The Netherlands condemned on Tuesday the incidents that occurred recently at the Moroccan consulates in Den Bosh and Utrecht and promised to take all security and judicial measures against their perpetrators.
In response to a series of nine written questions from MP Martijn Van Helvert of the Parti Appel Démocrate-Chrétien (CDA), on incidents against buildings and men and women officials of the Moroccan diplomatic representation that occurred in January and In March, Dutch Justice and Security Ministers Ferd Grapperhaus and Foreign Minister Stef Blok condemned on behalf of the Dutch government, what they called unacceptable.
As a reminder, individuals committed despicable and unworthy acts, in violation of the Vienna Convention on the Inviolability of Diplomatic Posts, and desecrated the national flag and symbols of the Kingdom. The same incident happened last January at the Moroccan consulate in Utrecht, and the same individuals have acted with impunity so far. Our consular representatives and the Ambassador had lodged a complaint and had seized the government authorities without any effective follow-up.
The ministers acknowledged in writing that “ in recent years, demonstrations have taken place on several occasions near Moroccan consulates as well as in front of the Moroccan embassy “. They claimed to have learned of an incident recently in a Moroccan consulate where ” demonstrators intimidated and threatened consular staff and visitors. The incidents of which we are aware concern criminal offenses of various kinds, on which, in certain cases, reports have been drawn up ”, they said in their letter to the President of the House of Representatives of the States General.
“We know it involved assaults, threats and destruction. If there are criminal offenses, the police and the prosecution service will act against them ”, added the signatories.
The Estates General have been the bicameral parliament of the Netherlands since 1814. They consist of two chambers. The First Chamber is the upper house or Senate, elected every four years by members of the provincial assemblies, which have 75 members.
However, the head of the Dutch diplomacy for his part underlined ” It is necessary that the staff and visitors of embassies and consulates in the Netherlands can get there safely, without having to face such intimidation.“, Noting that” as the host country, the Netherlands have a special responsibility towards embassies and consulates and must ensure that they can function properly and safely “. Stef Blok further stated that the authorities concerned are in constant contact with embassies and consulates and take threats and other criminal offenses against them very seriously. Blok also indicated that he understood “ that the incidents in the representations of Morocco, in particular the desecration of the national flag can provoke indignation within the Moroccan community », Expressing his regret that these incidents occurred.
The minister assured that the authorities of his country will take additional measures to strengthen the security of diplomatic and consular representations in the Kingdom. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Coordinator for the fight against terrorism and security and the police are in contact with representatives of the Moroccan embassy and Moroccan consulates for this purpose, he said. For his part the Minister of Justice and Security, Ferd Grapperhaus informs that as National Coordinator for the fight against terrorism and security, he had asked the units of the regions where the embassy and consulates are located , to be extremely vigilant with regard to the security of Moroccan representations.
” If the threat and risk warrant, the government can take additional security measures. As your Assembly knows, we cannot comment on the nature of these measures. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NCTV and the police have permanent contacts with representatives of the Moroccan embassy and Moroccan consulates. If a continuing criminal investigation reveals that there has been a criminal act, it is for the prosecution to decide whether to prosecute in this regard. When people commit criminal offenses during a demonstration, such as criminal intimidation and / or threats, the police can act against this under the authority of the Attorney General. »Is it still written.
