Controversial Surinamese President Desi Bouterse yesterday said he has been subjected to much “propaganda” by political opponents and the international press as it relates to his criminal record.
Bouterse, a convicted drug trafficker, seized power in 1980 following a coup d’état and ruled until 1987 when he stepped down because of international pressure. He briefly seized power again in 1990, following a second coup d’état. He and 11 others are currently being tried in a military court for the killing of 15 opponents in 1982 while he was head of a military junta.
During a joint press conference with President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday, Bouterse, in response to a question, said the drug charges against him were “almost a joke” since they were based on the testimony of one disputable witness. Speaking through an interpreter, he said the witness was in jail at the time on drug related charges and remains convicted. He said the prosecution in the case was unable to present credible witnesses and ten witnesses who had been presented were all dismissed. He said though that the incident has been used as a “tremendous political tool”.
Regarding the murder charges, Bouterse said “there was a crisis in the 80s and things happened and it depends a lot on how you look at it from the press and who controls the press.” According to him, “the international press has always presented this as murders that took place and were deliberate, while not focusing on a number of things that happened in those days.” While noting that several “prominent persons” had died, he said this needed to be examined from the backdrop of the realities of the country at the time. He said the issue was never investigated and when he returned to power, it was he who asked Attorney General to take up the case and bring it to the fore so the truth could be known. He said this is an ongoing process.
“Propaganda has done its work,” he said. According to him, the Netherlands had played a role in this, adding that the country was influential in certain parts of the world because of the aid that it gives out.
Bouterse, who was recently elected as the Surinamese leader, was in Guyana on a one-day visit.
