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Paramaribo, Suriname – January 4, 2025 – Thousands of Surinamese citizens lined the streets on Saturday to pay their final respects to former president and military strongman Desi Delano Bouterse, who was cremated after a procession filled with both reverence and controversy.

Bouterse, who passed away at 79 just hours before Christmas Day, was denied a state funeral by the administration of President Chan Santokhi, citing his role in two military coups and the infamous December 1982 killings of 15 political opponents. Despite this, supporters hailed him as a transformative nationalist who reshaped Suriname’s political landscape.

A Procession of Loyalty and Grief

The day began with close relatives, friends, and National Democratic Party (NDP) leaders viewing Bouterse’s body at his riverside home. His wooden casket, draped in Suriname’s national flag, was flanked by elderly former soldiers in olive-green fatigues, symbolizing his military legacy.

The procession snaked through a 20-mile route to the NDP headquarters, stopping frequently as grieving supporters surrounded the glass-fronted casket for a final glimpse. Thousands more gathered at the crematorium, many waiting hours to bid farewell to the controversial leader who never served a day of his 20-year prison sentence for the 1982 atrocities.

Controversial Legacy and Mysterious Death

Bouterse’s death has been shrouded in mystery. After disappearing from public view in January 2024 to evade imprisonment, his body was found at his home in unclear circumstances. An autopsy revealed liver failure due to alcohol abuse. The circumstances of his return to his home undetected by security forces have sparked a national investigation.

Adding to the day’s intrigue, three of Bouterse’s co-defendants, currently serving sentences, were granted special permission to pay their respects at the mortuary.

A Polarizing Figure Remembered

At the NDP headquarters, Bouterse was eulogized as a fierce nationalist who had redefined the country’s politics, albeit through methods that divided public opinion. “He never let himself be locked up,” said Ramon Abrahams, Bouterse’s longtime ally and former works minister.

Abrahams recounted their final conversation before Bouterse’s disappearance. “He told me, ‘Ramon, under no circumstances will I let myself be locked up.’ He made his decision and followed his ideals, no matter the consequences,” Abrahams shared.

Bouterse’s supporters, many of whom view him as a hero, lamented his absence during critical moments in Suriname’s ongoing political struggles. Others continue to grapple with his divisive legacy, marked by both transformative leadership and grave human rights abuses.

The Nation Reflects

While Bouterse’s supporters celebrate his contributions to Suriname, critics remain steadfast in their condemnation of his past actions. His cremation marked the end of an era, leaving a nation to grapple with the complex legacy of a leader whose life epitomized both power and controversy.

Investigations into the circumstances of his death and disappearance remain ongoing.