Dési Bouterse
Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse[1] (13 October 1945 – 23 December 2024) was a Surinamese politician. He was the President of Suriname from 2010 to 2020. From 1980 to 1987 he was Suriname's de facto leader when the country was under military rule.
Dési Bouterse | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2010 | |
| 8th President of Suriname | |
| In office 12 August 2010 – 16 July 2020 | |
| Vice President | Robert Ameerali (2010–2015) Ashwin Adhin (2015–2020) |
| Preceded by | Ronald Venetiaan |
| Succeeded by | Chan Santokhi |
| President pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations | |
| In office 30 August 2013 – 4 December 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Ollanta Humala |
| Succeeded by | José Mujica |
| President of the National Democratic Party | |
| In office 4 July 1987 – 13 July 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Jennifer Geerlings-Simons |
| Chairman of the National Military Council | |
| In office 25 February 1980 – 27 November 1987 | |
| President | Johan Ferrier Henk Chin A Sen Fred Ramdat Misier |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Desiré Delano Bouterse 13 October 1945 Domburg, Suriname |
| Died | 23 December 2024 (aged 79) Suriname |
| Political party | National Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Ingrid Figueira
(m. 1970; sep. 1990)Ingrid Waldring (m. 1990) |
| Children | 3, including Dino Bouterse |
On February 25, 1980, the government of Suriname underwent a military coup led by Bouterse. Though the Suriname Presidency was retained, Bouterse was the nation's ruler until his resignation in 1988.
Bouterse is held responsible for the numerous human rights violations committed under his dictatorship, such as the murder of 15 people known as the December murders, and the massacre in the village Moiwana.
On July 19, 2010, he was elected as President of Suriname with 36 of 50 parliament votes.[2]
In 2023, he was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment for the 1982 murders of fifteen political dissidents.[3] He was reported missing by the Surinamese authorities in January 2024 after refusing to report to prison.[4] He was considered a fugitive until his death.
References
change- ↑ According to the Statutes of the DNP written as Desiré Archived 2013-12-20 at the Wayback Machine. Ndp.sr (2004-04-24). Retrieved on 2012-01-08.
- ↑ Bouterse gekozen tot president Suriname – NRC.nl (Dutch)
- ↑ Rozenblad, Gerold (20 December 2023). "Suriname's ex-dictator sentenced to 20 years in prison for the 1982 killings of political opponents". The Associated Press.
- ↑ "Former Suriname dictator missing after failing to turn himself in to prison". The Guardian. 2024-01-12. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-16.
- ↑ De Ware Tijd, ‘Bouterse maandagavond overleden’, 27 december 2024
- ↑ Starnieuws, Ambassades tekenen condoleanceregister in Ocer, 27 december 2024
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