“Bouterse may participate in elections 2020”

Despite the fact that the Military Court has sentenced Desi Bouterse to twenty years in prison, he still managed to make jokes about the verdict at a meeting with the internal structures of the National Democratic Party (NDP). Bouterse pointed out that the verdict has strengthened the unity of the NDP. “That does not mean that they must lock me up. I m happy with the political verdict of the Military Court”, said Bouterse in Ocer, the headquarters of the NDP. “Bouterse may participate in elections 2020”, said Irvin Kanhai, Bouterse’s attorney, at Friday’s meeting. Kanhai explained that there will be an objection followed by an appeal in this case and that Bouterse will have the status of suspect until a guilty or not guilty decision has been made after the appeal has been processed. “One is innocent until one has been found guilty”, said Kanhai who told the audience that Bouterse can partake in the elections as long as no decision has been made in the appeal case. According to Kanhai, history has put Bouterse there. “We want Bouta! We want Bouta! We want Bouta!”, said the members of the audience. Kanhai responded to these words by pointing out that this is a clear signal from the NDP’s internal structures that Bouterse can’t be stopped. Even supporters of the purple party attended the meeting to show their support and to find out what the chairman of the NDP, Desi Bouterse, and his advisors including Kanhai had to say about the December 8 trial.