A murder trial against Suriname’s president for the 1982 deaths of political opponents is expected to resume soon after a military court ruled that an amnesty law is unconstitutional.

The court ordered that the trial of President Desi Bouterse resume by the end of the month in this South American country. The trial had been on hold since April 2012, when a parliament controlled by Bouterse’s party approved an amnesty law.

“This is not only important for the relatives of the victims, this ruling is important for the entire country,” lawyer Hugo Essed, a counsel for the relatives, told The Associated Press. “This shows Suriname is still a country with rule of law.”


Essed said he expects that Bouterse will be sentenced on charges of murder in upcoming months. However, some relatives of the victims remained unconvinced.

“We cannot start celebrating yet,” Sunil Oemrawsingh told reporters. “President Bouterse and his friends are in power. We have to expect they will once again put up obstacles in an attempt to sabotage the proceedings in court.”

Bouterse did not attend Thursday’s hearing. His lawyer, Irvin Kanhai, told reporters he still believes that only a constitutional court can review the amnesty law.

“I will discuss this situation with my client and go in appeal if necessary,” he said.

A constitutional court was supposed to verify whether the amnesty law was legitimate, but such a court was never created. Four years later, the military court announced it had waited long enough.