Many Public Prosecutors Threatened

In 2009 ten public prosecutors were severely threatened by hardened criminals. In seven cases there were serious plans for a physical attack or liquidation. In three other cases threats were uttered in the court. Thirty other public prosecutors were intimidated for instance with a letter containing powder. A spokesman of the Department of Justice said that the figure is probably higher because some prosecutors do not make a complaint about threats received.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/7331142/__Officieren_ernstig_bedreigd__.html?cid=rss

Media Abused Privacy Following Plane Crash

The Council for Journalism has published a judgment that the Dutch media transgressed privacy rules when reporting about the plane crash in Tripoli, Libya in May this year. The Council said that the publication of pictures of the victims and their families “was not necessary to show the seriousness of the crash”. Also the surname of the nine year old who survived should not have been published. “The publication of the interview with this child in hospital by the daily De Telegraaf was intolerable” they added.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/38/MEDIA/article/detail/561412/2010/08/04/Media-gingen-te-ver-na-vliegtuigcrash.dhtml

Leading Christian Democrat: The Party is Dissolving

Willem Aantjes, the former Chairman of the Christian Democrat faction in the lower chamber of the Dutch parliament, has said on BNR Radio that the party is in dissolution. Its intention to enter a coalition which is supported by the Freedom Party (PVV) risks alienating its voters in the north of the country. In the south it has already lost a large percent of them in the recent elections.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/7308108/___CDA_in_ontbinding___.html?view=print

Arson Attempt at Mosque

There was an arson attempt at a mosque in Arnhem. Bottles filled with flammable material were thrown at a building of the complex housing the mosque. In January this year there was another attempt at arson at the same mosque. The police are investigating.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/7320291/__Brandstichting_moskee_Arnhem__.html?sn=binnenland,buitenland

Former Minister: Deputy Minister Misled Parliament

Jo Ritzen, Chairman of the Board of the University in Maastricht and former Minister of Education claims that Deputy Minister of Education, Marja van Bijsterveldt, has misled Parliament about the new model of financing for higher education which will become operational next year. Ritzen said that contrary to what the Deputy Minister said his university had not agreed to this model. If negotiations yield no result the university will fight it up to the highest court and may even initiate non-governmental actions.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2589951.ece/Ritzen_staatssecretaris_misleidde_Kamer

10% of Dutchmen: Homosexuals Should Be Jailed

According to an analysis by the Development Organization Hivos, 10% of the Dutch population thinks that homosexuals should be jailed in order to change their inclinations. In addition, their formal rights should be withdrawn. Another independent study by the SCP - the Netherlands Institute for Social Research - says that 10% of the Dutch have a negative attitude towards homosexuals.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/7286365/__En_op_de_tien__homo_moet_de_bak_in__.html

Dutch Soldiers Killed 80 Afghan Civilians – All Legal

The Ministry of Defense says that in the four years of Dutch presence in Afghanistan, its soldiers killed at least 80 Afghan civilians and wounded 120. Investigations show that all this violence is within the international and Dutch rules of engagement. The only instances where Dutch soldiers had to be brought before judges were issues such as failure in guard duties, unjustified firing, theft or violence.
www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1405018.ece/Geweld_Nederlanders_in_Afghanistan_rechtmatig