But the slow-moving case was put on hold when parliament passed a law giving Mr Bouterse and his 24 co-defendants blanket immunity for human rights violations committed during military rule.
Most of all, conservatives should worry about a Supreme Court that brushes aside the text of the constitution to promote an idea as alien to democratic values as sovereign immunity, even in the name of states' rights.
The MEPs said they were also extremely concerned about a recent parliamentary decision which allowed army officers accused of human rights abuses during Operation Clean Heart to be given immunity from prosecution.