Special Police Unit Failed in Football Riots

An investigation of the football riots last summer after the game between Cambuur and Roda JC in Leeuwarden, has found that the main reasons for the riots were poor communication, an overcrowded and poorly secured stadium and major mistakes made by the special police unit. Six hundred people rioted; 25 policemen were injured. When the riots broke out the special unit was still putting on their uniforms. They had not brought tear gas and when it was finally brought to the stadium, it turned out that the police had no masks. Their mobile communication equipment was also not functioning.
www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1311914.ece/Veel_fouten_ME_bij_voetbalrellen_Cambuur

Green Party Leader: Prime Minister Failed in Not Defending Minister

Femke Halsema, the leader of the Green Left Party, has accused Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende of remaining silent when PVV Party Leader Geert Wilders called him an accomplice of the radical Muslim Mohammed B, who murdered Theo Van Gogh. Halsema said that Baldenende always talks about moral standards and thus should have spoken up.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2404281.ece/Halsema_Balkenende_had_Van_der_Laan_moeten_verdedigen

Friends of Murdered Politician Bring Complaint against Former Minister

Two organizations which strive to keep alive the memory of the murdered Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn have brought a complaint against former Minister Alexander Pechtold, now the faction leader of the D-66 party in the Dutch parliament. Pechtold had said on television that PVV party leader Geert Wilders is dangerous for the state, an extreme rightist and an inciter to hate. A representative of the organization said that “with this complaint we want to avoid another political murder after those of Fortuyn and Van Gogh.”
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5236651/__Aangifte_tegen_Alexander_Pechtold__.html

Hague Alderman Attacked during Neighborhood Visit

Alderman Marnix Norder (Labor) of The Hague was physically attacked during a visit to the Wateringseveld neighborhood of the city. Norder complained to the police about the attack and the insults shouted at him. The attacker has been arrested, but now police are investigating whether other people also committed criminal acts against Norder.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5216324/__Haagse_wethouder_belaagd__.html

East European Criminals Steal Massively

A study by Radboud University on behalf of the retailers’ organization Detailhandel Nederland, has found that about 35% of all thefts in shops are carried out by gangs from Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and the Baltic states.
They cause damages in the amount of about 250 million Euro a year.
www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/5236675/__Oost-Europeanen_roven_winkels_leeg__.html

Committee: Physicians Do Not Report Euthanasia of Babies

The committee which investigates physicians who have carried out euthanasia on severely ill babies has announced that not one single case was reported to it in the last two years. It thinks it unlikely that there have been no such cases. Fear of prosecution may have prevented doctors from reporting.
www.nrc.nl/binnenland/article2404175.ece/Commissie_euthanasie_baby_moet_meer_gemeld

Minister: No Subsidies If Hate Incitement Continues

Minister of Integration Eberhard van der Laan (Labor) has sent a letter to parliament saying that discrimination and incitement to hate on subsidized websites must be stopped. On two Moroccan websites -- Marokko.nl and Maroc.nl – expressions have been found which can be seen as inciting, discriminating or insulting. The two websites have promised to deal with the matter.
spitsnet.nl/nieuws.php/7/569030/anp/marokko_nl_belooft_beter_beheer_website.html?p=rubriek7%20headlinesBoven,4