Autopsy: Bouterse died of liver failure linked to chronic alcohol use
Desi Bouterse, the former president of Suriname, died from complications of liver failure caused by severe liver fibrosis, which stemmed from chronic alcohol use, according to the autopsy report released by the Surinamese Public Prosecution Service on Saturday.
The body has been released to Bouterse’s family, although the police investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death continues. Authorities confirmed that no signs of foul play were found on the body. The former leader passed away earlier this week at the age of 79.
The police reported receiving information early Wednesday morning that Bouterse’s body had been transported by unknown individuals to his residence in the Leonsberg neighborhood of Paramaribo. The Surinamese Public Prosecution Service subsequently ordered the body to be seized and examined to determine the cause of death.
Bouterse, who had been a fugitive since his conviction in 2022 for his role in the 1982 December Murders, was not afforded a state funeral, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Albert Ramdin. Despite serving as president for a decade, his conviction for the murders of 15 political opponents led to the decision by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi’s administration to forgo a state burial or any period of national mourning.
Ramdin announced that only on the day of the funeral will flags at government buildings be flown at half-staff, and the Minister of Internal Affairs will attend the ceremony at the request of the family but will not deliver a eulogy. “Every deceased individual deserves a respectful burial,” Ramdin said, calling on the public to demonstrate dignity and restraint amid polarizing reactions to Bouterse’s death.
The December Murders, one of the darkest episodes in Suriname’s history, occurred during Bouterse’s military rule in the 1980s. Fifteen dissidents, including journalists, lawyers, and military personnel, were tortured and executed at Fort Zeelandia, Bouterse’s headquarters. While the regime claimed the victims were plotting a coup, no evidence supported these allegations. Bouterse was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement, a conviction upheld on appeal last year.
After the ruling, Bouterse went into hiding, and his whereabouts remained unknown until his death. It was later alleged that his was hiding in Cuba and Venezuela.
The Surinamese National Forensic Institute has indicated that the criminal investigation into the circumstances of Bouterse’s death is ongoing, with several individuals being questioned. Justice and Police Minister Kenneth Amoksi urged the public to refrain from speculation and await the results of the inquiry, which is expected to conclude early next week.
Bouterse’s health issues were known prior to his death. Reports indicated he had been a kidney patient, though it was chronic alcohol consumption that ultimately led to the severe liver damage described in the autopsy.
