Local politicians feel ‘abandoned’ by The Hague at asylum protests: ‘We are here in the front line’

A week ago an information evening about the arrival of an asylum seekers center (AZC) took place in Uden in Brabant. Then six protesters were arrested, including for throwing heavy fireworks, glass and stones. Subsequently, the protest, by order of mayor Hans van der Pas, was terminated by the Mobile Unit. This Wednesday evening the municipality is organizing another information evening.

Last week the residents found that they had had too little participation about the locations where the municipality of Maashorst, which includes Uden, wants to take care of 750 refugees from next October. « There is no consultation, I could no longer hear that nonsense, » said Danny Donkers (49) from Uden NRCafter he had been short. « Sometimes violence is the solution, » said Donkers. Inside, a woman shouted: « We have nothing to say. »

FvD party leader Thierry Baudet had ‘everyone’ on social media always called to information evenings if they go to Uden

In the Kruisheren Chapel, where the information evening was held, the mayor Hoongelach and whistle got over him when he told about the participation opportunities that citizens had already had. On a Wednesday evening in October, Van der Pas, to his own disappointment, had stood for only ten civilians in a hotel room in Uden. That was the first of three consultation evenings for the nearly sixty thousand inhabitants of the municipality of Maashorst. A total of 51 inhabitants and then 36 others filled in an online questionnaire.

« You can’t use such low figures, » says Janco Bethlehem, party leader of the local department of Democracy forum. « And you can’t link any drastic conclusions to it at all. » Nevertheless, the municipal administration opted for this data for spreading the reception over locations in the villages of Uden, Zeeland and Schaijk.

Storm

Last week, almost six months later, Mayor Van der Pas shook the hands of about three hundred local residents of the intended locations upon their entry into the chapel. For two hours, Van der Pas and two aldermen were answering questions for the pews, especially about safety. Given the chapel was completely full, this Wednesday evening 250 inhabitants will come to a meeting in the chapel.

Municipalities like Maashorst are in the eye of the storm. The disturbances, say councilors, would wrongly give the picture of purely unrest among residents. Because they saw few residents of their own municipality outside the chapel.

Motorcycle clubs, football supporters and people from Belgium really don’t travel to Uden for a few hours for just a demonstration

NRC In addition to a number of protesters, spoke with banners from Maashorst present from surrounding municipalities. There were several groups, mayor Van der Pas said Brabants Dagblad. « I understand motorcycle clubs, groups of football supporters and even people from Belgium. They really don’t travel to Uden for a few hours for just a demonstration. They come to intimidate things and threaten things. »

In advance, FVD party leader Thierry Baudet on Instagram had called ‘everyone’ ‘time and again’ to information evenings such as that in Uden, because protest would work to prevent asylum reception-as in Berlicum.

In Uden NRC one supporter of FvD from the nearby Oss. There were also two supporters from the neighboring municipality of Cuijk, Bethlehem adds. Counselor Francken (VVD) finds Baudet’s call « polarizing » and « outrageous. » « This is a local affair, » says Jozephs, from Jong Maashorst. « It is about what people find. »

‘Misinterpretation’

In addition, councilors are bad for FVD that last month placed an article on its own website with the head ‘Girl (15) raped by Syrian asylum seeker in Maashorst’, in which local party chairman Bethlehem made the connection with the asylum shelter. The Public Prosecution Service and the municipality of Maashorst said that there is a sexual that is still being investigated, that the incident occurred in another municipality and that the suspect was not in the current reception in the Van der Valkhotel in Uden.

The publication – « a misinterpretation from national » according to Bethlehem – was removed. At that moment the story was already on social media. Demonstrators who NRC Last Wednesday, there was no doubt about the scope of the withdrawn FVD article.

Councilor Jozephs: « I find it incredibly difficult that such a painful event becomes part of politics. » Francken finds the same.

Faber

The most difficult, politicians from municipalities such as Maashorst think is how the cabinet profiles itself when it comes to asylum reception. « I feel abandoned, » says Jozephs, a message that the municipality of Best also shared on Tuesday with Minister Faber. Mayor Van der Pas said to Brabants Dagblad That Faber and Prime Minister Dick Schoof should condemn the disturbances. Faber passed journalists last Friday without answering questions, Minister Judith Uitermark (NSC, Interior) did condemned them.

A month after the second meeting in the Kruisheren Chapel, this Wednesday evening, the city council will decide on the locations for asylum reception. While Tuesday it became clear that the Spreading Act will be somewhere next year at the earliest withdrawnWhen the locations in Maashorst have to be inhabited, local politicians yearn for clarity. Francken (VVD): « It is incredibly difficult to stand here in the front line based on shaky policy, which may be abolished. »

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