PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC—The opposition National Democratic Party (NDP) Sunday vowed to win the next general election scheduled for May 25 next year as it celebrated the birthday of its chairman and former president Desi Bouterse, whose whereabouts remain a mystery.
Bouterse, 79, has failed to keep his scheduled appointment to report to the prison in Santo Boma, just south of the capital, Paramaribo. He was sentenced to 20 years in jail last December.
In March, the Court of Justice rejected an appeal by Bouterse and his four co-convicts that sought to suspend their lengthy jail terms after they had been convicted of murder.
Three of the co-convicted retired soldiers, Ernst Gefferie, 81, Stephanus Dendoe, 68, and Benny Brondenstein, 68, all reported to prison.
The former military 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.
The prosecution had alleged that the men were arrested on December 7 and 8 nights and transferred to Fort Zeelandia, the then headquarters of the Surinamese National Army. They said the men were tortured and summarily executed.
During that period, Bouterse was in charge of the military junta that ruled the country after his successful coup on February 25, 1980.
The NDP, at a public meeting in the working-class neighborhood of Abra Broki on Sunday, sang praises to the honorary chairman, with the speakers indicating that the gift the party is to win the election convincingly, with speakers emphasizing that Bouterse will be back in their midst next year.
His wife, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring, said she felt strengthened by the many congratulations and support. As is customary on her husband’s birthday, she visited various homes where food and drinks were distributed.
The NDP politicians and Bouterse’s wife claim that their Facebook and party pages were hacked. They criticize the current Santokhi government for the “deteriorating” situation in the Ducth-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
NDP leader Rabin Parmessar said that an anti-fraud platform has been set up to monitor the elections properly because he does not believe that they will be fair.
The party is urging all 730 NDP polling station chairmen to select 30 people who will ensure that the election process runs smoothly. The party said it intends to win at least 20 seats in the 51-member Parliament.
In the last election, the party won 16 seats, down from the 36 it had, allowing Santokhi to head a coalition government.
Meanwhile, in a statement honoring Bouterse’s birthday, the NDP said while he is a “man many love and some hate,” he cannot be ignored.
“A charismatic leader…who put our country on the world map as a country that chooses its path in the interest of the people and refuses to bow to the exploitation of the colonizer or any other power”.
It said that on February 25, 1980, Bouterse brought “salvation from 40 years of racist, narrow-minded and colonial politics.
“He was the answer to bad governance, impoverishment, and ignoring the people’s interests. From that day on, the policy focused on the country and the people, with improving social provisions and developing its economy by establishing hundreds of local production companies, including Staatsolie”.
“Desi, boss, command, chairman, leader of the Revolution, president – we thank you for your tireless leadership. Under your leadership, Suriname has been protected from the dangers of racial strife, and the country has made progress”.
The International Police (INTERPOL) said it has placed Bouterse on its Red Notice list. A Red Notice is an official request to law enforcement authorities worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest an individual pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. It is based on an arrest or court order issued by the judicial authorities in the requesting country.
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