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Desi Bouterse

Desiré "Desi" Delano Bouterse was a Surinamese military officer, politician, and convicted drug trafficker, who served as the eighth president of Suriname from 2010 to 2020, having previously led the country twice after a coup as a military dictator from 1980 to 1987 and again from 1990 to 1991. He was the founding president of the National Democratic Party (NDP) from 1987 to 2024.

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politics · Leader of Suriname (1980–1987; 1990–1991; 2010–2020) · politician · military personnel · commander-in-chief · also Desi Bouterse, Dési Bouterse, Lnt. Kol. Desire Bouterse, Bouterse

Born 13 October 1945 · Died 23 December 2024 · Q57667

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Aug 2026Quote
I want to apologise to all the relatives of the victims. But to think you can lock me up? Never, niemals, jamais, nunca.
76%WikipediaSource Permalink
Jan 2013Milestone
Career landmark: President pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations (2013–2014).
84%WikipediaSource Permalink

2026· 1 entry

Aug 22, 2026Documented record76% confidence

“I want to apologise to all the relatives of the victims. But to think you can lock me up? Never, niemals, jamais, nunca.”

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2024· 4 entries

Dec 25, 2024Documented record69% confidence

clickondetroit.com: Desi Bouterse, a dictator convicted of murder who twice ruled Suriname, has died at 79

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Dec 25, 2024Documented record69% confidence

Yahoo: Suriname fugitive ex-President Desi Bouterse dead at 79

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Dec 25, 2024Documented record69% confidence

Voice of America: Desi Bouterse, dictator convicted of murder who ruled Suriname, dies at 79

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Dec 23, 2024Documented record86% confidence

Died 2024-12-23.

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2023· 1 entry

2023Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment for the 1982 murders of fifteen political dissidents

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2016· 1 entry

2016Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

And in November 2019 the military court convicted Bouterse to 20 years imprisonment for the December killings

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2013· 1 entry

Jan 1, 2013Documented record84% confidence

Career landmark: President pro tempore of the Union of South American Nations (2013–2014).

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2012· 1 entry

Jan 1, 2012Documented record76% confidence

“The December Murders trial is a political trial which has the purpose to eliminate Bouterse from the political arena and therefore the Amnesty Act is needed.”

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2011· 1 entry

2011Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Bouterse was active in the drug trade until 2006

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2010· 2 entries

Jan 1, 2010Documented record84% confidence

Career landmark: President of Suriname (2010–2020).

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2010Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Has no immunity under international law

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2009· 1 entry

2009Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Bouterse said that the trial was being used by his political opponents to prevent him from running for office again and for their own political gain

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2005· 2 entries

2005Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Was convicted to 15 years' imprisonment for the 2002 murder and robbery of a Chinese trader

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2005Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

To eight years' imprisonment in a Surinamese court for narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and theft of luxury vehicles

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2000· 1 entry

2000Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Stated that the decision for these killings was made by the commander of the battalion, Paul Bhagwandas, who died in 1996

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1986· 1 entry

1986Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Against a village of Maroons during the Surinamese Interior War which pitted his government first against the maroon guerrilla group Jungle Commando, led by his former bodyguard, Ronnie Brunswijk, and then against the i

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1985· 2 entries

1985Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

It banned political parties and restricted freedom of assembly

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1985Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

The government lifted the ban on opposition parties, beginning a transition to civilian rule

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1982· 2 entries

Jan 1, 1982Documented record76% confidence

“suspects who were plotting to overthrow the government later in December were shot dead while trying to flee Fort Zeelandia”

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1982Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Bouterse closed the University of Suriname

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1979· 1 entry

1979Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Bouterse accepted a request by Roy Horb to become chairman of a new Surinamese military workers' union (Bomika; Bond voor Militair Kader)

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1970· 1 entry

1970Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Bouterse married Ingrid Figueira, whom he had known as a teenager in Suriname

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1968· 1 entry

1968Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Bouterse moved to the Netherlands, where he was conscripted into the armed forces of the Netherlands (Nederlandse Krijgsmacht)

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1945· 1 entry

Oct 13, 1945Documented record86% confidence

Born 1945-10-13.

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