Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04THEHAGUE3044
2004-11-22 12:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

AFTERMATH OF VAN GOGH MURDER - MORE CT PROPOSALS

Tags:  PTER PINR PINS NL KPRP 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 003044 

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UBI, S/CT, INL
JUSTICE FOR OIA - JFRIEDMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PINR PINS NL KPRP
SUBJECT: AFTERMATH OF VAN GOGH MURDER - MORE CT PROPOSALS
AND PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ...




REF: (A) THE HAGUE 2929 (B) THE HAGUE 2864
(C) THE HAGUE 2308; (D) THE HAGUE 2995

Summary
-------
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 003044

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/UBI, S/CT, INL
JUSTICE FOR OIA - JFRIEDMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PINR PINS NL KPRP
SUBJECT: AFTERMATH OF VAN GOGH MURDER - MORE CT PROPOSALS
AND PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ...




REF: (A) THE HAGUE 2929 (B) THE HAGUE 2864
(C) THE HAGUE 2308; (D) THE HAGUE 2995

Summary
--------------

1. On Nov. 11, the Justice, Interior and Immigration
Ministers sent a letter to parliament outlining details of
the van Gogh murder (reftels) and containing proposals for
additional CT measures. These include:

- having the AIVD intelligence service share its information
more widely;
- establishing a special terrorism unit within the National
Crime Squad;
- increasing resources for the AIVD;
- expanding the number of people under surveillance; and
- improving employment and anti-discrimination programs for
young Muslims.

The parliamentary debate that followed indicated widespread
support for strong measures, including the Government's plan
to increase AIVD's budget by 100 million euros (reftel D).
The same day, the Justice Minister circulated a draft bill
with earlier CT proposals, formalizing the new CT
Coordinator's CT plan and expanding use of special
investigative powers to fight terrorism, to outside
organizations for comment. End Summary.

Additional CT Plans/Programs After Van Gogh Murder
-------------- --------------

2. Prior to a scheduled Nov. 11 debate on the van Gogh
murder, Justice Minister Donner, Interior Minister Remkes
and Immigration Minister Verdonk sent a letter to the Second
Chamber containing the Government's proposals in response to
recent explosions of violent radicalism. The Ministers
want the AIVD intelligence service to:

- expand the surveillance of persons in any way related to
terrorism, radicalization processes;
- conduct a more intensive search for yet unknown
radicalized or extremist individuals not linked to networks
and/or individuals already known to justice and security
services; and
- intensify sharing of analyzed information and risk
indicators to enable other government organizations and
local authorities to carry out their tasks and
responsibilities and play a role in combating terrorism and
radicalization.

The Ministers also promised to establish a special terrorism
unit within the National Crime Squad and to make more
resources available to protect public persons and property.



3. The Government also plans to attack the causes of Islamic
radicalism by improving social-economic prospects for young
Muslims with special employment and anti-discrimination
programs. It will develop an action program to promote
awareness of the dangers of radicalization by distributing
information against radical-political ideas of Islam and
setting up a network of individuals to respond in event of
emerging radicalization in individuals or groups.


4. The Government said it would pursue tougher action,
including expulsion from the Netherlands, against Muslim
ministers, teachers, ideologists and Imams if their
activities are contrary to the law or public order. If
activities of a legal person, including mosques, are
contrary to public order, the public prosecutor will be able
to ask the court to ban and dissolve the legal entity. The
Ministers plan to employ criminal and other options and
powers to ensure discontinuation of unacceptable behavior
and views, including use of alien law, financial supervision
and control and political administrative measures.
Foreigners wishing to disseminate radical Islamic ideologies
will be denied permission to reside in the country. The
Government also said it would shortly introduce a bill
enabling authorities to rescind the Dutch nationality of
individuals possessing dual nationality who pose a threat to
the vital interests of the State.

Parliamentary Debate
--------------

5. All political parties not only endorsed the Government's
proposals, but also asked for even tougher measures during
the Nov. 11 debate in the Second Chamber. For instance,
right-wing parties, including government coalition member
VVD, asked for immediate closure of radical mosques, and a
Chamber majority wanted to set up Dutch training centers for
Imams and terminate issuing residence permits for foreign
Imams as of 2008. The Chamber also asked the Government to
see whether it would be possible to prevent foreign radio
and television stations spreading hatred and violence. The
debate continues.

Justice Ministry Draft Bill on Other CT Measures
-------------- ---

6. Also on Nov. 11, Donner sent a draft bill containing
other CT measures to outside organizations for review and
comment. These measures, initially announced in early
September (reftel C),would approve the Cabinet's plan
creating a National CT Coordinator's Office and expand use
of special investigative powers (phone taps, infiltration
and surveillance) in cases of possible terrorist attacks.
In addition, Donner wants to expand the scope for collecting
information, remanding individuals in custody and carrying
out preventive body searches. For example, under the bill,
the public prosecutor would be able to designate certain
areas/locales where preventive body searches, as well as
searches of vehicles and property, could be carried out (for
instance in the case of large sports events). In security
risk areas, such as airports, railway stations and
government buildings, Donner wants the police to be able to
search individuals and vehicles without prior approval by
the public prosecutor.

Comment
--------------

7. The assassination of van Gogh has shaken the Dutch and
the Government is moving on a variety of fronts to confront
the threat of terrorism and radicalism. Nonetheless, Dutch
society with its tradition of consensus and respect for
personal liberty moves very slowly. It took the Government
more than 2 years to enact the CT measures it proposed
following the 9/11 attacks. While these proposals contain
some helpful law enforcement methods, it may be a long time
before the police and intelligence services can use them.

Sobel