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| SURINAME |
Suriname elected a new president on
Monday, ending the long rule of Desi Bouterse, who dominated the small
South American nation’s politics since its independence through
intimidation and charisma.
The president, Chan Santokhi, a 61-year-old former police chief and leader of the opposition, was elected to the office by Suriname’s Congress following a landslide opposition victory in the May general elections.
The president, Chan Santokhi, a 61-year-old former police chief and leader of the opposition, was elected to the office by Suriname’s Congress following a landslide opposition victory in the May general elections.
In handing Mr. Santokhi a victory, the Surinamese punished Mr. Bouterse, a former military dictator turned populist champion, for a disastrous economic crisis and the widespread corruption in his government.
Note EU Digest: Finally Desi Bouterse, who dominated the small South American nation’s politics since its independence in 1975 from the Netherlands, at first by a coupe d'etat, where he ruled as a dictator, and later, as a populist president, is President no more .
On June 2017, during a military court case, the prosecutor Roy Elgrin read his conclusions, and demanded a 20-year prison sentence for the main suspect Desi Bouterse. for the murder of 15 prominent young Surinamese men on 7, 8, and 9 December 1982, who had criticized the military dictatorship of Bouterse then ruling Suriname. The cruel killing became known as the "December murders" "Dutch: December moorden) Bouterse his lawyer has deposited an appeal. Final ruling is pending.
In memoriam - Suriname's heroes December Massacre
In memoriam - Suriname's heroes December Massacre
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