By Ivan Cairo
Caribbean Net News Suriname Correspondent
Email: ivan@caribbeannetnews.com

PARAMARIBO, Suriname: A military court in Suriname on Friday rejected all formal objections of Desi Bouterse, 63, a former military dictator, and 22 co-defendants standing trial for the murder of 15 political opponents in December 1982. Starting on November 30, 2007, at four hearings, attorneys presented several preliminary motions questioning the competency of the military court to hear the case, while defendants were also disputing the authority of the prosecutor to try the case.

Desi Bouterse. Photo by Ivan Cairo

Just before court president, judge Cynthia Valstein-Montnor read the verdict, lawyers and several defendants left the court claiming that they were waiting in vain for the hearing to start without receiving any information from the court what was causing the delay. The hearing scheduled to start at 9.00 a.m. commenced around 11.30 a.m. By then only former army commander Arthy Gorre and a few suspects who are defending their own case were in the court room.

“We are tired of being treated disrespectfully. This is not the first time,” disgruntled attorney John Kraag responded to journalists when leaving the court house.

“We were sitting here since 9.00 a.m. here and there’s nobody around to tell us what’s going on. We also requested for a meeting with the court president, but she refused to invite us and now we are leaving since we also have other business to take care of," he added.

His colleague Irwin Kanhai, noted that if necessary the lawyers will tell the court why they had to leave. “If the court wants to know why we left, we will surely tell why,” said Kanhai.

After reading the verdict, the hearings were adjourned until further notice. Spokeswoman for the trial, Marjory Sanches, told reporters that a date for the continuation of the case has not been set since three other suspects are to appear before a civilian court. Sanches argued that those suspects, three former cabinet ministers, should also be in a position for them to present motions to the court before the trial would continue.

Several relatives of the 15 victims expressed relief that ultimately the trial will continue and justice will be served.

“I have the feeling that everything will be alright. I am very relieved,” said Rani Sohansingh, sister of Robby Sohansingh, a businessman killed on December 8, 1982. Sohansingh, a lawyer of profession, said that given the nature of the exceptions she had expected the court’s rejection.

Former army commander Desi Bouterse, currently an elected member of parliament, and 24 others including former army officers, ex-ministers and politicians are facing lengthy prison terms if convicted for the extra-judicial killing of 15 businessmen, university lecturers, union leaders, journalists and army officers on December 8, 1982.

In 2007 Bouterse publicly offered apologies to the relatives of the victims as former government leader, but denied any personal involvement in the killings.