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Almost a hundred reports to the Agro-intimidation reporting center
The Agro-intimidation reporting point for threats, intimidation and bullying of farmers has received around a hundred reports in the five months of its existence, says chair of Vee & Logistiek Nederland, Helma Lodders. It is important to report, even if a complaint has already been filed, she indicates. The reporting center wants to show the seriousness of the situation and thus radiate more urgency to politicians.
At the end of January, POV, LTO Nederland and Vee & Logistiek Nederland set up the reporting centre. "We heard from discussions with the NCTV (National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security of the Ministry of Justice and Security, ed.) that they have little insight into this," says Lodders. Lodders does not agree with the fact that the new threat assessment of the NCTV published this week states that left-wing extremism currently poses a limited threat of violence: "The experiences are different."
This week, together with six other organizations, Vee & Logistiek Nederland approached the government called upon to take strong action against extremist activists. This is in response to a fire at a Plukon poultry slaughterhouse last weekend that may have been started by Animal Liberation Front. The organizations have noted 'an increase in intimidation, threats, vandalism and burglaries by extremist activists'.
The almost one hundred reports to the reporting centre are from livestock farmers, but also from transporters who are targeted by animal rights activists. Furthermore, there are also actions by environmental activists against arable farmers because of the use of crop protection products. Pig farmers, for example, received cards addressed to their families, or phone calls were made at home. The reporting centre is cautious about going into too much detail. One example that is shared is of a driver of a livestock truck who was recently overtaken and was obstructed in a threatening and swerving manner on the road. Another road user filmed this and a report was filed and reported to the reporting centre.
In the context of increasing intimidation, Lodders is concerned about the large amount of public information that is released through Woo requests, from names with address details of farms to coordinates of cattle transport. According to her, farmers are also becoming increasingly cautious about having their picture taken or posting anything about their business on social media.
WODC investigates balance between right to demonstrate and restrictions
The reporting center wants that when you live at the same address, not all company data is made public. In addition, they want barn occupations to be punished more severely. At the end of last year, demonstrators who had occupied pig stalls in Boxtel in 2019 were acquitted on appeal. BBB and VVD then announced that they were working on a bill to punish barn occupations more severely. The (outgoing) cabinet wants a sharper distinction between disruptive actions and peaceful demonstrations. The WODC (Government Scientific Research and Data Center) is currently investigating whether the current legislation and regulations and possibilities provide a sufficient balance between the right to demonstrate and any possible limitations thereof.
Outgoing Minister of Justice and Security David van Weel told yesterday Boerenbusiness find it absolutely unacceptable 'that farmers or others are faced with threats and intimidation from activists and extremists who want to make a point'. "Use of violence and other punishable expressions that endanger others or public order crosses all boundaries."
The Agro-intimidation reporting centre wants politicians to give more priority to criminal offences against the agricultural sector, processing companies and livestock transport. In order to improve the insight into this, they therefore offer an overview of the (type of) reports to the Ministers of Agriculture and Justice and Security and to the NCTV. Lodders therefore calls on farmers who are victims of activists' actions to report.
Linda van Eekeres
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