Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Former Suriname Dictator Now On Trial

I mentioned awhile back that (in addition to my ignorance on nearly all things Suriname,) former Suriname dictator Desi Bouterse would be facing trial for human rights abuses. Well, that trial began last Friday with testimony from one of the members of the firing squad that killed 15 opposition members in 1982. As with most cases in Latin America (be it Peru or Argentina) and Africa, whether this trial will actually result in any real jailtime for the former leader. While an honest jail sentence for human rights violations would be good, the simple fact that trials are happening is good news in and of itself, and this case will be worth continuing to watch.