A man suspected of committing multiple murders of civilians during the Interior War (1986 – 1992) in Suriname was arrested in Amsterdam on Tuesday. That has let the Public Prosecution Service know on Friday. The 55-year-old Dutchman born in Suriname is suspected of war crimes.
The suspect is said to have committed the murders in June 1987 as commander of the Surinamese National Army of Desi Bouterse, which at the time was fighting against the Jungle Commando of Ronnie Brunswijk. Before the Interior War, he was Bouterse’s bodyguard. Hundreds of civilians were killed in that conflict and tens of thousands had to flee their homes. Brunswijk has been vice president of Suriname since last year.
war crimes
The Public Prosecution Service says that the detainee “indicated in various ways” that he belonged to the National Army at the time of the war and that he had murdered several people. After a report against him, the Public Prosecution Service and the International Crimes Team of the police started an investigation. People suspected of war crimes, an international crime, who are in the Netherlands can be prosecuted here.
Police are still looking for information. “This mainly concerns statements about the so-called ‘cleansing actions’ in the Brokopondo area, in the vicinity of Brownsweg in June 1987,” the Public Prosecution Service writes. “In this area the Surinamese National Army carried out actions in which civilians were killed.”
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