Netherlands prosecutes Surinam ex-ruler

Bouterse denies any involvement in the executions

By Geraldine Coughlan in the Hague

The High Court of Amsterdam has ruled that Surinam's former military leader, Desi Bouterse, is to be prosecuted in absentia for torture.

Mr Bouterse, who seized power in the former Dutch colony in 1980, is accused of playing a key role in the December murders of 1982, when 15 opposition members were executed for allegedly plotting a counter-coup.

The December murders are considered the most traumatic event in Surinam's history.

The relatives of the victims of the murders have waged a long campaign to bring this case to court.

Desi Bouterse, now an opposition member of parliament in Surinam, denies any involvement in the executions.

No extradition

Surinam is not obliged to send Mr Bouterse to the Netherlands to face trial, as there is no extradition treaty between the two countries.

However the court in Amsterdam does regard Surinam as having primacy in the case.

Surinam itself has only just begun to investigate the December murders and Surinam therefore asked the Netherlands on Monday to co-operate and assist in its investigations.

The Netherlands will go ahead and prosecute Desi Bouterse on charges of torture. The court has allowed some flexibility to include charges of crimes against humanity, depending on the evidence gathered by the prosecution.

This legal investigation is likely to last over a year.

After that, the chief prosecutor will decide whether the Bouterse case merits a trial.