Surinamese minister: 'Destabilizing attempts made from the Netherlands'
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Marcel Vink

Modified: 34 min ago1 hour agoin Domestic

PARAMARIBO - The Surinamese Minister of Foreign Affairs stated fiercely at the press conference on Saturday regarding the funeral of former President Desi Bouterse that 'destabilizing attempts' are being made from the Netherlands to sow unrest in society.

Minister Albert Ramdin was very critical of it. "This is a serious matter," he said at the meeting on Henck Arronstraat in Paramaribo. "The attempts from abroad mainly come from the Netherlands. It is almost criminal."

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No state funeral, but flags at half-mast after death of Desi Bouterse: 'Keep calm'

He did not want to give examples, but did mention social media. "We are a peaceful society that should not be disrupted by actions or activities that disrupt public order or cause unrest. We are angry for a while, but then we stand up straight again and continue." He also did not want to indicate from which corner it comes. "But I can say: from different corners."

Death of Desi Bouterse
There is much unrest in Suriname after the death of former president and army leader Desi Bouterse. This is between supporters of the ex-president, who are mainly his political party NDP supporters, and opponents who react strongly and mainly point to his involvement in the December murders in 1982, in which fifteen opponents and critics were tortured and murdered.

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Tension surrounding Desi Bouterse's funeral in Suriname: fear of last 'middle finger' from former president

"It is very safe to do this from a location where you cannot be found," he continued about the aforementioned attempts from our country to cause chaos. To conclude: "It is cowardly."

Bouterse died on Tuesday, his death was confirmed in the early morning by a doctor. He was 79 years old.