Portal:Caribbean Community/Selected biography/2

Desiré Delano "Dési" Bouterse (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɑutərsə]) (Domburg (Wanica), 13 October 1945) is the ninth President of Suriname and the current Chairman of the Caribbean Community. From 1980 till 1987 he was dictator of Suriname when the country was under military rule.

Bouterse is de chairman Surinamese political combination Megacombinatie and he is the leader National Democratic Party (Nationale Democratische Partij, NDP). On 19 July 2010 Bouterse was elected as President of Suriname with 36 of 51 parliament votes and on 12 August 2010 he was inaugurated. Bouterse is probably Suriname's most controversial figure. He is held responsible for the numerous human rights violations committed under his dictatorship such as the December murders( he is still the main suspect in this trial) and the Moiwana massacre.