Former Suriname dictator Desi Bouterse, sentenced to 20 years in prison last month for the 1982 killings of 15 political opponents, has vanished after failing to report to authorities as planned. His wife, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring, claims she doesn’t know his whereabouts and insists, “He’s not going to jail!”
The development throws a cloud of uncertainty over Suriname’s already tense political landscape. On Wednesday, Bouterse and four others convicted in the case were ordered to report to various prisons by Friday. Only three complied, appearing frail and subdued under the glare of media attention.
Bouterse’s absence by late Friday prompted the prosecutor’s office to launch an investigation. Earlier, the 78-year-old leader’s residence became a scene of heated demonstrations. Dozens of Bouterse supporters and members of his National Democratic Party gathered amidst loud music and shouts aimed at journalists. Security measures were tightened in response.
“All necessary steps will be taken to ensure the safety of both those involved and the wider society,” the government declared in a statement. While party spokesperson Ricardo Panka reiterated their objection to the sentence and affirmed Bouterse’s position as chairman, he urged supporters to remain calm. “We are not going to create an angry mob to go against the authorities,” he emphasized.
This latest development caps a years-long legal saga. Bouterse was found guilty in December after a protracted 16-year process. This followed previous convictions in 2019 and 2021, both successfully appealed. A new defense team mounted a final appeal this week, arguing an earlier amnesty law should apply, but the Surinamese attorney general rejected the claim on Tuesday.
Bouterse, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1980 and ruled as dictator until 1987, was accused alongside two dozen others of executing prominent figures like lawyers, journalists, and even a university professor in a notorious massacre at a colonial fortress in Paramaribo. While acknowledging “political responsibility” for the killings, Bouterse denies direct involvement.
He later went on to win democratic elections, serving as president from 2010 to 2020. Now, his fugitive status leaves Suriname grappling with both the unresolved legacy of the past and the uncertain path forward, as authorities hunt for the former leader and a nation braces for potential political turmoil.
