Convicted Bouterse suggests that deal is in the making, Surinamese president denies | Abroad

Bouterse was sentenced to twenty years in prison last Wednesday for his role in the December murders of 1982. He is still at large, just like the four former soldiers who each received fifteen years in prison. According to the ex-army chief and former president, the government would be willing to create special facilities for him. He made his statements on the Surinamese radio station LIM FM.

Santokhi denied that. “The verdict has been reached,” said a press release from his cabinet. According to him, convicts can make use of the options offered by Surinamese law. The Public Prosecution Service is responsible for carrying out the sentence.

The verdict in this case involving “serious human rights violations” is of major concern to society and for understandable reasons, Santokhi acknowledges. He assures that the government will carefully deal with all aspects of this matter and calls for calmly and patiently awaiting the actions of the authorities designated for this purpose by law.

The Surinamese government will share its insights with the Public Prosecution Service about the eventual detention of the convicts and the associated security measures, Santokhi reports. “To this end, internal evaluations are made and relevant scenarios are studied, partly based on information and experiences nationally and internationally, on how this can best be done.”

Finally, the president says that the government will not get ahead of itself. It will act in accordance with the rule of law and principles of good governance. In its deliberations it will take into account the importance of peace, order and safety of society.

Bouterse says he has not yet submitted a formal request for clemency to President Santokhi. He says he is discussing this with his lawyer. “It is also indecent to make unqualified statements while you are in a conclave with the highest leadership, in this case the president,” Bouterse said.