Suriname’s ex-dictator Desi Bouterse

PARAMARIBO, Suriname (Caribbean Net News) – A court here in Paramaribo heard on Friday that Suriname’s ex-dictator Desi Bouterse ordered the killing of 15 political opponents in December 1982, and had actively participated in the murder of at least two of the victims.

In his testimony Friday, Henry Behr told a military court that he learned of Bouterse’s alleged involvement in the executions during a March 1996 meeting with Paul Bhagwandas, the former battalion-commander of the Surinamese National Army.

According to the witness, whose brother Bram Behr, a journalist, was among the victims, Bhagwandas claimed that Bouterse ordered the execution of the 15 men, who were being held captive in the then military headquarters Fort Zeelandia in Paramaribo. At the time of the interview with Behr, Bhagwandas was terminally ill.

The former number three of the army allegedly told the witness that the victims, including lawyers, businessmen, journalists, trade unionists and army officers were one by one arraigned before a tribunal existing of Bouterse and his second-in-command Roy Horb, to hear their death sentence.

Bhagwandas claimed that he personally shot and killed several of the victims saying he enjoyed killing them and allegedly bragged that if given the chance he would do it again.

Former army commander Bouterse participated actively in the executions of trade unionist Cyrill Daal and army lieutenant Soerindre Rambocus, because he held a personal grudge against them, Bhagwandas allegedly told the witness.

Bhagwandas died in 1996.

For the December 8, 1982, execution-style killings, 25 people, including three former cabinet ministers, army officers and civilians have been charged. Bouterse has always denied direct involvement in the murders, saying that he didn’t pull any trigger because he was not present in Fort Zeelandia during the executions.

He claimed political responsibility, however, since he was the then government leader and for the first time offered a public apology to the families of the victims during a political meeting in 2007.

Investigations into the murders started in 2000, but Bouterse, who since the start of the trial in November 2007 has failed to appear in court, labelled the court martial a political trial.

The former dictator is the leader of the National Democratic Party, Suriname’s largest opposition party, which is contesting next year’s general election.

Since the start of the investigations his party is pushing for amnesty for all involved in the 1982 killings. The court hearing continues on October 23.