Blog: Van de Tak emphasizes that there are no taboos

Johan Remkes, who has to act as discussion leader on behalf of the cabinet, sent an invitation letter to a large number of parties on Tuesday. Farmers' protests have flared up again in recent days and there have been blockades and especially dumping actions on highways. LTO announced yesterday that it would still sit down with Remkes after a phone call from Rutte. Other organizations, and also directors within LTOare not happy about that. (blog closed)

-15.12 am Arrest for dumping waste on A18
Last night (July 28) the police arrested a 42-year-old man from East Gelre who was caught red-handed dumping waste on the A18. "At about 22.15:30 pm, a group of about 18 tractors was observed on the N18, driving in the direction of the A18. On the spot, agents found a blockade at the beginning of the AXNUMX, near Westendorp, where waste had been dumped. Police said in a press release. The man is still in custody.

Criminal Investigation
The police also say that a criminal investigation has been launched into who is responsible for dumping waste on highways in the north of the Netherlands. "That has led to very dangerous situations in several places in recent days." On the A32 near Meppel, a car was a total loss on Wednesday morning after driving on a pile of hay bales with rubble. There were also accidents on the A7 near Midwolde and the A7 near the Frieschepalen exit. No one was seriously injured.

-9.34 am Little traffic nuisance Friday morning
On the A7, the exit and ramp Frieschepalen between Heerenveen and Groningen is currently closed due to farmers' protests. Furthermore, the ANWB is currently not reporting any traffic congestion due to actions.

- 9.27 am 29-7 Actions in 14 places tonight
Last night there were farmer actions at fourteen places on and along highways, various media report. Roads have been blocked, hay bales set on fire and rubbish left behind.

- 22.45 Van de Tak emphasizes: 'There are no taboos'
LTO leader Sjaak van de Tak says he could not refuse Prime Minister Markt Rutte's urgent call to sit down with the cabinet and nitrogen mediator Johan Remkes. This is because Rutte has promised that there are no taboos, as Van de Tak indicated tonight at Op1. "It must be possible to discuss the timeline, goals and resources. If this does not appear after the first exploratory conversation, I will drop out." Van de Tak also indicates that the famous nitrogen map must be removed, as must the critical deposition value. The exploratory meeting will take place next Friday, August 5. Other agricultural representatives may also receive a formal invitation. 

- 20.15 am Farmers Defense Force (FDF) deeply disappointed in LTO
FDF leader Mark van de Oever is deeply disappointed in LTO. This is because the representative accepts Prime Minister Mark Rutte's invitation to talk to nitrogen broker Johan Remkes. "We did not agree on this during the farmers' protest in June, he says in a vlog. Van de Oever believes that LTO does not show a backbone by not keeping the rows to the Cabinet closed. The sector's interest is not served by this, he thinks.

- 16.21:XNUMX a.m. LTO still wants to come to the table after a call from Rutte
LTO is still going to sit down with Remkes and the cabinet. That is what chairman Sjaak van der Tak says. "Today Prime Minister Mark Rutte called me. This was in response to the invitation to talk without taboos under the leadership of Mr Remkes. LTO has been clear: a conversation only makes sense if it is possible to talk without taboos. Prime Minister Rutte has promised me that there are no taboos for the cabinet either."

According to Van der Tak, this satisfies the LTO conditions for an initial exploratory meeting. That will take place next week. "Then we talk about the goal, timeline and substantive approach. After this exploratory conversation, we as LTO discuss with the board and members about possible continuation of conversations."

'Extra-statutory actions cause loss of support'
Van der Tak calls on 'individuals who choose to take extra-legal actions to refrain from doing so'. "The pressure of positive actions helps in conversations, extra-legal actions only cause a loss of support and the need to defend the sector every time."

- 15.25 am Staghouwer: 'Let's find each other again at Remkes' table'
Agriculture Minister Henk Staghouwer (ChristenUnie) condemns 'the radical actions of a group of farmers on and around highways, the intimidation of companies that carry out clean-up work and threaten politicians'. He writes this on Twitter. "In addition, the actions of this small group of farmers also ensure that there is less and less support and understanding from society," said the minister. He calls on us to accept Johan Remkes' invitation: "What brings us further is talking to each other, that's how we have always progressed in this country. I know that there are farmers who would like that. That space will be at the table with Remkes in the coming weeks. Let's find each other there again."

Minister for Nature and Nitrogen Christianne van der Wal (VVD) also announced via Twitter that she 'would like to talk'. She also says: "I urge everyone to keep calm. There is plenty of time to have the conversation with each other."

-13.40 am Blockade with tractors on the A35
Dozens of farmers are blocking the A35 with their tractors at the Azelo junction near Almelo. According to Tubantia, the farmers are having a barbecue on the highway and plan to stay until at least 20.00 p.m.

- 11.05 am Rutte: 'Life-threatening actions must stop'
"The protests by a small group of farmers on highways yesterday and this morning are unacceptable," Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter this morning. "Willingly endangering others, damaging our infrastructure and threatening people who help clean up is beyond all limits. Report a threat." "These life-threatening actions must stop," said Prime Minister Mark Rutte about the recent dumping actions on highways. "There are plenty of other possibilities to express your dissatisfaction within the law. Most farmers do that too. The most involved ministers and myself are in close contact. All support for Rijkswaterstaat and the police, who are working with all their might to mitigate the consequences." of these actions." On several (highway) roads, clearing work is probably going on all day long from items that have been dumped in the context of farmers' protests, including asbestos. 

- 10.30 am A1 Hengelo - Apeldoorn closed until 18.00 pm 
The A1 Hengelo in the direction of Apeldoorn will probably be closed until about 18.00 p.m. on Thursday, the ANWB reports. Rijkswaterstaat is cleaning up and until then the road will remain closed at the Voorst exit. Between Hoorn and Den Oever, the Medemblik exit on the A7 is closed because asbestos has been dumped there that needs to be cleaned up. The A7 is also closed between Groningen and Heereveen. One lane is open on the A28 from Zwolle to Groningen.   

An accident happened on the A7 near Midwolde in Groningen last night because car tires were on the road, NOS reports. Several cars were involved in the accident, but no one was injured. Later in the night, an accident also happened near Frieschepalen, according to the broadcaster.

Minister of Justice Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD) addressed activist farmers on Twitter on Wednesday: "You not only quickly lose understanding for your actions. Where possible, the police will track you down. A criminal record has consequences. Use your common sense." Eline Vedder, dairy farmer and CDA politician, calls on her colleagues to stop taking dangerous actions.   

Yesterday there was an accident on the A32 near Meppel-Noord due to a blockade when a car drove up the ramp to the highway and encountered beams and waste.

NOS reported that various contractors engaged by Rijkswaterstaat to clear blockages of sand, manure and debris have received threatening telephone calls.

The police and Rijkswaterstaat made a joint appeal on Wednesday to farmers who set fire to straw bales or dump things such as manure or waste to stop actions that create unsafe situations. They also write that the police are investigating who is responsible for this.

The call is made by: Police East Netherlands, Rijkswaterstaat, Safety Region North and East Gelderland, Safety and Health Region Gelderland-Midden, Safety Region IJsselland and Safety Region Twente. They write in a joint statement: "We understand that they want to send a signal and respect that they express the concerns they have. They have that right, just like everyone else. But with the deliberate setting of straw bales on fire, the dumping of waste, including asbestos-containing They cause damage to materials and the spreading of manure and unsafe (traffic) situations... It can cause accidents and fire, which can have far-reaching consequences, especially with this drought, and it also hinders the emergency services from performing their task."

Farmers' protests against the cabinet's nitrogen plans have flared up again in various parts of the country. Recently, on a small scale, often in a public-friendly way, campaigns have been conducted on a daily basis, but in recent days hay, manure and/or waste has also been dumped in dozens of places. Activists have also set fires and closed highways.

Several roads and slip roads were still closed at 27 pm on Wednesday 16.15 July due to the clean-up work following this morning's farmer demonstrations. On the A1 between Amersfoort and Hengelo and between Apeldoorn and Amersfoort, on the A28 between Zwolle and Groningen and on the N303 between Harderwijk and Barneveld. 

Invitation letter Remkes
The demonstrations flared up again, a day after Johan Remkes sent a letter of invitation to a large number of parties for talks with him and/or the ministers of LNV and for Nature and Nitrogen.

LTO says it will not respond to the invitation 'until the cabinet promises that serious discussions can take place about the goal, timeline and implementation of measures'. LTO finds it gratifying that 'he wants to conduct the conversation independently and without taboo'. The organization feels that the discussions are always with one or more members of the cabinet. This is because, according to LTO, the cabinet has repeatedly shown itself unwilling to discuss the timeline, goals and resources (including broad innovation), the failure to anchor the critical deposition value (KDW) method in the law and the perspective for agriculture. Agractie and Farmers Defense Force (FDF) are also unwilling to have a conversation under the current conditions.

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