He took power in a military coup in 1980 and later served as the country’s president. He was also convicted of ordering the murder of 15 political opponents.
Tag: Bouterse, Desi
Suriname Elects a New President, Ending Bouterse’s Long Rule
Desi Bouterse has cast a long shadow over Suriname since its independence. Once a dictator, he returned as a populist, but fell in the face of the pandemic and an economic crisis.
Suriname’s President Shrugs Off Murder Sentence in Re-election Bid
If President Desi Bouterse can hang on to immunity, past crimes could become just another chapter in his four-decade battle to stay in power.
A Philosopher-Banker Who’s Shaking Up a Nation
Steven Coutinho had long wanted to help Suriname, his homeland, overcome its colonial past. A huge financial scandal gave him his chance.
Suriname President Convicted in 1982 Killings
The decision by a panel of three judges marked the end of a historic trial that began in November 2007. It was not immediately clear what would happen next.