Dési Bouterse
Encyclopedia
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse (ˈbɑutərsə) (born 13 October 1945) is the 9th and current President of Suriname
.
As an army officer, he was the de facto
leader of Suriname
through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council. As leader of the National Democratic Party
(Nationale Democratische Partij, NDP) Bouterse was elected on 19 July 2010 and installed as the new President of Suriname on 12 August 2010.
, Bouterse grew up in Suriname. He attended the Middelbare Handelsschool and acquired the MULO diploma (roughly equivalent to junior secondary general education). He received his military education in the Netherlands.
until the beginning of the 1990s. On 25 February 1980, the government of newly-independent Suriname underwent a military coup which declared the country to be a Socialist Republic and Bouterse became Chairman of the National Military Council. President Johan Ferrier
was forced out of office by Bouterse pressure in August 1980, and several months after the coup d'état by Bouterse most of the political authority transferred to the military leadership. From then until 1988, the titular Presidents were essentially army-installed by Bouterse, who ruled as a de facto leader with few practical checks on his power.
. In July 1999, he was convicted in absentia
in the Netherlands to nine years in prison for cocaine trafficking. Since 1999 there is an international warrant for his arrest ordered by Europol
. According to the United Nations Convention against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, since he was convicted before his election as Head of State
since 2010 he has no immunity
. This was confirmed by various specialists in International law. Wikileaks
published in 2011 a cable in which the American embassy confirmed Bouterse's involvement, together with that of Shaheed Roger Khan from Guyana, in the drugs trade. Representatives of the parliament say that President Bouterse should give an explanation for the Wikileaks cable, but officials from the government discard this as not being their problem.
, in which 15 prominent opponents of the military regime were shot dead. He denied being present and that the decision was made by the commander of the battalion, Paul Bhagwandas, who died in 1996. He did, however, accept political responsibility.
, Jules Wijdenbosch
, and Venetiaan again, Bouterse tried repeatedly to return to power through elections. In the 2010 Surinamese legislative election
, Bouterse and his coalition, the Mega Combination (De Mega Combinatie) were voted to become the biggest party in Suriname. The coalition failed to gain an absolute majority in parliament by three seats, requiring 51 seats. In order to secure the votes necessary to become President, Bouterse needed to cooperate with either Ronnie Brunswijk
- his former enemy - or the Javanese leader Salam Somohardjo of the Peoples Alliance (Volks Alliantie), who had left the New Front party before the election. On July 19, 2010, Bouterse was elected as President of Suriname
; he was installed to the office on August 12, 2010.
President of Suriname
The President of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of Suriname....
.
As an army officer, he was the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
leader of Suriname
Suriname
Suriname , officially the Republic of Suriname , is a country in northern South America. It borders French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, and on the north by the Atlantic Ocean. Suriname was a former colony of the British and of the Dutch, and was previously known as...
through most of the 1980s, serving as Chairman of the National Military Council. As leader of the National Democratic Party
National Democratic Party (Suriname)
The National Democratic Party is a political party in Suriname. It was founded in 1987 shortly before the downfall of military dictator Dési Bouterse....
(Nationale Democratische Partij, NDP) Bouterse was elected on 19 July 2010 and installed as the new President of Suriname on 12 August 2010.
Early years
Born in Paramaribo DistrictParamaribo District
Paramaribo is a district of Suriname, encompassing the city of Paramaribo and the surrounding area.Paramaribo district has a population of 213,840 and an area 183 km²....
, Bouterse grew up in Suriname. He attended the Middelbare Handelsschool and acquired the MULO diploma (roughly equivalent to junior secondary general education). He received his military education in the Netherlands.
Chairman of the National Military Council
Bouterse's name is closely bound with the military regime that controlled Suriname from the 1980 Surinamese coup d'état1980 Surinamese coup d'état
The Surinamese coup d'état of 1980, usually referred to as the sergeants coup occurred on 25 February, when a group of sergeants of the Surinamese army took control of Suriname's government. The group declared the country to be a Socialist Republic, and stated that they would collectively run the...
until the beginning of the 1990s. On 25 February 1980, the government of newly-independent Suriname underwent a military coup which declared the country to be a Socialist Republic and Bouterse became Chairman of the National Military Council. President Johan Ferrier
Johan Ferrier
Johan Henri Eliza Ferrier was a Surinamese politician who served as the 1st President of Suriname from November 25, 1975, until August 13, 1980. He was that country's last governor before independence, from 1968 to 1975, and first president after it gained independence from the Netherlands...
was forced out of office by Bouterse pressure in August 1980, and several months after the coup d'état by Bouterse most of the political authority transferred to the military leadership. From then until 1988, the titular Presidents were essentially army-installed by Bouterse, who ruled as a de facto leader with few practical checks on his power.
Drug trafficking
Since the return of democratic government, Bouterse has been accused on various occasions of involvement in illegal drug traffickingIllegal drug trade
The illegal drug trade is a global black market, dedicated to cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of those substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs by drug prohibition laws.A UN report said the...
. In July 1999, he was convicted in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
in the Netherlands to nine years in prison for cocaine trafficking. Since 1999 there is an international warrant for his arrest ordered by Europol
Europol
Europol is the European Union's criminal intelligence agency. It became fully operational on 1 July 1999....
. According to the United Nations Convention against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, since he was convicted before his election as Head of State
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
since 2010 he has no immunity
Immunity from prosecution (international law)
Immunity from prosecution is a doctrine of international law that allows an accused to avoid prosecution for criminal offences. Immunities are of two types. The first is functional immunity, or immunity ratione materiae. This is an immunity granted to people who perform certain functions of...
. This was confirmed by various specialists in International law. Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
published in 2011 a cable in which the American embassy confirmed Bouterse's involvement, together with that of Shaheed Roger Khan from Guyana, in the drugs trade. Representatives of the parliament say that President Bouterse should give an explanation for the Wikileaks cable, but officials from the government discard this as not being their problem.
December murders
Although he was convicted in the Netherlands, he has remained free in Suriname. The Surinamese government has said that it is preparing a case against the perpetrators of the December murders to be brought before a judge. The cases were ongoing as of April 2006. Bouterse has denied any involvement in the killings on 8 December 1982 at Fort ZeelandiaFort Zeelandia (Paramaribo)
Fort Zeelandia is a fortress in Paramaribo, Suriname, that was built by British colonists in 1651 around a small trading post, created by the Dutch...
, in which 15 prominent opponents of the military regime were shot dead. He denied being present and that the decision was made by the commander of the battalion, Paul Bhagwandas, who died in 1996. He did, however, accept political responsibility.
President of Suriname
After the return of democratic government, led in succession by Ronald VenetiaanRonald Venetiaan
Ronald Runaldo Venetiaan served as the 6th and 8th President of Suriname. His first term as president ran from 1991 to 1996 after which he lost in the elections to Jules Wijdenbosch...
, Jules Wijdenbosch
Jules Wijdenbosch
Jules Albert Wijdenbosch is a politician in Suriname. He was a member of the National Democratic Party, which held absolute power in Suriname during the 1980s. He was Prime Minister from April 1987 until January 1988, Vice President from January 1991 until September 1991, and President from...
, and Venetiaan again, Bouterse tried repeatedly to return to power through elections. In the 2010 Surinamese legislative election
Surinamese legislative election, 2010
A legislative election was held in Suriname on 25 May 2010.Nine parties contested the election. Pre-election polls suggested a share of 41% of the vote going to the "Mega Combination" coalition, that includes the National Democratic Party of former dictator Dési Bouterse. The ruling Nieuw Front ...
, Bouterse and his coalition, the Mega Combination (De Mega Combinatie) were voted to become the biggest party in Suriname. The coalition failed to gain an absolute majority in parliament by three seats, requiring 51 seats. In order to secure the votes necessary to become President, Bouterse needed to cooperate with either Ronnie Brunswijk
Ronnie Brunswijk
Ronnie Brunswijk is a Surinamese rebel leader, politician, business man, and convict. After having been the personal body guard of Desi Bouterse in the early 1980s, he turned against his former boss by forming the Jungle Commando which fought the Bouterse regime "on behalf of the Maroon...
- his former enemy - or the Javanese leader Salam Somohardjo of the Peoples Alliance (Volks Alliantie), who had left the New Front party before the election. On July 19, 2010, Bouterse was elected as President of Suriname
President of Suriname
The President of the Republic of Suriname is, in accordance with the Constitution of 1987, the head of state, head of government, and commander-in-chief of Suriname....
; he was installed to the office on August 12, 2010.