Sadness, disbelief and many questions at the Bouterse home after his death

“We are going to ensure that his legacy continues. And that as Surinamese we maintain unity within all population groups, because that is what he wanted,” says Kleber Drenthe, from the youth department of the National Democratic Party (NDP). Together with a group of supporters and fellow party members of the deceased ex-president Desi Bouterse, he stands early on Christmas Day at Bouterse’s home in the Leonsberg district, on the Suriname River. There is a sad atmosphere, people comfort each other.

If there is one politician who has divided Suriname to the core for decades, it is Desi Bouterse: hated by many, loved by many. Some supporters went to the house in the middle of the night, after reports appeared on social media that Bouterse had died. Over the weekend, judicial authorities carried out searches at various locations. Bouterse was sentenced a year ago on appeal to twenty years in prison for his role in the December murders, but had fled. His home was also raided.

Could the rumors be true, many wondered on social media, or were they deliberately spread in response to the raids? Finally, in the early morning of this Wednesday, Bouterse’s death was officially confirmed by Albert Ramdin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Suriname.

By then it had already become busier around his house. Drenthe proudly shows his tattoo. In large letters it reads DDB, the abbreviation for Desiré Delano Bouterse, the full name of the former president. “He will remain in my heart forever. And as far as I am concerned, it is the fault of his opponents, including the Netherlands, that he is now dead. The entire December 8 process was a political process. But everyone should know: the NDP will continue, Bouterse’s ideology will continue,” says Drenthe firmly.

The trial revolved around the murder of fifteen opponents of the former military regime led by Bouterse in 1982. On December 8 of this year, the murders took place in the military headquarters Fort Zeelandia. Bouterse has always denied his role.

Autopsy

Bouterse’s cause of death was not yet known on Wednesday morning. Bouterse’s doctor Rabindranath Khoen comes for the autopsy and determines the death, but does not want to confirm to journalists whether it was a natural death or not. “I leave that to the justice system. My job is to determine: is he dead or not? I can’t say anything else about it,” he says. Later in the morning, a police car arrives and the remains are seized.

An official cause of death is not yet known

It is also not known how and when his body was brought to Bouterse’s house. There are rumors that Bouterse was ultimately hiding in Commewijne, a district close to Paramaribo, in a location that could be reached by boat or plane. The remains could possibly have been brought to the house by boat via the river – Bouterse’s house is located on the Suriname River. No official announcements have been made about this yet.

Only when Bouterse’s body is released by the authorities “can we think about what further steps we are going to take,” says Ramon Abrahams, visibly shaken. Abrahams is one of the most influential party members within the NDP and was Bouterse’s right-hand man for many years.

The remains of the deceased Bouterse were collected from his home and transferred to the mortuary. Bouterse was on the run for a year and died at a safe house. It is not yet known how and when the body was brought into his home.

A daughter of Bouterse still has to come to Suriname from abroad to attend the funeral, he adds. There are now about a hundred supporters at the house, including fellow party members such as Bouterse’s former vice president, Ashwin Adhin. “Suriname will never be the same again. He was a big part of our identity, especially for a younger generation that I belong to,” he says.

Suriname will never be the same again

In a statement President Chan Santokhi offers his condolences to the relatives of ex-president Bouterse. He also calls on “everyone to remain dignified and to maintain calm and peace and order.”

Earlier in the morning, Vice President Ronnie Brunswijk expressed his condolences to the family on social media. “His life had a lasting impact on our country, and his efforts will not be forgotten,” Brunswijk said. During the Internal War (1986-1992) Brunswijk Bouterses was an arch enemy, later both leaders started working together.

Laurens Needea former soldier and confidante of Bouterse, speaks to the press at the house of the deceased fugitive former president Bouterse.

Relatives of Bouterse’s victims in Suriname had not responded until mid-Wednesday morning local time.

With the cooperation of Jason Pinas in Paramaribo.

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