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Nieuws uit 2007

12 January 2007

Stern criticism from European Court demands changes in Dutch asylum policy

In a judgement issued on Thursday, the European Court of Human Right (ECHR) in Strasbourg made a series of tough, fundamental criticisms of the way in which an asylum request by a Somali refugee was dealt with. SP Member of Parliament and asylum policy spokesman Jan de Wit said that he was pleased with the ECHR’s ruling. “The Court pointed to shortcomings to which we have called attention for some years,” he said. “It seems to me clear that far-reaching changes in policy are needed if we are to comply with this judgement. I will bring these up next week during the debate on the annual budget for the Justice Ministry.”

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11 January 2007

Labour inspectorate must act against lack of concern for safety of Polish workers

Polish workers in the Netherlands are being sent by employment bureaux to do jobs which the bureaux know full-well are dangerous, and to employers known not to comply with the legally-specified conditions for such work. This was shown earlier this week when a nationally-broadcast current affairs programme focused its attention on the safety of eastern European workers in the Netherlands. SP Member of Parliament and employment spokesman Jan de Wit has asked Secretary of State for Social Affairs and Employment Henk Van Hoof if he intends to have the labour inspectorate deal with this abuse. Inspectors should, Mr De Wit says, ensure that employment bureaux are careful only to send workers to firms which comply with the legal requirements relating to the conditions of workers performing the work on offer.

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9 January 2007

Support action on access to medicines in the Third World

The Dutch government must support countries which produce cheaper versions of patented medicines. So say SP Members of Parliament Agnes Kant and Ewout Irrgang, who want the pharmaceutical concern Novartis to withdraw a legal challenge to India's legislation on patents. In addition Ms Kant, the SP's spokeswoman on health issues, and Mr Irrgang, development spokesman, want the US government to end its interference with Thailand's production of cheap generic medicines. The two are asking government ministers Hans Hoogervorst and Gijs Van Aardenne to take action. If Novartis and the US government succeed, millions of people in the Third World will be deprived of affordable generic medicines.

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9 January 2007

NATO responsible for too many civilian victims in Afghanistan

SP Member of Parliament and Foreign Affairs spokesman Harry van Bommel is seeking clarification following a statement by NATO spokesman Brig. Richard E. Nugee, who, referring to the campaign in southern Afghanistan during 2006, said that “the single thing that we have done wrong and we are striving extremely hard to improve on is killing innocent civilians” Brig. Nugee admitted that dozens of Afghan civilians had lost their lives as a result of airstrikes and violent attacks in which NATO troops were involved.

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8 January 2007

Politicians in action at nuclear base in Scotland against mega-investment in nuclear submarines

SP Member of Parliament Krista van Velzen joined parliamentarians from a number of different European countries in a blockade action in front of the gates of the Royal Naval base at Scotland's Faslane. The action forms part of a continuous relay which has already gone on for three months and is aimed at protesting against plans by British premier Tony Blair £40bn (about €60bn/$75bn) on new nuclear submarines.

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5 January 2007

Put Japan's reinstatement of death penalty on agenda of official visit of Dutch minister

SP Member of Parliament Emile Roemer is asking Transport Minister Karla Peijs to raise the question of the death penalty during her forthcoming visit to Japan.

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