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

From Youth Gangs to Dangerous Criminals

One third of the members of three notorious criminal youth groups have developed into dangerous criminals since the beginning of the last decade. They started at a young age by causing public disturbances, intimidation and threats in their neighborhood. In the meantime, they have developed into drug and human traffickers. This results from a new study which has just been published. The three criminal groups were those in Amsterdam West (mainly Moroccan), in the Kanaleneiland neighborhood in Utrecht (Moroccan) and the Krispijn group in Dordrecht (Antillean). At the end of 2012, the Netherlands had 976 problematic youth groups. Out of them, most caused public disturbances, while 6% was criminal. The successful criminals have much influence in their neighborhood because they have much money. www.google.co.il/?gws_rd=cr&ei=_h9RUuGGCerb0QXhnoHIBw#q=trouw,+jeugdbende+kweekt+zware+criminelen&tbm=nws

Greek Soccer Fans Destroy Coffee House; Police cannot Locate Them

About twenty fans of the Greek soccer club PAOK from Saloniki fought with each other in the center of Amsterdam. Several of them entered into a coffee shop and threw the furniture into the street. The police were not able to find the fans. http://www.at5.nl/artikelen/112050/poak-fans-slopen-cafe-de-dam

Many Municipalities do not respect Alcohol Laws

Since January 1 the responsibility for preventing youngsters under 16 years of age to drink alcohol has been transferred to the municipalities. Forty percent of these have not yet established an “alcohol police force.” This results from a study done by Bureau Horeca Byzondere Wetten. Many small communities do nothing at all in this field. Former Inspector Feije Dillema said that these municipalities lack money to hire people who control whether coffeehouses, restaurants, supermarkets and liquor shops respect the law. www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/21934778/__Jeugd_heeft_vrij_spel_met_drank__.html

Amnesty International: Netherlands Remains Silent on Human Rights Issues in Saudi Arabia

The persecution of human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia has greatly increased since 2011. The Dutch government however, remains silent about this. This was concluded by Amnesty International in a new report. All the Netherlands has done in this case is silent diplomacy. There are no indications that it has any effect. As the Netherlands reacts publicly on human rights offenses in Iran, Egypt and Russia, this creates the impression that the Netherlands uses double standards. By not making optimal efforts to deal with Saudi Arabia’s human rights offenses, it betrays the human rights defenders in the country. A poll carried out found that two thirds of the Dutch population considers that the Netherlands have to support Saudi Arabian human rights defenders publicly. www.amnesty.nl/nieuwsportaal/nieuws/nederland-laat-saudische-mensenrechtenverdedigers-in-de-kou-staan