressure, shows his respect for the legal process and the conviction of his innocence. “This also testifies to his willingness to let justice take its course, which we see as an important step in the right direction. We emphasize that the NDP is committed to the rule of law and that this commitment does not depend on individual opinions within the party.”
The party said that it sees no connection between the group’s concerns about the possible undermining of justice and the rule of law and Bouterse’s appointment as honorary chairman.
“We believe that it is important to find a balance between justice and reconciliation. The recognition of victims and relatives is essential. At the same time, it is also important to recognize what leaders have contributed to the construction of our nation,” it said, adding that justice and reconciliation must form the basis for political justice and national unity.
“We have, therefore, always been in favor of truth-finding as it has been successful in similar cases elsewhere in the world and has led to reconciliation and peace,” the NDP added.
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