A poll was undertaken by Motivaction among 1,600 people about what typifies current Dutch society. Three quarters of those polled characterized society as nervous, egoistic, aggressive and without respect. The Dutch have a very negative picture of themselves. Eighty-six per cent of those polled consider that the Dutch complain often. Eighty-four per cent think that the Dutch enjoy complaining. Thirty per cent consider the Dutch collaborate enough among themselves. Only twenty-seven per cent of the Dutch have a positive view of the country’s future.
http://www.trouw.nl/achtergrond/deverdieping/article3350271.ece/Verlangen_naar_harmonie_en_geborgenheid_.html
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Muslim Group Wants to Introduce Shariah in the Netherlands
The Shariah4Holland Group calls on Muslims to fight to turn the Netherlands into an Islamic state. The new group has its origins in Shariah4Belgium which has already caused unrest a number of times in that country last year. The members of Shariah4Holland want to go out in the street in the near future to attract new members. The group already has a website, a YouTube channel and a Facebook page. The group writes that it will only stop “when death will come over us, or the flag of Shariah will flutter over the Royal Palace in the Hague.”
http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3348716.ece/Shariah4Holland_wil_vechten_voor_de_wetgeving_van_Allah_.html
http://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3348716.ece/Shariah4Holland_wil_vechten_voor_de_wetgeving_van_Allah_.html
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The Netherlands Pays for Anti-Wilders Movie
Turkish television has recently broadcast a critical program on the Islamophobia in the Netherlands and the rise of Freedom Party Leader Geert Wilders. The costs of preparing the documentary and the travel costs of the Turkish journalists to the Netherlands were paid for by the Dutch government. In the program, one Turkish Dutchman complained about the discrimination in the labor market. Another said that the Dutch are more radical than before. A third one warned about ethnic violence – he called the Netherlands and the rest of Western Europe “a barrel full of explosives.” The Turkish reporter added that the Netherlands is one of the countries where one feels the enmity against immigrants the strongest.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8572005/__Nederland_betaalt__anti-Wilders_film___.html
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8572005/__Nederland_betaalt__anti-Wilders_film___.html
Monday, December 27, 2010
VVD: Top Railway Companies Should Resign
The VVD (Liberal Party) has requested that the management and supervisory board of the two railway companies, NS (Transport) and Pro-Rail (Infrastructure) resign. Parliamentarian Charlie Aptroot says that they have to take responsibility for the poor performance of the train service in the winter weather.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2824/Politiek/article/detail/1103437/2010/12/24/VVD-ontslag-voor-leiding-NS-en-ProRail.dhtml
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2824/Politiek/article/detail/1103437/2010/12/24/VVD-ontslag-voor-leiding-NS-en-ProRail.dhtml
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Twelve Somalian Terrorist Suspects Arrested
On Friday night Christmas Eve, the National Detective Service arrested 12 Somalians in Rotterdam. According to the Dutch Intelligence Service AIVD, there were indications that the 12 wanted to carry out an attack in the Netherlands. Last year, the AIVD announced that Yemen and Somalia were new countries of origin for potential terrorist threats in the Netherlands.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3353470.ece/Verdachten_opgepakt_voor_plan_aanslagen.html
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3353470.ece/Verdachten_opgepakt_voor_plan_aanslagen.html
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Chaos in Dutch Trains
The Telegraaf daily writes that the management of the Dutch Railways seems to have totally lost its way in the snow. The railways have cancelled half of the trains. Despite that, train drivers and conductors desperately look where their train is that they have to man, announcements sent travelers in vain from platform to platform. Many trains are broken. Another ten broke down the day before yesterday. Leaders of the trade union, FNV Bondgenoten say that it seems that the train organizations consist of a variety of independent islands. According to reactions from the personnel and travelers, the situation deteriorates daily.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8558953/__Wanorde_op_spoor_compleet__.html?sn=binnenland,buitenland
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8558953/__Wanorde_op_spoor_compleet__.html?sn=binnenland,buitenland
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Many Dutch Trains Broken Due to Snow
Train experts consider that the Dutch railways have misdesigned many double-decker trains. There are debates as to whether a quarter or one half of these so-called Sprinter trains are broken at the moment. In Germany, the same trains do not have problems due to the winter weather. The Dutch railways say that they do not understand why so many trains are broken and accuse the suppliers of having caused the problems.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8548088/___Uitval_treinen_schuld_NS___.html?sn=binnenland,buitenland
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8548088/___Uitval_treinen_schuld_NS___.html?sn=binnenland,buitenland
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
New Muslim Terrorist Threats to the Netherlands
Erik Akerboom, the National Coordinator of the battle against terrorism says that the Netherlands has, in the eyes of jihadists, a high profile. It is considered a legitimate target because of the alleged discrimination of Muslims and the feelings of blasphemy of Islam and the prophet Mohammed. The leaders of the Pakistani and Afghan Taliban called the Netherlands various times a possible target of attacks. There is however, no indication of an acute threat.
www.depers.nl/binnenland/532585/Zorgelijke-ontwikkelingen-dreiging.html
www.depers.nl/binnenland/532585/Zorgelijke-ontwikkelingen-dreiging.html
Monday, December 20, 2010
Prominent Jews Leave Amsterdam Over Anti-Semitism
The son of a well-known Dutch rabbi Ben Zion Evers, has announced plans to move to Israel due to anti-Semitism. He said, “I’m fed up with the verbal abuse and the street fighting.” He related to Dutch papers his own cautionary measures which include avoiding certain neighborhoods and hiding his Jewish head covering when walking through areas with a high number of Moroccan Muslims. Five of his brothers and sisters have already left the country. Evers added that there is an educated anti-Semitism that is disguised as anti-Zionism. There were recently several interviews in Dutch papers with Orthodox Jews about their frequent harassment mainly by Moroccan youngsters. The issue came into the public eye after former EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein suggested that in the long run, the Netherlands would be a rather unpleasant place for Orthodox Jews to live. Earlier this year the Chief Rabbi of the Dutch Provincial Rabbinate, Binyomin Jacobs expressed concern over Dutch anti-Semitism.
www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141230
www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141230
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Author: Current Anti-Semitism is the Fifth Wave in 70 Years
Israeli author Manfred Gerstenfeld claims that the failure of the Dutch authorities to effectively fight against the anti-Semitism in the country is part of the fifth wave of discrimination of the Jews in the last seventy years. He mentions as the first wave, the neglect of the Dutch government in exile in London to leave instructions to the authorities in the occupied Netherlands on how to react against the anti-Jewish measures. This was followed by a second wave which expressed itself in the lack of interest of the government in exile in the murder of 95% of the Jews who were deported. The third wave was post-war discrimination of the surviving Jews. The fourth one was the non-selective admission in the past decades of immigrants from Muslim countries with much more profound anti-Semitic characteristics than those prevailing in the Netherlands.
http://opinie.volkskrant.nl/artikel/show/id/7421/Migranten_brachten_antisemitisme_mee
http://opinie.volkskrant.nl/artikel/show/id/7421/Migranten_brachten_antisemitisme_mee
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Organization of Pedophiles Minimizes Abuse
After the discovery of a major scandal of the abuse of tens of young children in an Amsterdam kindergarten by a pedophile, the organization Stop Kinderseks (Stop Sex with Children) broke into the closed website of the pedophile organization, Martijn. There it found remarks such as, “Those children are immediately traumatized due to the reactions of the outside world. That hand in their pants they have long forgotten but it must have been terrible.” Other posts also indicated that the organization of pedophiles considers the incident of no importance.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8487644/__Pedoclub_snapt_ophef_niet__.htm
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8487644/__Pedoclub_snapt_ophef_niet__.htm
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Writer Cancels Debate Participation Out of Fear of Muslims
The Dutch poet and writer Benno Barnard has cancelled his planned participation in a debate in Amsterdam about Islam. He is fearful of threats by Muslims. Earlier this year, a lecture he gave in Antwerp titled: “Long Live God, Away with Allah,” was disrupted by radical Muslims. Yoeri Albrecht, the Director of De Balie, the hall where the debate will take place has said that the withdrawal shows that intimidation works.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8491269/__Lezing_afgezegd_uit_angst_moslims__.html
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8491269/__Lezing_afgezegd_uit_angst_moslims__.html
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Parliamentarian: Netherlands Short of Money to Strengthen Dikes
Parliamentarian Arie Slob has said that the Netherlands is short of hundreds of millions of Euros to protect itself against flooding. He claims that for one major dike, the Afsluitdijk, the renewal will require 600 million Euro while only 300 million is available. Slob said that maintenance and the strengthening of dikes should be a priority project. That would mean that the government would operate on this subject under increased supervision of Parliament. Slob added that already by 2012 there would be a shortage of one billion Euro in this program.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/1072127/2010/12/13/Kabinet-komt-vele-honderden-miljoenen-tekort-voor-dijken.dhtml
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/1072127/2010/12/13/Kabinet-komt-vele-honderden-miljoenen-tekort-voor-dijken.dhtml
Monday, December 13, 2010
Moderate Muslims Feel Threatened by Radical Ones
Representatives of the moderate Ahmadiyya community in the Netherlands have said that they receive hate letters and feel threatened by radical Muslims. The latter incite against them. The Ahmadiyya movement constructed the first mosque in the Netherlands in 1955 which became the victim of arson in 1987. The perpetrators were never found. Much of the incitement against the Ahmadiyya movement, which has 150-200 million followers worldwide, originates in Pakistan where they are not allowed to call themselves Muslims. The Ahmadiyya spokesmen said that they wanted to warn Dutch politicians that they must prevent extremism in the Netherlands from growing any further.
www.depers.nl/binnenland/531138/Fanatieke-moslims-bedreigen-tolerante.html
www.depers.nl/binnenland/531138/Fanatieke-moslims-bedreigen-tolerante.html
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Alderman: Expel Unemployed Eastern Europeans
The Hague Alderman Marnix Norder (Labor Party) wants the Immigration and Naturalization Service to force unemployed Eastern Europeans to leave the Netherlands. He says that in the Hague about 30,000 Eastern Europeans are living. The dropouts among them may become an unmanageable problem. Norder added that Eastern Europeans are the immigration problem of the moment.
http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/1071637/2010/12/11/Haagse-wethouder-zet-werkloze-Polen-uit.dhtml
http://www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/1071637/2010/12/11/Haagse-wethouder-zet-werkloze-Polen-uit.dhtml
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Rabbi avoids Tramway Use after Severe Insults
Amsterdam rabbi Raph Evers avoids as much as possible using tramways since he has been severely insulted there recently. As he is a recognizable Jew several Moroccans made remarks such as: “Hamas, Jews to the gas.” The Moroccan conductor had to intervene to stop the songs. Evers says that he takes expressions of hatred into account each time he walks in Amsterdam streets. If a stay a bit outside I am sure that I will meet people who will insult me, spit or call “Jews to the gas.” He added “there are certain neighborhoods in where I do not go at all…in Amsterdam there are no-go areas for Jews.” Yet Evers says “Fleeing solves nothing, but all this indicates how far the Netherlands has come.”
www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Binnenland/article/detail/548757/2010/12/07/Ik-zal-nooit-capituleren-voor-jodenhaat.dhtml
www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Binnenland/article/detail/548757/2010/12/07/Ik-zal-nooit-capituleren-voor-jodenhaat.dhtml
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Frits Bolkestein: Orthodox Jews Should Advise Children to Emigrate
Former EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein says that Jews that can be recognized as such should advise their children to leave the Netherlands for the United States or for Israel. This statement is quoted in the book The Decay: Jews in a Rudderless Netherlands by Manfred Gerstenfeld. Bolkestein came to this conclusion in view of the non-successful integration of many Muslim immigrants and the problems this will cause for Orthodox Jews in the future.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/1068931/2010/12/06/Bolkestein-joden-niet-opgeroepen-te-vertrekken.dhtml
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/1068931/2010/12/06/Bolkestein-joden-niet-opgeroepen-te-vertrekken.dhtml
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
1,800 Complaints about Sexual Abuse and Maltreatment in Roman Catholic Church
The Foundation Hulp en Recht (Help and Rights) has received about 1,800 complaints of sexual abuse and maltreatment by officials of the Roman Catholic Church. 1,643 cases concern sexual abuse. 93 cases concern physical maltreatment and 63 concern psychological maltreatment. The foundation has appointed twelve legal advisers to help the victims write their complaints. The accused then gets the opportunity to write his defense. Most cases concern the period 1950-1975 and are subject to the statute of limitation.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3320469.ece/Achttienhonderd_meldingen_misbruik_kerk.html
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3320469.ece/Achttienhonderd_meldingen_misbruik_kerk.html
Monday, December 6, 2010
More Than a Thousand Dealers of Fake Drugs in Amsterdam Red District
For many years, the Amsterdam Red District was made unsafe by heroin junkies. Nowadays, many problems are caused by more than one thousand very young and highly criminal dealers in fake drugs. According to Giel van Brussel, a senior employee of the Amsterdam Municipal Health Service says that the new problem is more difficult to deal with than the previous one. Many of the dealers in fake drugs are addicts of cannabis and cocaine. They are extremely criminal, have psychiatric problems, or are mentally retarded.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/7/MISDAAD/article/detail/1065335/2010/11/27/Wallen-in-ban-drank-en-nepdope.dhtml
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/7/MISDAAD/article/detail/1065335/2010/11/27/Wallen-in-ban-drank-en-nepdope.dhtml
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Corruption in all Public Markets in Amsterdam
The Bureau of Integrity of the Amsterdam Municipality has investigated all 34 public markets in Amsterdam and has found corruption and fraud in all of them. The investigation was started after the arrest of 7 market inspectors in the center of town area. It was found that the arrested inspectors have received significant amounts of money illegally, looked away when there were transgressions and have provided certain services against payment. The division of Amsterdam in a number of areas with their own elected representatives has greatly helped the corruption and fraud.
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/7/MISDAAD/article/detail/1067474/2010/12/02/Corruptie-op-alle-markten-Amsterdam.dhtml
www.parool.nl/parool/nl/7/MISDAAD/article/detail/1067474/2010/12/02/Corruptie-op-alle-markten-Amsterdam.dhtml
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Major Increase in Chronic Q Fever Expected
In 1-5% of patients who have acute Q Fever chronic Q Fever may develop. Q Fever is an infectious illness which passes from infected milk goats and milk sheep to humans. In the last four years, four thousand in the Netherlands had Q Fever. That means that between 40 – 200 people may develop chronic Q Fever. In 2010, seven people have died so far from chronic Q Fever.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3302161.ece/Enorme_vlucht_chronische_Q-koorts_verwacht.html
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3302161.ece/Enorme_vlucht_chronische_Q-koorts_verwacht.html
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Criminologist: Humiliate Criminals
Jan Dirk de Jong, a criminologist at the Free University in Amsterdam says that the criminals in the Amsterdam Bijlmer area only get more status in the community when they go to jail. The longer their sentence, the higher their status. The only way to punish them is to put them in a pink coat and let them clean a square in the middle of their neighborhood. In this way their dignity is removed. While criminals may get less criminal later in life, this is not necessarily the case for Antilleans. Their culture is often outdoors and therefore they often remain criminal much longer in order to maintain their status. That problem characterizes the Bijlmer area.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8260051/___Verneder_Bijlmer-tuig___.html
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8260051/___Verneder_Bijlmer-tuig___.html
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Criminal Judges Have Poor Relations with Their Bosses
Rinus Otte, a Judge who will next week inaugurate his professorship in the organization of justice has just published a book: The New Clothes of the Judge. He claims that judges increasingly show unprofessional behavior, in particular when appointments are made. This expresses itself in email campaigns, anonymous letters and gossip. The courts are poorly organized and the relationship between judges and their colleagues who administer courts are getting worse. Otte says that it is virtually impossible to remove poorly functioning judges and that this has to be remedied. He considers the situation one of stagnation and decay.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2642749.ece/Raadsheer_verstoorde_werksfeer_strafrechters
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2642749.ece/Raadsheer_verstoorde_werksfeer_strafrechters
Monday, November 29, 2010
Increase in Coma Drinking
More and more children in the Netherlands under the age of 16 are brought to the emergency ward of hospitals due to alcohol poisoning, also called “Coma Drinking.” In 2007, child specialists saw 297 cases of Coma Drinking. In 2009, this had increased to 500 and there is a further increase in the first half of 2010. Researcher Joris van Hoof says that four out of five children of 15 years of age can get alcoholic drinks without any problems. Earlier research has shown that 97% of sports facilities sell alcoholic drinks to young children. In 38% of the hospital cases, the parents were present when the child got drunk.
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2010/11/comazuipen_16min_neemt_toe.html
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2010/11/comazuipen_16min_neemt_toe.html
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Labor Party Leader Demanded the Firing of Volkskrant Columnist
Volkskrant Columnist Bert Wagendorp has said that in 2007, then Labor Party Leader Wouter Bos called up the paper’s editor-in-chief Pieter Broertjes asking to fire him. He added that Bos said that Wagendorp’s articles made his party lose voters. Broertjes refused the demand.
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2010/11/wouter_bos_wilde_ontslag_voor.html
www.spitsnieuws.nl/archives/binnenland/2010/11/wouter_bos_wilde_ontslag_voor.html
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tensions Among Amsterdam Judges after Dismissal of Court
There is major tension among Amsterdam judges after some of them dismissed last month the court in the process against Freedom Party Leader Geert Wilders. One Amsterdam judge said: “It is very sensitive if one judge says about the other that he is biased.” More and more judges are ashamed of their profession. Some judges are quoted as saying that when they go to parties, they do not mention their profession.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2639405.ece/Rechters_verdeeld_na_wraking_Wilders
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Police Want Security for Future Mission in Afghanistan
Han Busker Chairman of the Nederlandse Politiebond, the largest Dutch police trade union has said that it is opposed to sending police staff to Afghanistan to train local police. He considers that the situation there is not safe, which is a pre-condition for the police work. In order to send 50 police trainers, 250-300 soldiers have to be sent to protect them. He added: “We prefer to remain home.”
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8103912/__Politie_blijft_liever_thuis__.html
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8103912/__Politie_blijft_liever_thuis__.html
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Mayor: Police Knew That Computer System was Poor, But Did Nothing
Henry Lenferink, Mayor of Leiden, and Supervisor of the Police in Central Netherlands has said that the police had a report that the new police computer system would perform poorly. He added that the police commissioners and chief must have known about the report which said that the system was of low quality and difficult to maintain.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3296368.ece/_Rapport_computersysteem_politie_bleef_in_la_.html
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3296368.ece/_Rapport_computersysteem_politie_bleef_in_la_.html
Monday, November 22, 2010
Gouda: Moroccan Youngsters Terrorize Neighborhood Again
Once again, the Oosterwei neighborhood in Gouda is terrorized by Moroccan youngsters. Inhabitants are attacked, robbed and verbally abused. Stones and eggs are thrown at them. There are also attempts at arson and stones are thrown through windows. This was said by the head of the neighborhood committee in Gouda East, the neighborhood where a bus driver of the Connexion company was beaten up two years ago. He added that the new group of hooligans is between eight and thirteen years old. Complaints at the municipality have no visible follow-up.
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Nederland/280472/Jongeren-terroriseren-opnieuw-Goudse-wijk-Oosterwei.htm
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Nederland/280472/Jongeren-terroriseren-opnieuw-Goudse-wijk-Oosterwei.htm
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Military Police Arrest Soldiers Suspected of Manslaughter
The Royal Military Police has arrested two soldiers who are suspected of manslaughter. It is alleged that they beat up a 20 year old man so that he lost consciousness and had to be transported to the hospital. This happened in the town of Scheemda in the province of Groningen.
www.rtl.nl/(/actueel/rtlnieuws/binnenland/)/components/actueel/rtlnieuws/2010/11_november/12/binnenland/militairen-opgepakt-na-vechtpartij.xml
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Scientific Journalist: Meteorological Institute’s Climate Scenarios Worthless
Marcel Crok, a scientific journalist says that the climate scenarios of the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute (KNMI) are worthless. On these scenarios the national water engineering service, dam builders and environmental officials base their forecasts. Crok says so in his new book which the title translates as “The Status of the Climate A Cold View on a Heated Debate.” Crok said that he had spoken with scientists all over the world and found among them more doubt and discussion about global warming and carbon dioxide emissions than the U.N. Climate Panel (IPCC) wants people to believe. Crok said that the scenarios used give a false feeling of certainty.
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Wetenschap/281339/Klimaattoekomstscenarios-KNMI-zijn-onbetrouwbaar.htm
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Wetenschap/281339/Klimaattoekomstscenarios-KNMI-zijn-onbetrouwbaar.htm
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
European Commission Criticizes the Netherlands
The president of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso has criticized the Netherlands and some other member states claiming that they did not behave according to the ‘spirit of Europe.’ The commission criticized the Dutch role in the failed negotiations about the EU budget for 2011. Barroso said that a small number of member states who prevented a compromise on this issue thought they had won a victory. They however damaged many people in all of Europe.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2800/Europese-Unie/article/detail/1052878/2010/11/16/Europese-Commissie-boos-op-Nederland.dhtml
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2800/Europese-Unie/article/detail/1052878/2010/11/16/Europese-Commissie-boos-op-Nederland.dhtml
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Squatters Throw Fireworks in Amsterdam Municipality
A group of fifty squatters has held a noisy demonstration in the Amsterdam municipality. According to a spokesman of the municipality, fireworks were set off in the building. The special police unit was called in to guard the municipality. The spokesman added that no one was arrested and that the squatters left the building of their own volition.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8166592/__Krakersrellen_in_stadhuis_Amsterdam__.html
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8166592/__Krakersrellen_in_stadhuis_Amsterdam__.html
Monday, November 15, 2010
Parliamentary Majority: Stop Police Computer Project
A majority of parliamentarians from the Liberal Party (VVD) Labor (PvdA) and Socialist Party (SP) has asked Security and Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten (VVD) to immediately stop the development of the police computer system which is used by the police inter-alia to deal with complaints. The system has cost hundreds of millions of Euros. VVD Parliamentarian Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert says that the data are lost, policemen are frustrated, and it can easily be hacked. She added: “To let this situation last will cost society many more millions. These problems can no longer be negated and I advise the minister to stop the system immediately.”
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Nederland/280988/Miljoenen-euros-verspild-aan-politieinformatiesysteem.htm
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Nederland/280988/Miljoenen-euros-verspild-aan-politieinformatiesysteem.htm
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Parliamentarian Condemned in Past for Sexual Abuse
It has become known that Parliamentarian Eric Lucassen of the Freedom Party, had been condemned about ten years ago for sexual abuse of pupils at the military school in Ermelo. Jan den Boer who was the humanist spiritual adviser of the barracks says that one officer and ten non-commanding officers were condemned because of sexual acts with female pupils. Lucassen was one of them. The military police at the time said that they had to cut the investigation short, otherwise it would take ten years. The pupils were subjected to heavy intimidation by the staff. They were told that if they did not remain silent about what went on, they would not pass their exams. Den Boer said that the barracks got the nickname Spermelo.
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/1050846/2010/11/13/Zaak-Lucassen-Meisjes-werden-doorgegeven.dhtml
www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/1050846/2010/11/13/Zaak-Lucassen-Meisjes-werden-doorgegeven.dhtml
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Security of Cargo Department at Amsterdam Airport is Faulty
An undercover journalist of the weekly HP/De Tijd, has for two and a half weeks walked around freely with a temporary pass at the cargo department of Schiphol Amsterdam airport. He had unhindered access to cargo on freight planes. Earlier, another journalist, Alberto Stegeman of the television program Undercover managed to penetrate twice into secure areas of the airport. He also entered the hangar in which the government’s official plane is stationed.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3279662.ece/_Beveiliging_Schiphol_Cargo_lek_.htmlNovember 8, 2010
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3279662.ece/_Beveiliging_Schiphol_Cargo_lek_.htmlNovember 8, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Many Homosexuals in Asylum Centers Maltreated by Muslims
The Secret Garden organization says that every year tens of homosexuals in asylum centers are physically maltreated by Muslims. The organization has received in the last year and a half, 158 complaints from homosexual and lesbian asylum seekers, mainly from Muslim countries. In the Dutch asylum center, they are often together with people from their own country who look down upon them. This often leads to physical attacks. The organization says that in the Dutch asylum centers, they are confronted with the same insecurity they had hoped to escape.
http://www.pzc.nl/nieuws/algemeen/binnenland/7509295/
http://www.pzc.nl/nieuws/algemeen/binnenland/7509295/
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Minister: Army Lacks Ammunition
In a letter from Minister of Defense Hans Hillen to Parliament, he states that the army lacks ammunition. Therefore, in 2011, not all planned exercises can be held. There is also a shortage of spare parts. The munitions shortages derive from the former Dutch presence in Afghanistan, lack of money and long times of supply. This leads to a decline of professionalism of several units.
It is not certain that at the end of 2011, the armored car – infantry units will still be fully operational. The Ministry has to make further cuts in its budget in the next and following year.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3282001.ece/Defensie_kampt_met_munitietekort_.html
It is not certain that at the end of 2011, the armored car – infantry units will still be fully operational. The Ministry has to make further cuts in its budget in the next and following year.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3282001.ece/Defensie_kampt_met_munitietekort_.html
Monday, November 8, 2010
Most Dutch Army Air Force F-16 Planes Unfit to Fly
According to the military trade union, ACOM, two-thirds of the 87 F-16 planes are grounded because they are in need of maintenance. Chairman Jan Kleian of ACOM said that in order to keep the remainder flying, parts are taken out from the grounded planes to carry out repairs of the remaining flying planes. He forecasts that ultimately there will only remain skeleton planes in the hangars. He added that three years ago, there were still 45 planes which were able to fly.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8105241/__Nederlandse_F16_s_vleugellam__.html
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8105241/__Nederlandse_F16_s_vleugellam__.html
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Tens of Victims of Sexual Abuse by Catholic Priests Demonstrate
Tens of victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests have held a demonstration through the town of Kerkrade. The march ended at the former boarding school of the Holy Mary of the Angels, which was operated by the Franciscans. According to the action group, Mea Culpa, 18 priests of this school were guilty of sexual abuse of pupils. The lawyer, Bob van der Goen, said that he has 58 testimonials from victims. He also added that he had written a letter to the Pope demanding that he abdicates. The Belgian priest, Rik Devillé accused the Pope of trying to silence worldwide the sex abuse scandal. During the march, participants exchanged experiences with sex abuse victims from other Catholic institutions, including women who claim to have been abused by nuns.
www.nu.nl/binnenland/2365499/demonstratie-misbruikslachtoffers-in-kerkrade.html
www.nu.nl/binnenland/2365499/demonstratie-misbruikslachtoffers-in-kerkrade.html
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Turkey: Dutch Prime Minister’s Statement is Discriminating
The Turkish government considers the remarks made by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte about Turkish passports discriminatory. In the debate about the double nationality of the new Dutch Deputy Minister of Health, Marlies Veldhuijzen van Zanten, Rutte said “it would have been very different if she had had a Turkish passport next to her Dutch one rather than a Swedish one.” Turkish Minister Faruk Çelik said that he did
not understand how such a discriminatory remark helps the integration of foreigners in the Netherlands. He added that he is worried about the growing xenophobia and Islamophobia in the Netherlands.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3273930.ece/_Turkije_vindt_dat_Rutte_discrimineert
_.html
not understand how such a discriminatory remark helps the integration of foreigners in the Netherlands. He added that he is worried about the growing xenophobia and Islamophobia in the Netherlands.
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3273930.ece/_Turkije_vindt_dat_Rutte_discrimineert
_.html
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Well Educated Turks and Moroccans Want to Leave the Netherlands
The platform of minorities in the province of Limburg has stated that increasingly highly educated Turks and Moroccans want to leave the Netherlands. They say that this is not only related with the rise of the Freedom Party (PVV), but also with the more general negative political climate. Therefore Turks and Moroccans feel less and less at home in the Netherlands. That is also true for those who already live there a long time.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8036806/___Hoogopgeleide_allochtonen_weg___.html?sn=binnenland
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8036806/___Hoogopgeleide_allochtonen_weg___.html?sn=binnenland
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Freedom Party: Dismiss Governor of Central Bank
Parliamentarian Van Vliet of the Freedom Party (PVV) wants the president of the Dutch Central Bank Nout Wellink to leave his position immediately. The Party considers the president
responsible for the bankruptcy of the DSB Bank. According to Van Vliet, people who lost their money can hold Wellink personally responsible for this.
www.fd.nl/artikel/20597456/pvv-eist-onmiddellijk-vertrek-wellink
responsible for the bankruptcy of the DSB Bank. According to Van Vliet, people who lost their money can hold Wellink personally responsible for this.
www.fd.nl/artikel/20597456/pvv-eist-onmiddellijk-vertrek-wellink
Monday, November 1, 2010
Amsterdam Labor Party attacks its own Mayor
The Amsterdam Labor Party is criticizing the new Labor Mayor of the town, Eberhard van der Laan. Frank de Wolf, the Chairman of the Labor Faction in the Municipal council said that the Mayor was too weak and passive on security matters. He added that the number of violent incidents in the Western parts of Amsterdam “is far too high.” It seems a ruin there. There are far too many people shooting and knifing each other. He added that Amsterdam should spend more money on the police.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8052861/__PvdA_keert_zich_tegen__eigen__burgemeester__.html?sn=binnenland
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8052861/__PvdA_keert_zich_tegen__eigen__burgemeester__.html?sn=binnenland
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Supreme Court: Wilders Undermines Justice
The president of the Supreme Court, Geert Corstens, has indirectly criticized Freedom Party Leader Geert Wilders. Corstens said that the remarks Wilders made during the proceedings against him about the court undermine justice in the Netherlands. He added that the parliamentarian should work for the stability of justice. Wilders reacted saying that his statements about the court were correct as it was biased. He added that Corstens should instead, devote his attention to the mistakes of judges such as Tom Schalken of the Amsterdam court.
These people create the suspicion against speaking justice in the Netherlands.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2635287.ece/Hoge_Raad_Kritiek_Wilders_ondermijnt_rechtspraak
These people create the suspicion against speaking justice in the Netherlands.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2635287.ece/Hoge_Raad_Kritiek_Wilders_ondermijnt_rechtspraak
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Hilvarenbeek: Excrement Week Prolonged Because of Success
The Excrement Week in the Safari Park at Beekse Bergen is such a success, that it has been extended for a week. Until now, thirty-five thousand people have attended, which makes it one of those most successful events in the history of the park. The park spokesman expects another twenty-five thousand visitors. Excrements are the central theme of the week - children can smell a variety of excrements of different animals.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8014127/__Poepweek_wordt_verlengd__.html
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/8014127/__Poepweek_wordt_verlengd__.html
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Wilders Complains to Police about Judge
PVV Leader Geert Wilders accompanied by his lawyer, Bram Moszkowicz has put in a police complaint about Judge Tom Schalken of the Amsterdam court. Wilders said that the judge has attempted to influence one of the witnesses in the proceedings against him. Schalken participated in a dinner three days before the proceedings started. The Arabist Hans Jansen was also present. He was an expert on behalf of Wilders in the proceedings. Jansen wrote that Schalken raised the issue of the proceedings there. Schalken is one of the judges who initially forced the Prosecution to bring
proceedings against Wilders.
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Nederland/279234/Geert-Wilders-doet-aangifte-tegen-rechter-Schalken.htm28 October 2010
proceedings against Wilders.
www.elsevier.nl/web/Nieuws/Nederland/279234/Geert-Wilders-doet-aangifte-tegen-rechter-Schalken.htm28 October 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
High Level of Violence against Nurses in Hospitals
A new study by Dutch consumer organization Consumentenbond shows that more than half of the nurses polled have been confronted with aggression in the past half year. Among the 400 people polled, several have considered changing profession. Almost 4 out of 10 feel seriously threatened, but they often do not submit police complaints. The chairperson of the nurses’ professional organization, NU’91, concludes that nurses are confronted daily with aggression.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/7972673/__Verplegers_zijn_geweld_beu__.html?sn=binnenland
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/7972673/__Verplegers_zijn_geweld_beu__.html?sn=binnenland
Monday, October 25, 2010
Muslim Violence against Christians in Dutch Asylum Centers
In 21 out of 28 Dutch asylum centers, Christian asylum seekers are being threatened. In 1 out of 3, there is physical violence against them, usually by Muslim asylum seekers there. This was found by research from the Stichting Gave, a Christian organization which helps asylum seekers. A large majority of Parliament has asked the minister of immigration and asylum, Gerd Leers (Christian Democrat), to investigate the matter. Parliamentarian Joël Voordewind says that it is “terrible that people who often flee to the Netherlands because of their beliefs, and who should be safe here, are being oppressed.”
www.expatica.com/nl/news/local_news/plight-of-christian-asylum-seekers-in-dutch-centres.html#
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3259862.ece/Geweld_tegen_christenen_in_asielzoekerscentra.html
www.expatica.com/nl/news/local_news/plight-of-christian-asylum-seekers-in-dutch-centres.html#
www.trouw.nl/nieuws/nederland/article3259862.ece/Geweld_tegen_christenen_in_asielzoekerscentra.html
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Wilders Process Judges Removed in View of Suspected Bias
A panel of oversight judges has removed all judges of the Amsterdam court sitting in the process of Geert Wilders, the leader of the right wing Freedom Party (PVV). Wilders faces of five accounts of giving offense to Muslims and of inciting hatred against Muslims and people of non-Western immigrant origin, particularly Moroccans. The prosecution has asked for Wilders’ acquittal on all accounts. Wilders’ defense lawyer had asked for the removal of the judges claiming that they were biased. The oversight panel said that these concerns were “understandable.”
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcZgENQ1C16TiQlnmyrAIKlQ3fWA?docId=CNG.2f057538640f1e680daa7203d3609eff.b51
www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jcZgENQ1C16TiQlnmyrAIKlQ3fWA?docId=CNG.2f057538640f1e680daa7203d3609eff.b51
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