Posted on 12/29/2006 2:52:48 PM PST by Valin
Brussels, 29 Dec. (AKI) - The European Union has placed the Dutch 'Hofstad Group' and its nine members on the bloc's terrorism black list meaning all their financial assets are frozen and the group can no longer gain access to bank accounts or insurance in EU countries, Radio Netherlands reported on Friday. The move follows a request by the Dutch finance minister Gerrit Zalm.
The group’s financial assets were frozen in the Netherlands earlier this year when its nine members were jailed on terrorism charges. Mohammed Bouyeri, a Dutch Moroccan considered to be the Hofstadt group's leader, is serving a life-sentence for the November 2004 murder of Dutch film director Theo Van Gogh, who offended many Muslims with a short film that suggested Islam condoned violence against women.
The EU's list includes another Dutch organisation, the al-Aqsa Foundation, which is suspected of channelling money to terrorist groups.
Looks like the Dutch are starting to get it..
Switzerland is not part of the EU, is it?
It does look like the Dutch are ahead of the rest of the EU, doesn't it?
The government applied but the people voted against it (referendum).
Theo Van Gogh was murdered quite a while ago. You would think something would have been done to freeze these assets much sooner. Or maybe this is just an extension of actions already taken in the Netherlands.
Notice how they are careful to say "Dutch" rather than "Muslim"
OK, so, if their money happened to be in Switzerland...
EU RACISM!!!/s
Their F-18s can zip out of their caverns within two minutes of an alarm, and within ten minutes, they can have zipped from one end of the country to the other. (Then what?)
Swiss banks hold Nazi money, certainly, and that of many who were brutally extinguished in concentration camps. The banks require identification and proof of inheritance to connect with such existing, often long-inactive, accounts. Not too long ago, lists of owners-of-record of such accounts were published. That was a big step forward, but the attempt of many to connect to such accounts, though they may be just--often fail to meet the requirement of proof, because many records have been lost. There has been much understandable consternation, and many a dog-ate-my-homework-level incredible stories alleged.
Banks that have holdings that will (effectively) never be withdrawn are able to use the growth and interest such funds' investments spin off to keep the banks, their officers and their shareholders all well-off and a few steps ahead of the now-global competition.
New accounts in all Swiss banking institutions must clearly identify their owner. (Their version of "know your customer.") That wasn't always the case, and isn't necessarily for those well-connected and already "in the system."
HF
Good news!
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