Fraud? Africa Aid Agency files for Bankruptcy

Dutch International development Minister Liliane Ploumen has ordered an investigation after the finance director of the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA) has disappeared without trace. 1.6 million Euro are missing from its accounts, possibly due to fraud. All staff at its African offices have been dismissed. AWEPA was founded in 1984 to advise and support democratic parliaments in Africa. Over the years the Dutch government has subsidized AWEPA with 9.5 million Euro. Also other European countries and the European Commission have subsidized the organization.  

www.dutchnews.nl/news/archives/2017/10/inquiry-as-e1-6m-goes-missing-from-amsterdam-based-africa-aid-agency/

Former Dutch General: Dutch Defense is Sick and on an IV

Former Dutch Ground Forces Commander, General Mart de Kruif, says that the Dutch defense is sick and on an IV.  Dutch defense has slowly been eroded from within.  There is too little money.  The guidance isn’t functioning and the management isn’t okay.  Just changing the top people has no impact.

https://nos.nl/nieuwsuur/artikel/2196040-je-kunt-poppetjes-wisselen-maar-daarmee-is-probleem-defensie-niet-opgelost.html

Residing Commander in Chief: It Hurts Me Not to Leave the Military in Better Shape

General Tom Middendorp, Commander of the Dutch Military, resigned a few days before the end of his term due to the negative report about the lethal incident in Mali.  Middendorp strongly criticized the cutbacks of military expenses over the past 25 years. He said that he had suggested in vain that the Netherlands invest again in the basic security of the country.  He added, “I would have loved to leave my successor something better.”

www.ad.nl/politiek/ook-generaal-middendorp-weg-om-mortierongeluk-mali~a817af3c/

Minister of Defense and Commander in Chief of Army Resign

Jeanine Hennis, the Dutch Minister of Defense and the Commander in Chief of the Dutch Army General Tom Middendorp have resigned as a result of the very negative investigation report of the deadly incident during an exercise of the Dutch military mission in Mali in 2016. Hennis said that she was politically responsible and that her initial reaction to the report had been awkward.

www.trouw.nl/democratie/hennis-stapt-op-om-dodelijk-mortierongeval-mali~a077a543/

Deputy Prime Minister: Minister of Defense should resign

Deputy Prime Minister Lodewijk Asscher (Labour) said that the conclusions of the investigation into the death of two Dutch soldiers in Mali in 2016, due to faulty ammunition, are sufficiently severe for the Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis to resign.  He added that drawing conclusions is up to her.

www.ad.nl/politiek/vicepremier-asscher-rapport-over-mali-zwaar-genoeg-voor-aftreden-hennis~a9e0e936/

Investigation: Ministry of Defense Greatly Failed in Caring for Soldiers in Mali

The Investigation Council for Safety has concluded that the Ministry of Defense has greatly failed in taking care of the safety of Dutch soldiers sent on a mission to Mali.  This concerns both the safety of the mortar grenades used as well as appropriate military health care.  The Council concludes that both issues have been made secondary to the continuation of the mission.

https://onderzoeksraad.nl/nl/onderzoek/2242/mortieroefening-mali

Trade Union Leader: 2016 Deaths of Two Dutch Soldiers Due to Defective Grenades

In July 2016, two Dutch soldiers were killed in Mali in an exercise during which a grenade exploded in a mortar.  An investigation now shows that the grenades were defective.  They were purchased ten years ago from Bulgaria for the war in Afghanistan.  Mr. Jean Debi, chairman of the Military Trade Union, VBM, said that the military authorities knew that the grenades used in the exercise were defective.

www.metronieuws.nl/nieuws/binnenland/2017/09/dood-militairen-mali-had-voorkomen-kunnen-worden