|
|
Monday, November 8, 2004
Secretary of Domestic Affairs squirming after Van Gogh murder |
|
This must be the last hoorah of secretary Johan Remkes of Domestic Affairs, who is not known for his lack of opportunism. Mr. Remkes has been under a lot of criticism lately, mainly because the Dutch intelligence service AIVD, who failed to keep a closer eye on Van Gogh murderer Mohamed B., is his responsibility. Today, he tried to deflect blame from himself by launching an all-out assault on secretary Piet-Hein Donner of Justice. Donner has recently been put in charge of all counter-terrorism efforts, however, so recently that it is absolutely ludicrous for Remkes to even try to shift blame on his colleague. In broadsheet NRC Handelsblad, Remkes blasts Donner for 'being too restrained' in combatting terrorism. One immediate sign that Remkes has overplayed his hand can be found in the same NRC article. Jozias van Aartsen, chief whip of the Liberal Party, to which Remkes belongs as well, is quoted as saying that 'it remains to be seen if Remkes has an adequate sence of urgency himself'. Ouch.
|
20:58 |
permalink comment(s) (0) trackback(s) (0)
|
At least foreigners get to see 'Submission' |
|
For sure, there's not a Dutch tv station that dares to broadcast Submission anymore, the film that Theo van Gogh made in conjunction with MP Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and which takes a critical view of the treatment of women in Islam. It's a good thing then that the Dutch travel a lot. If they happen to be in Australia, Japan, Canada, France or Denmark, they can see it there. Stations in all of those countries bought the broadcasting rights after the murder of Van Gogh. Israel, the UK, the USA and Denmark had done so before.
Of course, you could just download it.
|
18:58 |
permalink comment(s) (11) trackback(s) (0)
|
International developments and press roundup |
|
• The Wall Street Journal mentions the possibility of a Spanish connection. Apparently, Spanish police are investigating whether terrorists residing in their country ordered Van Gogh's assassination. The article isn't online (at least not for free), but a Dutch version can be found here.
• The Christian Science Monitor mentions there are apparently imams who tell their flock they don't need to pay taxes. This could actually bridge the gap with the native Dutch... ;-)
• The New York Times explores the possibility of Al Qaeda links.
• In Belgium, the government is taking stern measures to combat radical Islamism. Radio stations and websites that promote hatred will be closed, radical imams will be denied entry to the country, and fanatical Islamic organizations disbanded, according to proposals that are up for debate today.
|
13:23 |
permalink comment(s) (10) trackback(s) (0)
|
Bombed Islamic school had connections with fundamentalist Islamic organization |
|
Two interesting developments. It turns out the school had been attacked before the Van Gogh murder as well. It is also reported that the school had connections with the fundamentalist Islamic foundation Al Waqf al Islami. A member of this foundation has been connected with Al Qaeda. Dutch PBS last year reported this member was a part of a group of twenty businessmen that had provided financial support to this terror organization.
Which is all the more reason to leave this kind of stuff to the authorities, rather than being a coward and trying to blow up a junior high in the middle of the night.
If any of you really want to do something, then distribute the film Theo van Gogh died for. You can find both a download location and a BitTorrent file by clicking here
|
11:16 |
permalink comment(s) (4) trackback(s) (0)
|
Not-so-silly measures against El Tawheed mosque |
|
The Balkenende administration intends to prosecute the board of the now infamous El Tawheed mosque, where Van Gogh murderer Mohamed B. went. Also, its imam is to be extradited. It's now up to the lawyers to come up with the legal framework.
|
10:34 |
permalink comment(s) (0) trackback(s) (0)
|
Attacks on Islamic school and mosques |
|
Some 'heros' have bombed an Islamic school in Eindhoven. The bomb went off at 3.30 in the morning. Also, arsonists have tried to set mosques in Breda, Rotterdam and Huizen ablaze.
No 'buts': there is no excuse for cowardly acts like these. I am ashamed some people apparently feel the need to combat barbarism with barbarism. If people want 'to do something', let them join or found a political party (I did the former this weekend) or organize a demonstration. That's the way you exercise power in a civilized country. If we start taking bombs to the streets, what will distinguish us from the butchers that slit throats? After this is all over, and it will be one day, I'd like there to be a bit left of the civilization and the ideals we claim to be defending.
And can I also give the 'Double Standards Award' to Mayor Alexander Sakkers of Eindhoven? He immediately concluded this was a deliberate attack on Muslims. I agree this has been a likely possibility from the start, however, it's a good habit amongst authorities to forego speculation and suspend judgment until the facts are reasonably clear. The authorities did so when Van Gogh was murdered, to the point that for a long time it wasn't known the murderer was wearing a traditional Islamic garb. Sakkers has been all over the airwaves condemning the attack as an 'act of 'terrorism' by an 'idiot'. That's the kind of reassuring, sensible language we need from our authorities in these times, Mayor!
Update 9.27: Sakkers just gave a press conference. Now the perpetrators (apparently, he feels sure there's more than one) are 'a couple of idiots'. Sakkers, please go home, have a drink and sleep for a few hours, because this way, you're doing nobody any good.
|
9:10 |
permalink comment(s) (0) trackback(s) (0)
|
'Murderer Van Gogh nearly decapitated him' |
|
The Sunday Times features a digest-type article with some information I don't think I've seen reported in this detail before, for instance the exact way in which Van Gogh was butchered (for that is the only fitting term). Money quote:
'“There will be no mercy” said a document that the killer had held over van Gogh’s chest before skewering it there with a final knife blow to his heart. By then van Gogh, 47, had been shot several times and was seen by one witness on his knees, pleading with his assailant, “Don’t do it . . . we can still talk about it.” The response was a knife to the throat. The killer sawed through the neck and spinal column, almost to the point of decapitating him.'
|
0:17 |
permalink comment(s) (0) trackback(s) (0)
|
|
|
