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Suriname ex-President Desi Bouterse dead at 79, foreign minister states

Suriname's fugitive previous President Desi Bouterse has passed away aged 79, the country's. federal government said on Wednesday, practically a year after he left. authorities to prevent prison following his conviction over the. murder of 15 political activists in 1982.

The federal government has actually been notified through the household and its. own examinations of the death of Mr. D. Bouterse,. ex-President of the Republic of Suriname, Foreign Minister. Albert Ramdin informed Reuters.

The former leader passed away on Tuesday, the federal government said,. without confirming where, and even which country. Last week. Surinamese authorities raided his home - where supporters. gathered to pay their aspects on Wednesday early morning - but did. not find him. Bouterse controlled politics in the small South American country. for years, leading a coup in 1980 and finally leaving office. in 2020.

In 2019 he and six others were convicted for their function in. the 1982 murders of 15 leading federal government critics - including. attorneys, reporters, union leaders, soldiers and university. professors - for which Bouterse got a 20-year jail. sentence.

Bouterse had declared the killed guys were linked to a. organized intrusion of the former Dutch colony. Following years of legal back and forth, Bouterse was purchased to. report to jail in January but he did disappoint up on the. designated date.

The former president's family will make a statement later. Wednesday, members of his political party told journalists.

(source: Reuters)