PARAMARIBO, Suriname (CMC) – The main Opposition National Democratic Party has praised China for is support of the Desi Bouterse government, saying that the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country is still benefiting from that relations.

“In 2019, former President Desi Bouterse paid a historic state visit to China, the most powerful country in Asia and an important player on the world stage. During that visit, the foundation was laid for numerous projects from which Suriname still benefits today,” the NDP said in a statement.

The statement follows the visit of the Chinese Ambassador to Suriname Lin Ji, who paid his condolences to the NDP on behalf of President Xi Jinping and the people of the People’s Republic of China. He later signed the condolence book.

Bouterse, 79, died last week due to liver disease, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) said, adding that the report showed the probable date of death was Monday or Tuesday last week.

“The cause of death was determined to be: complication of liver failure in severe liver fibrosis, caused by chronic alcohol use,” according to the office of the Attorney-General.

The funeral will take place on Saturday, January 4. The government said it will not be a state funeral and that no foreign heads of state will be invited, adding that the government in the Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country has not yet received any requests from foreign heads of government is likely to attend the funeral.

On Thursday night, various artists paid tribute to Bouterse, who the NDP said loved music and had encouraged artists to develop their talents.

On 25 February 1980, Bouterse, as sergeant and chairman of the newly established military union, led a coup and deposed the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Henck Arron. The military then established the National Military Council (NMR), appointed a new government and suspended the Constitution and parliament. The policy under Bouterse’s regime led to what would later be known as the December murders.

Bouterse was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Court of Justice in December 2023 on appeal for involvement in the murder of 15 people, including journalists, lawyers and human rights activists on December 8, 1982.

The court ruled that although no evidence was provided that Bouterse shot one or more of the victims himself, there was evidence that he gave the order to do so and was in control of the massacre from the beginning to the end.

Following his conviction Bouterse had been on the run ever since, along with his body guard, Iwan Dijksteel, who had also been sentenced to 15 years in jail.