Political tension around Bouterse

It remains concerning that former president Desi Bouterse and Iwan Dijksteel have still not been found. Minister Albert Ramdin of Foreign Affairs, International Business, and International Cooperation (BIBIS) emphasized the importance of enforcing verdicts and that Bouterse must serve his sentence as determined by the court. This is crucial for maintaining the rule of law in Suriname.
The situation remains unclear, and the public’s sense of justice has been undermined, according to Ramdin. Bouterse and Dijksteel have always maintained their innocence and requested a review of their verdicts, but these requests have consistently been denied.
After their convictions in December 2023, several attempts have been made to track them down, including house raids on January 17, 2024. Bouterse was sentenced to 20 years in prison and Dijksteel to 15 years for their roles in the December murders of 1982.
Although three other convicts have since turned themselves in, Bouterse and Dijksteel remain fugitives. Minister Kenneth Amoksi of Justice and Police confirmed that authorities are using all available resources to locate them, including international cooperation with friendly nations.
The case is also politically charged, with the National Democratic Party (NDP) announcing its intention to grant amnesty to Bouterse if it returns to power in 2025. This adds complexity to the situation and shows that the matter is far from resolved.
On December 20, 2023, Desi Bouterse, Ernst Gefferie, Benny Brondenstein, Stephanus Dendoe, and Iwan Dijksteel were convicted on appeal for their roles in the December murders.

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