Thousands of Surinamese took to the streets Tuesday in protest at the amnesty granted to President Desi Bouterse, who had been accused of involvement in several political murders in 1982.

Demonstrators dressed in black and white, or sporting t-shirts bearing the faces of the victims, marched through downtown Paramaribo, singing "We shall overcome" and carrying placards. Some taped their mouths shut in protest.

"We all have the right to truth and no one can take this away from us. We have to realize that in a constitutional state, no one stands above the rule of law," said Yasser Riedewald, son of one of the victims.

Students, labor union activists, major religious organizations, human rights groups, media employees and opposition lawmakers joined the march.

Suriname's 51-member National Assembly approved the amnesty measure last week, bringing an end to the slow-moving trial of Bouterse and other military leaders for executing political opponents in 1982 during his dictatorship.

Bouterse had been accused of having been present on December 8, 1982, at the military barracks of Fort Zeelandia, the colonial fortress in the capital where the alleged killings of 13 civilians and two military officials occurred.

He had faced the possibility of up to 20 years in prison if convicted in the trial launched five years ago in the former Dutch colony.

Bouterse was elected president by parliament in 2010 but led a ruling military junta from 1980-1987, during the South American country's civil war.

The legislation -- which has been signed into law -- provides amnesty for Bouterse and his loyalists for all crimes committed between April 1, 1980 and August 19, 1992.

It also provides amnesty for the former military personnel who led the 1980 coup that propelled Bouterse to power.

The Netherlands, the former colonial power, convicted Bouterse on cocaine smuggling charges in 1999, but he has remained free as Suriname does not extradite its citizens. Interpol has signed an order for his arrest but he enjoys immunity as president.

Suriname gained its independence from the Netherlands in 1975, more than 300 years after first becoming a Dutch colony.