De Fabel van de illegaal 63, March/April 2004
Contents (translation)
The bimonthly newspaper of anti-racist organization "De Fabel van de illegaal" is written in Dutch. Here you find English translations of the introductions to the articles. Only if an article is hyperlinked it is translated entirely. For more information please mail us. (For certain purposes we can translate articles.)
Harmonizing to the bottom
(by: Jelle van Buuren)
For years the 15 EU member states are negotiating in vain about minimum levels for the judgment of asylum requests. The official proposal was even withdrawn at the end of 2003 because the negotiations got completely stuck. Refugee organizations were relieved because the proposed minimum levels were not very positive. But adjournment doesn't mean a definite end to this European project.
Boss on our own heads
(by: Eric Krebbers and Inge van de Velde)
In a number of west European countries debates are raging on headscarves and veils. Conservatives want them forbidden on schools. Liberals mostly argue against all religious outings. Resistance to such a prohibition mostly comes from Islamic fundamentalists. But what motivates the women who carry them? And what does the conflict mean to the radical Left?
Fortuynist Hemelrijk considers anti-racism censorship
(by: Harry Westerink)
Opinion maker Pamela Hemelrijk was one of the ideological forerunners of the Fortuynist Right populism. Ever since 1993 she has been writing angry articles in the daily Algemeen Dagblad, against Islam, anti-racism, anti-fascism and the supposed totalitarian power of the social democrat party PvdA. According to her Fortuyn's party LPF watered down his ideology after he died, and that's why in 2003 she voted Winny de Jong of the extreme Right party Conservatieven.nl.
ChristenUnie: Islam only in private
(by: Harry Westerink)
The small Christian fundamentalist party ChristenUnie sometimes seems to be more friendly to refugees than large Christian democratic party CDA. That's why this party is sometimes described as "Christian social". But the ChristenUnie is principally against autonomy and therefore fights all achievements of the social emancipation movements. "A Christian state", that's what they want, and the "conservation of Dutch culture" and "the recovery of the family".
"Allochthones" guilty of high mortality rates around birth?
(by: Jeroen Breekveldt)
Policy makers blame "allochthones" of the high mortality rate of newborn babies. That induces them to plead for population politics. But do such rates not tell us more about the quality of medical care?
Plans for limiting migrant rights are getting more popular
(by: Eric Krebbers)
As a result of a discussion weekend in Amsterdam a debate started in the Dutch media about introducing a second rank citizenship and temporary migration. A growing number of politicians and policy makers seem to like the proposals.
Dutch dikes against Polish "floods"
(by: Eric Krebbers)
Both Left and Right members of parliament want to keep Polish workers out after the EU enlarges in May 2004. Otherwise they would steal "our" jobs.
Not rejected, but to a "return center" anyway
(by: Ellen de Waard and Harry Westerink)
Dutch Immigration minister Verdonk wants to deport tens of thousands of refugees. Only some 2.100 are allowed to stay. They meet the harsh criteria of Verdonk's amnesty arrangement. Consistent with the general style of the current government she continually repeats that it is "the own responsibility" of refugees "to leave". But most of them cannot go back or simply do not want to.
Pauluskerk participates in international project on migration control
(by: Jan Tas)
For some years De Pauluskerk ( a church in Rotterdam) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are working together in a "voluntary return" project. Recently the IOM published their first evaluation report. The Pauluskerk project is part of a much larger internationally coordinated project to control migration from the former Soviet Union.
The empty shell of a new Right think tank
(by: Gerrit de Wit)
NieuwRechts (New Right), the small extreme Right party of Rotterdam council member Michiel Smit, has been working hard these last couple of months. They publish newsletters and newspapers, and try to found branches elsewhere in the country to be able to participate in the national elections of 2006. Party members organize a lot of actions, but also started the Van Oldenbarnevelt Thinktank (VOD) a few months ago. It should offer the party an ideological framework.
Heartfelt amnesty for those who live in the Netherlands for 3 years
(by: Jan Tas)
The unjust 'amnesty arrangement' of minister Verdonk calls for much protest. Many more refugees should get a residence permit. From these protests an inspiring network arose: Van Harte Pardon (A Heartfelt Amnesty). An interview with one of the supporting organizations, the Werkgroep Vluchtelingen Vrij (Workgroup Free all Refugees), about the background and the demands of this initiative.
Au pairs often exploited as cheap labor force
(by: Ellen de Waard)
For quite some time stories are being heard about the exploitation of au pairs. Recently the ministry of Justice published the results of an investigation of the functioning of the au pair arrangement. It turned out that in most cases rules are violated.
The columns
Dwarsligger's poetry: Deportation for beginners
(by: Harry Westerink)
The politics of De Fabel: cooperation and expansion
(by: Eric Krebbers)
Tales of illegality: A mat on the floor
(by: Harry Westerink and Latifa El-Harrak)
Book reviews
Explosieve materie
(by: Gerrit de Wit)
Keizer in lompen
(by: Harry Westerink)
Een gat in het prikkeldraad
(by: Jan Tas)