Desi Bouterse

Desi Delano Bouterse of Suriname has been a military sports instructor, coup leader, army leader and a politician in the Nationaal Democratische Partij[?] (NDP). He can be labelled the most controversial figure in the history of Suriname.

Bouterse's name is closely bound with the military regime that controlled Suriname from 1980 until the beginning of the 1990s, as well as with the civil war, the "December murders" of 1982 and events in the negro village of Moiwana[?] in 1986. Since then he has been accused on various occasions of involvement in illegal drug trafficing. However for all of the accusations, he has never been judically tried.

After the return of democratic government, led in succession by Ronald Venetiaan[?], Jules Wijdenbos[?] and Venetiaan again, Bouterse tried unsuccessfully to return to power in elections. However, many believe that he retains considerable influence "behind the scenes" in the politics of Suriname.