Government bombs farmer into public enemy number 1

We are now almost 2 weeks later after the most impressive farmer's demonstration that the Netherlands has ever known. With thousands of tractors that first went to De Bilt, and even more that stood on and around the Malieveld and in the streets of The Hague.

On 16 and 17 October, the Cabinet entrenched itself behind a great display of power (or was it blind panic and fear?) by deploying the Dutch army: dozens of large army trucks with containers were called upon to survey the area around the House of Representatives and the Binnenhof. to make. A provocation intended to give the impression that “the atmosphere was grim”. Nothing could be further from the truth: again and in even greater numbers thousands of citizens stood to encourage the farmers: on viaducts, along roads and among the farmers on the Koekamp in The Hague where the farmers were campaigning. We stood shoulder to shoulder!

An incensed (and hidden) Mayor of The Hague, Remkes, complained that "the farmers did not keep to the agreements" when they parked their tractor on the Malieveld. That agreements had been made with the municipality (ie the mayor) that two streets - Benoorden- and Bezuidenhout - would be closed off for the tractors on October 16, Mayor Remkes conveniently "forgot" to mention to the assembled press. Just as he also “forgot” to actually reserve these streets for the trekkers. After which the farmers again parked their tractor on and around the Malieveld. 

Peasant discrimination
The mayor then banned farmers from the city center of The Hague without an emergency ordinance. Anyone "who looked like a peasant" was sent back if he wanted to go downtown. Officers selected on the basis of external characteristics that could belong to a farmer, such as work or walking shoes. People who wanted to attend the hearing on October 16 were made impossible. If you are a farmer (or look like that according to the police) you can apparently be discriminated against without any legal basis. Then you can be refused from the city center, removed from terraces or banned from cafes.

A critical assessment of which parties continuously offend and drop the farmers yields a painful conclusion: it was Ferdinand Grapperhaus (CDA) who completely let the family in Boxtel sit. For more than 10 hours, extremists were able to go about their business there. And don't you think that this Cabinet has learned something from the social outrage caused by this lame behavior at the time: the extremists who were caught in the act two weeks ago when they broke into a rabbit breeder, get away with a fine of 200 euros; to be paid to the government - witness the letter from the Public Prosecution Service dated October 23, 2019.

Then you become silent for a moment about such a failed “judicial system” that again does not do justice in any way to the suffering inflicted on the farming family in question! In The Hague, Grapperhaus deployed the army against the peasants on 16 and 17 October. In Groningen, the King's Commissioner René Paas (CDA) and deputy Henk Staghouwer (ChristenUnie) were too arrogant to treat the farmers decently, causing emotions to run high.

In The Hague, Johan Remkes (VVD) did not keep to the agreements and ordered the police to discriminate against farmers, completely on the basis of arbitrariness. The King's Commissioner, Wim van den Donk (CDA) took it up a notch on 27 October with this tweet: 75 years ago we were given back freedom, the rule of law and democracy. Today I commemorate in Bergen op Zoom and Tilburg. Now there is an open threat of violence. I categorically reject that. There is no room for this in Brabant and the Netherlands. Is Van de Donk comparing farmers here with the occupiers from 1940 – 1945? While the forced eviction of people from their property/company and house, the taking of property and deprivation of their legal position, are precisely fascistoid elements. Operated by this government. Not the occupiers, but the justified resistance stood in front of the Brabant Provincial House.

Not everything is possible
When the parties that farmers traditionally vote for turn their backs on the farmers in this way, it evokes a reaction. “Not everything is possible,” said Helma Lodders (VVD) after the incident in Groningen. Indeed, Mrs Lodders: not everything is possible. As a politician you cannot think that you can offend and eliminate your supporters, your electorate, with impunity, without this having any consequences. What is a vote worth to a party, if this party doesn't think it's worth it to treat you like a full-fledged human being? Trying to portray you as public enemy number 1?

Every day every politician has the opportunity to prove his/her value to the rural population and farmers: in the House of Representatives. So far we have noticed little of this. I hope that the “farmers' parties” realize that they now have to work for the countryside and the farmers. Now. Before Dec 1. With concrete solutions. Doesn't work? Then the next election will be a turning point for many of us.

Letter from Sieta van Keimpema, chairman of the Dutch Dairymen Board (DDB)

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