Posted on 09/20/2002 5:36:59 PM PDT by Shermy
THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The new Dutch government released budget and policy guidelines Tuesday that toughened immigration controls and left behind more liberal, tolerant policies that governed the Netherlands over the past few decades.
The budget for year ending December 2003 cuts funds for processing would-be immigrants and asylum-seekers, while boosting funds for detaining and deporting them.
But the policy guidelines set for the next four years go much further.
The new center-right government plans to reduce immigration by 25 percent in its first year; make entry into the country without a visa a criminal offense; imprison would-be immigrants who have been rejected while they await deportation; take DNA fingerprints of asylum-seekers who arrive without a valid passport; and expel any foreigner_ with or without a visa_ who commits a crime while in the Netherlands.
The government budget and political agenda was presented by Queen Beatrix in her annual address to the houses of parliament in The Hague ( news - web sites). The speech, however, was written by the new coalition government, headed by Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets in The Hague hoping to catch glimpse of the queen in her gold-gilded coach.
"Large-scale immigration and the problems that stem from it have placed our society under pressure," the queen said. "The government will therefore accelerate the integration of foreigners, requiring newly arrived citizens to speak our language, adapt themselves to the Dutch identity and culture, and live by our laws."
The new policies reflect the views of slain politician Pim Fortuyn, who spoke out against immigration and mocked the previous Labor-led government for being out of touch with the Dutch society.
His party, founded only in February, came in second in the May elections and became a partner of the governing coalition even though it was left leaderless after Fortuyn's assassination days before the poll. An animal rights activist is on trial for the murder.
"We've been too kind," said Immigration Minister Hilbrand Nawijn in comments on the budget. "We've had too much understanding for (immigrants') background and culture."
Several hundred protesters gathered near the Dutch parliament to protest the new policies. Many wore paper hats saying "crazy people have taken power," and carried signs saying "Nawijn, minister of racism."
Though the popularity of Fortuyn's party has fallen sharply in polls since the election, his influence is still rippling through Dutch society.
Klaas de Vries, a member of parliament for the ousted Labor party, said changes in policy won't turn out as dramatic as they seem now because many of the government's plans are impossible to implement.
"There are 150,000 illegal workers in the Netherlands," he said. "If the current government plans to make them all criminals, they better start building new prisons," he said.
Habib Kaddouri, a Moroccan protester who also has a Dutch passport, said the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and the global economic turndown are contributing to the current negative atmosphere.
"It's a provincial reaction to a global problem," he said.
But he said that with Dutch unemployment at just 2 percent during the current downturn, immigration policies will likely reverse when the Dutch realize that they need legal immigrant labor. But for the moment, he said, foreigners feel unwanted.
And the wascally U.S. has arrested the Sudanese pilot bent on hijacking an airliner and crashing it into a Washington, D.C. landmark--
You can feel the love these foreigners have to give.
Oh, I hope you're going to be fun. So historically educated! And biting comments relevant to a story! What a brilliant first post stupidwhiteman! Welcome!
Conceivably the martyring of Pim Fortuyn added to the momentum his party had created to cause the change.
The proliferation of Islamist jihadism is as dangerous as any proliferation of missile or nuclear technology.
Thanks anyway for the ping.
"THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The party of slain Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn filled a long-standing job opening in the new government Monday — nearly two months after the top-level post went vacant.Another smack in the face of lefty race baiting. Also, Varela is dating a woman??? Explanations?Khee Liang Phoa was sworn in by Queen Beatrix as the Junior Minister of Emancipation and Family Affairs. He replaces Philomena Bijlhout who was forced to step down in July just nine hours after taking the oath.
Phoa, 47, is a Dutch national of Chinese ancestry and a physical therapist by training. He was most recently the head of an industry group promoting safe drinking.
Phoa was nominated by the party's number two member, Joao Varela, a 27-year-old marketing analyst for cosmetics firm L'Oreal. Varela is reportedly dating Phoa's 22-year old daughter.
...."
Deport D'illegal Da sonner Da better!
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