Background
Desi Bouterse was born in Domburg on12 October 1945.
Desi Bouterse was born in Domburg on12 October 1945.
A sergeant, he had sought to unionize the country, following the model of the armed forces of The Netherlands, founding and leading the Nationale Militaire Rand (NMR). It was when the government of Minister President Henck A.E. Arron banned the NMR that the sergeants, led by Bouterse, revolted.
After ruling through a National Military Council of sergeants and lieutenants, and then through several civilian puppet presidents, the military finally made Bouterse chief of state in 1982. By that time, he was a lieutenant colonel.