Desi Bouterse Joins Dutch Armed Forces After Moving to Netherlands

Future Surinamese strongman receives military training that shapes his path to power.

Date: 1968

Desi Bouterse Moves to the Netherlands and Begins Military Career

Details:

  • In 1968, Desi Bouterse left his native Suriname for the Netherlands.
  • As a Dutch citizen, he was eligible for conscription and joined the armed forces, attending the military school in Weert before graduating from the Royal Military School and serving at various army bases in the Netherlands and Germany.

Significance:

  • This marks the beginning of Bouterse's formal military career and his deep connection to the Dutch military system.
  • The training and experience he received in the Netherlands and Germany were foundational to his later role in the Surinamese Armed Forces (SKM) and his subsequent rise to power.

Source(s):

  • Rozenblad, Gerold. “Desi Bouterse, a Dictator Convicted of Murder Who Twice Ruled Suriname, Has Died at 79 | AP News,” December 25, 2024.
  • Redazione. “Where Is Desi Bouterse?” 31mag (blog), February 2, 2024.

Source:

Link:

Internal Link:

Date:
July 1, 1968
Categories:
Desi Bouterse, Log, Matthew Smith, Military & Intel, Research, The Suriname Archive
Tags:
Blog, Bouterse Military Training, Military History, Press
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1968
Persons:
Desi Bouterse
META DATA
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