Convicted Suriname president returns

PARAMARIBO, Suriname — More than 1,500 supporters welcomed Suriname President Desi Bouterse as he returned Sunday to the South American country just days after a court convicted him in the 1982 killings of 15 political opponents.

Bouterse dismissed the 20-year prison sentence that he received on Friday as he greeted supporters after an official trip to China.

“There is a lot of love in my party,” he said during a news conference held at a nature resort close to the airport, adding that the decision by the panel of three judges was unexpected. “It was clear that the verdict was political.”

Bouterse declined further comment, saying he was advised by his lawyer to not talk about the ruling. He said only that he would meet with his advisers and members of Parliament on the strategy to follow, adding that he is focused on the May 2020 general elections.

The court did not issue an arrest order for Bouterse after its verdict, and defense attorney Irvin Kanhai has appealed the decision.

The court verdict followed a trial that began in 2007 and faced multiple setbacks, including efforts by Bouterse to halt the legal proceedings and push through an amnesty law that was ruled unconstitutional.