American Embassy Warns Americans in Holland about Fireworks

The American Embassy in the Netherlands has warned Americans in the Netherlands about fireworks lit at end of year celebrations. In the U.S., fireworks cannot be lit if they explode or fly. The warning of the Embassy is based on the fact that groups of Dutch people throw firecrackers at humans and animals. The Embassy also warns about fireworks being shot out of manholes. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/11698/Kabinet-Rutte-II/article/detail/3569621/2013/12/30/Hoe-vrij-is-Nederland-op-vuurwerkgebied.dhtml

Eight Heavily Wounded by Fireworks

It is forbidden in the Netherlands to shoot off fireworks before 31 December at 10:00pm. Yet, illegal firework lighting has already caused 8 heavily wounded. Their wounds were so heavy that they had to be operated on by plastic surgeons. Among the wounded are two minor boys – they each lost a hand. In the town of Vlaardingen, youngsters terrorize shops by shooting arrows with fire. Sometimes they throw these fireworks into shops. www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2013/12/Al-acht-zwaargewonden-door-vuurwerk-jongens-verliezen-hand-1436390W/

Demonstration against Police Violence Leads to Violence

A demonstration against police violence and discrimination led to violence and arrests in The Hague. Fifty demonstrators stood in front of the municipality to demand the resignation of Mayor Jozias van Aartsen and Police Chief Paul van Musscher. They did so because the police agent who shot 17 year old Rishi Chandrikasing after a chase, was not found guilty by the court. Two demonstrators were arrested after they beat policemen with sticks. A third one was arrested because he didn’t identify himself. A spokesman of the demonstrators blamed the violence on the police. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3569037/2013/12/28/Geweld-bij-demonstratie-tegen-politiegeweld.dhtml

Bad News from the Netherlands will be on vacation for the next two weeks. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Columnist of Mainstream Paper Jokes about Anne Frank

Columnist Sylvia Witteman of the mainstream Dutch daily De Volkskrant said in an interview that she gladly makes coarse jokes about Anne Frank and concentration camps. Jewish writer De Winter attacked her in an article, which was refused publication by De Volksrant. He then placed the article in the daily De Telegraaf. He also wrote that it is surprising that no one else complained. www.nrc.nl/boeken/2013/12/10/leon-de-winter-kan-grappen-van-witteman-niet-waarderen/

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hinders Investigation of Huge Dutch Corruption Affair

The daily Telegraaf wrote that the investigation of the Justice Department into the corruption accusations against the Dutch building firm Ballast-Nedam concerning work in Saudi Arabia is hindered by the Foreign Affairs department. The essence of the corruption affair is the payment of hundreds of millions of Euros of bribes to Arab officials in exchange for building contracts. The building firm was allegedly helped by the major auditing firm KPMG. According to the Telegraaf, Ballast-Nedam paid bribes of about $500 million via Swiss number accounts to Saudi Arabian officials at the highest level between 1996 and 2003. In 2012, Ballast-Nedam paid $17.5 million to avoid being prosecuted in the Netherlands. Yet, the prosecution of individuals, including former board members, continues. Minister Frans Timmermans (Labor Party) of Foreign Affairs said that he knows nothing about the issue. www.telegraaf.nl/site_error/404.html?url=/dft/bedrijven/ballast_nedam/article22123699.ece

Sixty Percent of Pleasure-Seeking Dutch Youths Take Extasy Drugs

From research done by the Dutch Trimbos Institute, it results that of those youths who regularly go out for entertainment, at least 60% take the Extasy drug one or more times. According to Ferry Goossens, this is related to the emergence of festivals attended by many youths. Of the users who had been polled and who are between the ages of 20 and 24 years old, 20% take 2.5 pills per evening. He said that the use of this drug has been mainstreamed, instead of being limited to certain environments, as was the case before. There are also youths who drive under the influence of this drug. www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2013/12/Zestig-procent-van-jongeren-gebruikt-xtc-bij-uitgaan-1421401W/

Parliamentarian Resigns Due to Driving Under the Influence

Matthijs Huizing, a parliamentarian from the Liberal Party, has resigned because he was recently arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Huizing is the second member of the Liberal Party who resigned this year. Earlier, Johan Houwers resigned due to criminal investigations against him. www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3558362/2013/12/07/VVD-er-Huizing-uit-Kamer-om-rijden-onder-invloed.dhtml

Deaths from Cancer Higher in the Netherlands than in Neighboring Countries

An international group of scientists has compared survival figures of cancer in 29 countries. Ten million patients who were diagnosed with cancer between 2000 and 2007 were investigated. In all of the countries, survival has increased. In the Netherlands, survival of some forms of cancer is lower than in many neighboring countries. This is in particular true regarding stomach cancer, kidneys, prostate and lymphatic system. Elsewhere, after five years - ten and sometimes twenty percent more patients survived. These figures have been presented in Lancet. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2672/Wetenschap-Gezondheid/article/detail/3556726/2013/12/05/Kankersterfte-in-Nederland-veel-hoger-dan-buurlanden.dhtml

More Aggression against Train Personnel

Employees of Dutch state railways are becoming victims more and more of extreme incidents. In the first 10 months of 2012, there were 579 complaints about this to the security office. The overall number of incidents that personnel are confronted with is increasing. In 2012, there were about 8,100 incidents – an increase of almost 16% compared to 2011. This year, the number of incidents is likely to exceed 8,000. www.ovpro.nl/personeel/2013/11/29/agressie-tegen-treinpersoneel-ns-neemt-toe/

Poverty on the Increase in the Netherlands

Poverty in the Netherlands increased greatly in 2012. This was concluded by both the Central Bureau for Statistics (CBS) and the Social and Cultural Planning Bureau(SCP). The CBS concluded that 9.4% of all households or 664,000 households have “a possible future of poverty.” Eight out of ten of these households have direct financial problems and need to borrow money more and more frequently. Both organizations believe that the increase in poverty will continue. Growth will be slower than in the recent past. www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/4492/Nederland/article/detail/3555290/2013/12/03/Armoede-in-Nederland-sterk-toegenomen.dhtml

Deputy Prime Minister: Black Pete Debate has Gone too Far

Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher (Labour) has said that the Black Pete debate in the Netherlands has de-railed. It has caused many arguments and racist remarks. He added that if there are differences of opinion and people feel hurt, one should be able to have normal discussions without scolding each other. www.elsevier.nl/Politiek/nieuws/2013/12/Asscher-Zwarte-Pietendiscussie-is-ontspoord-in-Nederland-1420309W/

Catholic Boarding School in the 1950s was a Detention Camp

The Brothers of the Congregation of the Holy Heart of Jesus in the 1950s and 1960s who were running the St. Joseph Home in Cadier en Keer, were more violent toward their students than leaders of other homes. Wim Deetman, former Mayor of The Hague who investigates sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church, said this before a court in Breda. He mentioned that the home even had a solitary isolation cell. Deetman’s statement is radically different from that of the current head of the congregation, who doubted that there had been unusual violence there. He had said before the court that some Brothers had not functioned fully optimally. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/22094818/__St._Joseph_was_strafkamp__.html

Seventh Dutch Jihadi Killed in Syria

Twenty-six year old Abu Jandal from Delft was killed in Syria. His family has informed the radical Islamic website dewarereligie.nl (True Religion) about this. According to the website, Jandal was a successful businessman who a year ago, decided to join the Islamic community in Syria. He had said earlier that he did not want to return to the Netherlands, but wanted to help with the introduction of Sharia in Syria, or otherwise, “die on the path of Allah.” He recently gave an interview to the Dutch daily Volkskrant, in which he said, “You anyhow have to die, so it’s great if you die for a noble goal.” http://www.elsevier.nl/Buitenland/nieuws/2013/11/Zevende-Nederlandse-jihadist-omgekomen-in-Syrie-1416688W/?pagenr=2#comments

Dutch Authorities Worried about Pop Jihad

The National Coordinator for the Fight against Terrorism and Security (NCTV) considers the Jihadi lifestyle, “extremely worrying.” A new phenomenon is the Pop Jihad which flirts with the symbols of Al Qaeda which are spread by social networks. In this way, youngsters can rapidly radicalize. The NCTV has no data about the number of Dutch Pop Jihadis, but according to a spokesman, it concerns “a not insignificant number.” Some of them leave for Syria to fight. This concerns youngsters from all over the country. According to the daily Volkskrant, parents remain silent when their children go on jihad in order to avoid being stigmatized. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3551228/2013/11/26/Nieuw-popjihad-flirten-met-de-symbolen-van-Al-Qaida.dhtml

Authorities Investigate Auditing Firm Concerning Huge Bribery Case

The major Dutch accounting firm KPMG is being investigated by the Justice Department as to its involvement in the bribery with hundreds of millions of dollars, of Saudi Arabian government officials by Dutch builder Ballast Nedam. The prosecution thinks that not only the building company officials but also the KPMG auditors have played some role in this. The focus of the investigation concerns falsified contracts, the use of false names, secret payments via Switzerland and the establishment of an internal administration in order to register bribes in the period 1997-2004. KPMG said that the investigation concerns an auditor who has since retired. Ballast Nedam said that the investigation doesn’t involve the current management. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2013/11/25/strafrechtelijke-vervolging-kpmg-vanwege-rol-bij-omkopingen-door-ballast-nedam/

Two Hundred Complaints about Police Abuse by Celtic Supporters

The Scottish Celtic soccer club has already received 200 complaints about violence by the Amsterdam police against them. Twenty-five complaints have already been passed onto their Dutch lawyer who is studying the material. The lawyer Jeroen Soeteman, said that he also has 7 DVD’s with compromising videos from surveillance cameras. He said that for individual complaints against policemen, one needs both pictures and witnesses. The Celtic club said that the complaints of the supporters about disproportionate violence seem reliable. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2698/Sport/article/detail/3550482/2013/11/24/Al-200-klachten-van-Celtic-fans-over-politiegeweld-in-Amsterdam.dhtml

Thousands of Policemen take Anti-Depressant Medication

At least one thousand Dutch policemen take anti-depressant medication against the phenomena of post-traumatic stress. Researchers of the Police Academy consider it a serious security problem. This is being revealed in a new book by Joost van der Wegen (Under Stress). Anti-depressant pills affect judgment, cause double vision, diminishes focus and can make policemen less alert. They also influence reaction capabilities. Driving a car also brings risks with it. According to Van der Wegen, some policemen have an inclination to murder or become suicidal on this medication. He is presently checking out 12 suicides by policemen to find their causes. http://www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/duizenden-agenten-aan-sufmakende-pillen/SrZmku!uPIH1H1qLlKrg/

Politician: Netherlands Partly Responsible for the Disaster in the Philippines

Marianne Thieme, faction leader of the Party for the Animals in Dutch Parliament, claims that the Netherlands is co-responsible for the typhoon disaster in the Philippines. She said that the Netherlands contributes to climate change with its consumption and its ways of production. She said that one can see the impact of it on the world. She added that in view of this, the Netherlands should feel responsible for the consequences of its actions. www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/marianne-thieme-nederland-deels-verantwoordelijk-voor-ramp-op-filipijnen/SrZmks!q8PF89x3O21Sk/

Historian: The Dutch Committed Genocide in Indonesia

American historian William H. Frederick said that the Dutch have always repressed the huge wave of ethnic violence in Indonesia, then-Dutch Indies, which started in 1945. He also said that what happened there can best be described as genocide. Frederick further stated that what has happened since with the Dutch authorities in the Netherlands can be called, “post-colonial loss of memory.” He has published an article in the scientific paper the Journal of Genocide Research. Frederick says that he knows no country which has so easily accepted mass murder in order to forget it. He criticized Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Frans Timmermans who considers that institutes should do research on this issue, but from their own budgets. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/22065519/___Nederland_pleegde_genocide___.html

Islamic University Suspected of Falsifying Degrees

The Alhuraa University in The Hague is suspected of issuing more than 100 fraudulent Bachelor and Masters degrees from 2007-2010. The prosecution has announced that the court case will come up this week. The University is not accredited by the Dutch-Flemish organization NVAO, which means that its degrees are not recognized by Dutch law. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3546074/2013/11/16/Islamitische-universiteit-verdacht-van-vervalsen-diploma-s.dhtml

Riot Police Dress Up as Black Pete to Secure Festivities

In Groningen, the national arrival of Sinterklaas, patron bishop of the Netherlands children’s holiday took place. Among the Petes accompanying Sinterklaas, there were a number of undercover riot police dressed up as Black Pete. Under their costumes, they wore bullet proof vests and were armed. As far as is known, this is the first time in history that Sinterklaas had bodyguards during his national arrival event. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3546421/2013/11/17/Sint-werd-beveiligd-door-arrestatiepieten.dhtml

Absence of Monitoring System Creates Safety Risks in Railway Infrastructure

Parliamentarians from the Socialist Party and the Christian Union asked for clarification about information that railway infrastructure company ProRail has hidden from Parliament that the system which prevents trains from driving through red signals is not fully safe. If the system is not working properly, train drivers can drive through red signals without seeing any warnings on their dashboards. ProRail replied that Parliament knew when the system was installed, that there was no monitoring of it and Parliament has accepted this. www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Nederland/article/detail/3545338/2013/11/15/Kamer-wil-opheldering-van-ProRail-over-verzwijgen-veiligheidsrisico-spoor.dhtml

Scottish Soccer Fans: Amsterdam Police Abused Us

Fans of the Scottish soccer team Celtic, have collected video material about the violence they encountered from Amsterdam police before their team played against Ajax Amsterdam. They said that they knew that the Ajax supporters had a bad reputation, but not that the police did also. Even the Scottish police are shocked by the behavior of the Amsterdam police. A group of Ajax fans stole a Scottish flag and ran away, followed by the owners of the flag. The police intervened, aided by tens of undercover policemen whom the Scottish fans thought were Ajax hooligans. Earlier that day, 50 Scottish fans were attacked in a coffee shop by 200 Ajax hooligans. From the security camera in the café, it can be seen how they broke windows with hammers and attacked the Scots. In the picture posted on the official website of the Celtic team, one can see how two undercover cops hold a Celtic fan while a third one knees him in the stomach. In another picture, a policeman holds a man while a dog bites his leg. A Scot is hit and wounded by a police car and his leg is broken in three places. He didn’t ask for help out of fear of the police and only agreed to be treated in a Glasgow hospital. He was one of tens of wounded among the Scots. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3544580/2013/11/14/Celtic-fans-politie-in-Amsterdam-mishandelde-ons-op-de-Dam.dhtml

Dutch Meat full of Bacteria and Harmful Enzymes

The Dutch Food and Commodities Authority warns that Dutch meat often contains mrsa bacteria and damaging esbl enzymes. The Authority takes about 2,000 samples a year. In 20% of the cases, the meat contains these enzymes. It can cause the inefficacy of antibiotics in people. Twelve percent of the samples contain mrsa – a bacteria which becomes increasingly difficult to fight with medication. One of the reasons of the bacteria explosion is that so many antibiotics are used in cattle raising. https://www.google.co.il/?gws_rd=cr&ei=Q0iDUp68FcvP0AWYnoCADA#q=TELEGRAAF,+vlees+bacterien&tbm=nws&tbs=qdr:d

Health Inspectorate: Personnel in Old Age and Rehabilitation Homes of Poor Quality

The Inspectorate for Health Care (IGZ) is concerned about the quality and training of the personnel and the safety of the medication provided in Old Age and Rehabilitation homes. The Inspectorate said that this threatens the safety of the residents. www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Nederland/article/detail/3540543/2013/11/07/Kwaliteit-personeel-verpleeghuis-slecht.dhtml

Threat to the Netherlands by Returning Syrian Jihadis

Dick Schoof, National Coordinator of the Fight against Terrorism said that Jihadis returning from Syria pose potential risks to Dutch society. They have been under the influence of radical groups such as Jahbat al-Nusra, and learned to use automatic weapons and home made explosives. He said that in view of their experiences and mental attitude, there is the risk of Mumbai-type attacks in the Netherlands. He was referring to the three-day terror attack in India in 2008. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2013/11/10/potentieel-gevaar-en-terreurdreiging-door-terugkerende-jihadstrijders-syrie/

Money Collected for Jihad in Yemen in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands and Belgium, money has been collected for the Jihad in Yemen. Also Ibrahim El Bey, a Moroccan youngster from Amsterdam who was killed last week in Yemen, was involved in this. In August, Dutch donors transferred 1,850 Euro to him. Of this, 1,460 were for the Jihad, 100 for charity and 90 for the security of the Koran school in the town of Damaj where he stayed. On the website, another Muslim called for sympathizers to contribute more money for “the Jihad against cursed Shiites.” www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/3540234/2013/11/07/Jihad-in-Jemen-bekostigd-met-Nederlandse-giften.dhtml

Amsterdam: Eight Policemen Wounded by Scottish Soccer Fans

On The Dam, Amsterdam’s main square, 8 policemen were wounded by Scottish soccer fans from the Celtic team. They came to Amsterdam for the Champions’ league game between their club and Ajax Amsterdam. The fans attacked the policemen with bottles and clubs. One policeman was unconscious. All 8 had to be brought to a hospital. In total, 39 people were arrested, they were partly Ajax fans and partly Celtic fans. http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1441/Ajax/article/detail/3540257/2013/11/06/Acht-agenten-gewond-bij-rellen-in-Amsterdam.dhtml

Dutch Military Plane Shoots at Air Force Control Tower

A Dutch air force pilot mistakenly aimed at the wrong target. He had to shoot with the canon of his F-16 at a target on a remote beach. He missed and instead hit a control tower of the Dutch air force. In that control tower, the controllers have to watch air traffic and ships passing, so that Dutch military planes can run exercises in safety. This is not the first time the control tower was hit. In 2001, it was hit by bullets from a German airplane and in 1992, a Danish F-16 fired rockets at it, wounding a non-commanding officer. www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2013/11/Straaljager-schiet-per-ongeluk-op-controletoren-Vlieland-1403034W/

Dutch Volunteer Dies in Yemen Fighting

A Dutch man of Moroccan origin, Ibrahim El Bey died in Damaj in Yemen during battles between Sunni and Shiite Muslims. He was in Yemen in order to study at the Salafist Theological School Dar al-Hadith. In the Nasr Mosque in Amsterdam, a special meeting was arranged for friends and acquaintances of El Bey. Apparently, additional Dutchmen are studying at this school. www.elsevier.nl/Nederland/nieuws/2013/11/Nederlander-om-het-leven-gekomen-bij-gevechten-in-Jemen-1403048W/

Dutch Postal Authority Issues Stamp with Purple Pete

Next week the Dutch Postal Authority PostNL will issue a series of 5 stamps on the occasion of the Sinterklaas holiday. Black Pete will show up on a stamp as Purple Pete. However, PostNL denies that this has anything to do with the United Nations Commission investigation on whether Black Pete is an expression of racism. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2680/2013/article/print/detail/3537231/Paarse-Piet-op-geurende-Sinterklaaspostzegel.dhtml

Council of Europe Criticizes Dutch Policy of Asylum Seekers

The European Committee for Social Rights has decided that asylum seekers who have finished their legal procedures to remain in the Netherlands, cannot be put on the street without the Dutch state taking care of them. This committee is part of the Council of Europe and reacted to a complaint by the Protestant Church in the Netherlands. The committee said that people who do not have a permit to remain in the Netherlands risk serious and irreparable damage to their lives when they are excluded from housing, food and clothing. Therefore, the state has to take all possible measures to supply them with their basic needs. Spokesperson of Deputy Minister Fred Teeven called the judgment of the committee “non-binding and preliminary.” The Deputy Minister said that the committee’s opinion has extraordinarily undesirable consequences. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3536712/2013/10/31/Nederland-mag-asielzoekers-niet-op-straat-zetten.dhtml

2008-2012: 30% Increase in Suicides in the Netherlands

The Central Bureau of Statistics published that in the past five years, the number of suicides in the Netherlands increased by 30%. In 2008, 1,353 people committed suicide. In 2012, the figure was 1,753. More than 2/3 of those who killed themselves were male. The main age category is between 40 and 50. The increase in suicides took place mainly among native Dutch people and Western immigrants. The latter is caused by the high figure of Belgian males in the Netherlands and German males and females. Turkish and Moroccan immigrants and their descendents commit the least amount of suicides. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2013/10/23/aantal-zelfdodingen-sinds-2008-sterk-toegenomen/

Parlementarian: Netherlands Finances Palestinian Terrorists

Dutch parliamentarian Joel Voordewind (Christian Union) says that the Netherlands continues to finance Palestinian terrorists. Both the Palestinian Authority and the former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal admit that this is the case. The Netherlands donates every year 65 million Euro to the Palestinian Authority. Voordewind says that 4 million Euro of this is paid to terrorists who are in Israeli jails because they have murdered or wounded Israeli civilians or soldiers. www.google.co.il/?gws_rd=cr&ei=fB9xUqCoBuqJ4gStgIGoDg#q=telegraaf,+voordewind,+terroristen&tbm=nws

Criminal Lawyers: Prosecution is Negligent

According to RTL TV station, 88% of criminal lawyers in the Netherlands have had problems in the last year with prosecution offices. The majority of them describe the problem as serious. Documents are delivered too late, files are incomplete, mail is lost and the office cannot be reached by phone. According to Lawyer Gerard Spong, “It’s a mess. There is no reply to letters and the chance of mistakes increases.” www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1012/Nederland/article/detail/3533833/2013/10/26/Slordig-OM-riskeert-blunders.dhtml

Racism at Pro-Black Pete Demonstration

On Saturday, a demonstration took place in The Hague in support of the continuation of Black Pete at the annual Sinterklaas children’s folklore festival on December 5th. A woman near the demonstration was holding a Papua flag, in an unrelated private demonstration against the United Nations. She protested because the U.N. does nothing about the annexation of West Papua where it murdered 400,000 people. A few of the Black Pete supporters saw her and surrounded her. A blonde woman in black face shouted at her, “You are against Black Pete. Shut up and go to your own country!” The woman said that she wasn’t against Black Pete, but against the U.N., yet no one listened to her. The woman tried to run away from the Black Pete demonstrators, but they stopped her. A passing policeman told her to follow him, for her own safety. Some of the demonstrators then shouted with joy. “They arrested her!” said one woman. “Rightly so!” said her husband. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3534053/2013/10/27/Fotograaf-schrikt-van-grimmig-Zwarte-Piet-protest.dhtml

Dutch Volunteers Commit War Crimes in Syria

The Dutch Telegraaf daily has information from reliable intelligence sources that Dutch volunteers in Syria are involved in war crimes including decapitations and executions of prisoners without trial. Some of them are even proud of what they are doing. According to these sources, they are involved in these crimes on a major scale. Almost 100 Dutch volunteers are in Syria, mainly around Idlib,Aleppo and Homs. Contrary to what is often thought,their numbers are gradually increasing. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/22005245/__Gruwelijkheden_polderjihadi_s__.html

Parade with Green Peters Cancelled due to Death Threats

A parade planned in the town of Hoogezand-Sappemeer, which has Green and Orange Peters in addition to Black Peters, has been cancelled due to threats of violence as well as threats of death. The organizers, who arrange a Sinterklaas parade every year for children from poor families, were warned by phone that they were “traitors and collaborators with the Nazis.” As a result, a national poll found that 92% of the Dutch population does not see any problem with Black Peter. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3532121/2013/10/24/Doodsbedreigingen-om-plan-Groene-Piet-bij-optocht.dhtml

UN Investigator Before Investigation Begins: Black Peter is Racist

Professor Verene Shepherd, Human Rights Investigator at the United Nations and head of the U.N. Working Group which investigates Dutch folk lore figure Black Peter, says that the Netherlands has to stop the Sinterklaas festival because Black Peter is racist and a return to slavery. She added that as a member of the investigation committee, she is obliged to do the investigation, but “as a black person, I am already opposed to it.” Dutch Prime Minister Rutte has said that “by definition, Black Peter is black.” (Ed. comment: This would not be the first time that a U.N. investigator has an opinion on an issue before investigating the facts.) www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3531287/2013/10/22/Hoofd-VN-onderzoek-Zwarte-Piet-racistisch-terugkeer-slavernij.dhtml

United Nations will Investigate Racist Character of Major Dutch Festival

At the beginning of this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received a letter from the U.N. which stated that the Dutch tradition concerning the major national folklore fest Sinterklaas, which takes place on December 5th, is racist. The assistant of this white bishop is a black person called Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), who, according to the U.N. is presented as stupid and as a servant. This feeds the stereotype that Africans are second-rate citizens. The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, South African Navanethem Pillay wants to know whether Black Peter is a racist stereotype. The investigation has to be finished by the end of November. (Ed. Comment: This is particularly urgent for the U.N., in view of the daily massacres in many Muslim countries.) www.elsevier.nl/Buitenland/nieuws/2013/10/Verenigde-Naties-onderzoeken-racistische-Zwarte-Piet-1393540W /

National Ombudsman: Racism Common in the Netherlands

Alex Brenninkmeijer, the national Ombudsman in the Netherlands, said that the political climate in the Netherlands is racist. He explained, “I’m not speaking about one party, but about the general mood. It is against foreigners.” He added that the political system feels itself above critique and its mood is one of ‘anything goes.’ Criticism is not accepted.” Brenninkmeijer reacted about a new report from the Council of Europe which said that the Netherlands should deal better with racism in society. He said that the government should take responsibility and start a major anti-discrimination campaign to change it. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3530221/2013/10/20/Nationale-Ombudsman-Den-Haag-is-racistisch.dhtml

Russia Dissatisfied with Dutch Apologies

Russian Foreign Office spokesman Aleksandr Loekasjevits has briefed Russian media about Dutch apologies for the arrest of a Russian diplomat by Dutch policemen. He said that this cannot be considered the end of the incident. He confirmed that the Dutch had submitted a police report and added the Russian demand that “the attackers” have to be punished and the diplomat and his family have to receive reimbursement for moral and material damage. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3528760/2013/10/17/Rusland-herhaalt-eis-dat-aanvallers-Borodin-worden-gestraft.dhtml

Unemployment Continues to Increase

Unemployment in the Netherlands increased slightly further in September and reached 685,000, or 8.6% of the professional population. For people under the age of 25, the rate is 16.5%. Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher said that unemployment is the greatest problem in the Netherlands at the present. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3528612/2013/10/17/Werkloosheid-loopt-nog-steeds-op.dhtml

Dutch Diplomat Beaten in Moscow

Dutch Deputy Ambassador in Russia Onno Elderenbosch has been beaten up by two intruders in his Moscow apartment. The diplomat was wounded. The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Timmermans has contacted his Russian colleague and called in the Russian ambassador in The Hague. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/3527736/2013/10/16/Nederlandse-diplomaat-mishandeld-in-Moskou.dhtml

European Council: Netherlands Negligent against Racist Chants

The Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) of the Council of Europe has concluded that the Netherlands does too little against racist chants in soccer stadiums. Also in employment seeking and the entertainment industry, racist remarks are too often accepted as normal. The ECRI said that the Netherlands has to attack racism better in its society. A racist motive in a crime must be considered an aggravating element. A national strategy is required against discrimination due to race. The commission also regrets the planned savings in projects against discrimination. It also wants the Netherlands to deal with the exportation of non-Dutch workers. The commission criticized some politicians and media which paint Islam and Muslims as well as the arrival of Eastern Europeans, as a threat to Dutch society. Furthermore, the Netherlands lacks a national policy to integrate Roma and other gypsies better into society. However, the Netherlands has made progress since the previous report from 2008. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/2013/article/print/detail/3527145/Nederland-laks-bij-aanpak-racistische-spreekkoren.dhtml

Hilversum: Police in no Hurry to Deal with Moroccan Violence

More than a year ago, four Moroccans severely bludgeoned a youngster without provocation. The suspects are known and one of them has a DNA match. The police have not finished the investigation yet and the suspects are still free. The brother of the victim, Labor Party member of the municipality Saami Akrouh, said that the police have stated for four months already, that they need another month to finish the investigation. He added that confidence in the police has disappeared. The police say that the violence was not life-threatening and thus other matters take priority. Akrouh said the family was told at the hospital at the time, “one should prepare for the worst.” The suspects also shouted, “Cut him down, kill him.” www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21962133/__Weinig_haast_zwaar_geweld__.html

IMF Foresees Major Dutch Budget Deficit in 2015

The IMF expects that the Dutch government budget deficit will decline this year to 3% and next year will be 3.2%. From 2015, a strong increase will be expected to 4.8%. This means that the Netherlands will have in that year, the largest budget deficit together with Spain, in the European Union. In Spain however, the budget deficit is meant to decline, while in the Netherlands in 2018, will still be 4.4%. Also, the Dutch government debt will increase from 75% of GDP to 83% in 2018. In Germany, France and Italy, there will be a decline of the government debt of the GDP. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2680/Economie/article/detail/3525034/2013/10/10/IMF-ziet-sterke-stijging-begrotingstekort-Nederland.dhtml

Netherlands Apologizes to Russia

Minister Frans Timmermans (Labor) has offered apologies on behalf of the Dutch government for the arrest of Russian diplomat Borodin. Borodin the diplomat and his wife were arrested last Saturday and taken to a police station. His wife had been arrested with her car because while she was drunk, she drove into three parked cars. This happened after Borodin, heavily drunk himself, had dragged his children by their hair through his home and garden. His wife had been involved in car accidents while drunk on various occasions. On the basis of police information, Timmermans had come to the conclusion that the Treaty of Vienna had been broken by the Netherlands, under which diplomats have full immunity. Borodin claimed that he had been beaten by policemen. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2664/Nieuws/article/detail/3524204/2013/10/09/Excuses-aan-Rusland-om-arrestatie-diplomaat-Borodin.dhtml

Russian Minister: Netherlands Breaks All International Conventions

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov says that Dutch police have broken all international conventions by arresting a Russian diplomat. He added that it is absurd that this is happening in the legal capital of the world, The Hague. Russia does not accept the Dutch explanations and demands apologies. Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans says that he wants to wait for the results of the police investigation of this matter. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3523659/2013/10/08/Rusland-Nederland-overtreedt-alle-internationale-conventies.dhtml

Mayor: Punishing Moroccan Criminals hardly helps

Bernt Schneiders, Mayor of Haarlem says that punishing a small group of mainly young Moroccan criminals does not help. He reacted to two recent violent incidents in the town. A 20-year old woman was beaten by 6 Moroccans. Two days later, two old women 88 and 90, were attacked by two Moroccans. None of the perpetrators have been caught. The Mayor said: “A small minority cannot be rehabilitated. Only long-term jail time can protect society.” www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21953486/___Geen_effect_straf_Marokkanen___.html

Government doesn’t know whether 1.8 billion Euro Social Security Payments were Justified

The Tax Agency does not know whether 1.8 billion Euro Social Security payments were justified. This information was provided by Parliamentarian Pieter Omtzigt (Christian Democrat). He had asked Deputy Minister of Finance Frans Weekers (Liberals) questions about social security payments during the years 2008-2012. Omtzigt said that the tax agency has 8 weeks to control whether a person is entitled to a social security payment. He added that this should be possible because a pharmacy can do it in one minute. www.volkskrant.nl/vk/nl/2686/Binnenland/article/detail/3522438/2013/10/06/Onduidelijkheid-over-1-8-miljard-uitgekeerde-toeslagen.dhtml