Nieuws van de afdeling

23 May 2008

More than just fine dreams: the practical internationalism of the SP

'The peasants have seized power',' wrote Ilja Pfeijffer in response to the election results of 22nd November 2006. According to the well-known poet, these elections, which saw the SP's parliamentary strength increase in one leap from nine seats to twenty-five, had brought to power narrow-minded provincials at the expense of the free-thinking and right-minded section of the nation. It was no coincidence that the victors had, a year earlier, made possible 'the ridiculous and xenophobic result of the referendum on Europe.' There is something exceptional in the air when such a renowned poet lowers himself to use such unpoetic language Or when friends from the left such as Green Left chair Femke Halsema or the progressive philosopher Dick Pels see a connection between the SP's electoral success and increasing racism. Just as remarkable is the taking up of cudgels by members of the present government against what they choose to call the 'anti-European and nationalist' opinions of the SP.

22 May 2008

Euro MPs: A yes vote means death to democracy

The Lisbon Treaty will see sovereignty taken from the people without their consent, write Harry van Bommel, Jeremy Corbyn, Jean-Paul Lecoq, Lars Ohly and Paul Schäfer.

14 May 2008

Polish judge refuses recognition of foreign collective labour agreements

Brussels – The building firm Gal-Met was found to have paid a Polish worker employed in Denmark less than the rate agreed under the collective labour agreement generally held to prevail for his trade in that sector. With the support of both the trades union and the Danish courts, the firm employing the worker was obliged to make up the difference, a total of €11,000. The firm, however, refused to let the matter lie, and thanks to a legal pretext employed by a Polish judge, saw the unfortunate worker forced to repay the money.

10 May 2008

Dark side of globalisation demands decisive government

The strengthening of social security, in its broad sense, could dispel fears of the dark side of globalisation and bring back trust in politics and politicians, argues Ronald van Raak, Member of Parliament for the SP and Chair of the party's research bureau.

8 May 2008

Repression of Supporters of the Republic of Maluku Selatan – ‘Summon Indonesian Ambassador'

On Friday 25th April a commemoration is to be held in Assen marking the proclamation thirty-eight years ago of the Republic of Maluku Selatan (RMS), also known as the Republic of South Molukka. According to the Indonesian authorities the idea of the RMS survives principally in the Netherlands. The vicious repression of RMS supporters in the Molukkan islands themselves demonstrates, however, that there is more going on there than is admitted. The Netherlands, in its relations with Indonesia, must not leave these flagrant human rights abuses unmentioned.

8 May 2008

Rich Antillans let their poorer compatriots rot

Solidarity seems a rare commodity in the Dutch Antilles. The Antilles has both deep poverty and extreme wealth. The islands' multimillionaires pay almost no tax and thus make no contribution to their society's improvement. The major islands of Curaçao and St Martin are seeking more independence and have hopes that the Netherlands will take over their debts of €2.2 billion. The SP can give no support to these ambitions as long as the rich of the Antilles are willing to let their poorer compatriots rot.

International