PARAMARIBO, Suriname, CMC – The Bishop of Paramaribo, Monsignor Karel Choennie, says reconciliation is still possible in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country even after the judicial system carries out the sentences imposed on former president Desi Bouterse and four others by the Court of Justice last week.
Last Wednesday, the Court of Justice dismissed Bouterse’s appeal against a 20-year jail term for his involvement in the murder of 15 men on December 8, 1982. I
Bouterse, the then commander of the Surinamese National Army (SNA) and de facto head of government at the time of the murders, was the main suspect. The other suspects, Ernst Gefferie, Iwan Dijksteel, Stephanus Dendoe, and Benny Brondenstein, were each sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The lawyer of the five men, all ex-army officers, formally informed the Public Prosecution Service that they were considering asking for clemency from the President of Suriname.
Observers here note that in 2018 and 2019, the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations (UN), and the Vatican were willing to look for a solution to the situation, and the Bishop said that it is the church’s responsibility to continue working towards reconciliation and peace in these difficult circumstances.
“In two personal conversations with the then democratically elected President of the Republic of Suriname, Mr DD Bouterse, he told me that he wanted to restore peace and that Suriname would export peace to the world,” Monsignor Choennie said.
“The joint statement that we signed at the time could only express the wish for peace, but the conditions that applied at the time as president were clear: first of all, acceptance of the verdict, stepping down as president, and acceptance of moral responsibility.
“given the surviving relatives, also an expression of regret and then compensation by the State, and finally, a process of healing, in which perpetrators and victims (survivors) come face to face with each other and can tell each other the full truth and possibly grant personal forgiveness. The problem was how we would then deal with serving the punishment. The enforcement lies in the hands of the executive power,” said Monsignor Choennie.
The Roman Catholic Bishop said that there cannot be complete peace as long as perpetrators continue to deny or sink into a strangling silence of shame or remorse.
“There can be no peace for the bereaved if they continue to live with unanswered questions, anger, hatred, and resentment. Without forgiveness, the path to reconciliation is closed, and peace remains beyond our reach.
“What we can learn from the past of slavery is that, 160 years later, we still have to come to terms with that past. The perpetrators and relatives of December 8, 1982, could have saved society a lot of suffering if they had come to reconciliation during their lifetime.
“What they do not do now will become a burden for the next generations, who will then have to solve it, because time does not heal wounds and everything passes, as psychologist Manu Keirse says, except the past.
“Asking and giving forgiveness is not an act of the will, but a grace from God if we open ourselves to Him. It is never too late to open ourselves to God’s grace. The crucified criminal experienced this next to Jesus when he confessed his guilt and asked for forgiveness. Jesus promised him paradise immediately,” said Monsignor Choennie.
He said national forgiveness and reconciliation should also be initiated, as society has been torn apart. A national monument and an independent human rights institute should be set up to serve as a watchdog to protect human rights in Suriname.
“Reconciliation is nevertheless still possible after the execution of the sentence. It will now require much more from the convicted to take moral responsibility and express sincere remorse, but it is never too late in God’s eyes.
“It requires that we appeal to our supernatural powers and let our hearts speak, not just our minds. Perpetrators and surviving relatives, together with the people, will have to open themselves up to God’s merciful and good grace.
“All religions in our country want to continue their efforts to achieve reconciliation and peace in society. Now is the time to show the world that we are a people of faith, not only with pious words but also with loving actions,” Monsignor Choenniethe said.
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