Netherlands: Immigration raids in Amsterdam
01 January 1991
Netherlands: Immigration raids in Amsterdam
In December, the Schengen group signed a new accord to bring
about the quick removal of clandestine workers*. Whilst Holland
is putting pressure on the Spanish authorities to block the
passage of those who use Spain to enter Europe, Dutch police have
carried out a series of immigration raids.
In November, 130 people were arrested in raids on 18 coffee
shops in Amsterdam which led to deportation orders against 100
people. 15 people, from Turkey and India, were issued with
deportation orders following a raid on a factory in November (De
Volkskrant 19.11.92, 16.12.92).
Meanwhile, one employer has reacted angrily to the police
treatment of 13 workers who were arrested in a raid at his fruit
and vegetable nursery. All of the workers had work permits, but
Mr. van Paassen says that they were treated roughly and were
hardly given time to change their jackets and collect their
papers before being taken to the police station where they were
detained for three and a half hours (De Volkskrant 16.12.92).
Following complaints from bystanders, and an article in `Algemeen
Dagblad', the national ombudsman is to investigate police
behaviour towards a Somalian family who police are accused of
treating roughly (De Volkskrant 31.12.92).
*The February issue of Statewatch provides a two-page special on
Europe, Trevi, Europol and immigration
Police warn of race riots
The Rotterdam Police Information Service has warned of the
possibility of `race riots' in the older parts of the city,
citing bad housing, unemployment, a high proportion of immigrants
and identity and culture problems as contributory factors.(De
Volkskrant 14.11.92, 16.11.92).
The warnings come after an incident in November when migrant
and Dutch youth from the Zevenkamp district of Rotterdam clashed.
Police said that the disorders were due to `discontent' and not
racism. (Het Parool 17.11.92).
Refugees and immigrants linked to crime
Police and politicians are linking refugees and immigrants to
crime. In August, after 340 Bosnian asylum seekers found refuge
in an army barracks in Den Bosch, the police said they feared an
increase in shoplifting. Although the police claimed that the
refugees could easily turn to criminality, there is no evidence
of an increase in crime (Het Parool 17.11.92).
Statements by the Lord Mayor of Rotterdam, Mr. A. Peper,
accusing members of the Turkish community of large-scale social
security frauds, have been backed by the police. But when
challenged by Rotterdam city council, neither the Mayor nor the
police could give proof of their allegation that 110 Turks had
registered for social security at one address and were collecting
benefits to send back to Turkey.
Following this, several anti-racist organisations put an
advertisement in a local paper condemning Mr. Peper's statement
and apologising to Rotterdam's Turkish community.
Meanwhile, a government official, state secretary Kosto,
demanded that all `illegal aliens' should be excluded from all
public facilities (Het Parool 3.11.92).
IRR European Race Audit no 2 1992. Contact: Liz Fekete, Institute
of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS Tel: ++ 071
837 0041