International

SP Member of Parliament Nine Kooiman describes herself as ‘pleasantly surprised’ by remarks made by Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan, of the centre-left Labour Party, who has stated that tourists will not be banned from using the Netherlands’ ‘coffeeshops’, where sale of limited quantities of cannabis is tolerated. He says also that he has discussed the matter with the minister responsible, Ivo Opstelten of the centre-right VVD. ‘That’s good news for all local authorities,’ says Kooiman. ‘Because what Amsterdam can do, so can the rest of the Netherlands. We have nothing to gain by excluding tourists from coffeeshops throughout the country, which would simply boost the illegal street trade, benefiting no-one.’

SP Euro-MP Dennis de Jong has asked the EU authorities to take action to ensure humane treatment of hundreds of Kurdish prisoners in Turkey currently on hunger strike, urging High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton to put pressure on the Turkish government to respect internationally-recognised human rights. ‘Prisoners, including those on hunger strike, must have access to medical treatment and support. Human rights organisations report that hunger strikers are being isolated, given no vitamins and are not being visited by doctors or other medical personnel, all of which conflicts with their human rights. The EU must take action, now.’