More than 80 organisations, including Oxfam Novib, Pax, Hivos, Impunity Watch, Milieudefensie, FPU, Save the Children, Clean Clothes Campaign, SOMO, SOS Children’s Villages, Terre des Hommes, War Child, WEMOS and WO=MEN, Cordaid and Care* from our network, participated in the organisation. Dressed in red clothes, people demonstrated against the violence of war in Israel and for Gaza. It is a beautiful and powerful signal, which was responded to in an extraordinary way in The Hague by our political representation—namely, little or nothing at all.
Disrespectful. It is as if by keeping quiet about it, you deny that this manifestation has taken place. And the discontent will then disappear of its own accord. I don’t want to repeat NRC’s editorial comment of 19 May, but share the conclusion heartily: “it would be a matter of decency if the cabinet would not only acknowledge that [the peaceful demonstration], but also come up with an appropriate response if only to show that the concerns of all Dutch people are taken seriously and not just those of its own supporters.”
it would be a matter of decency if the cabinet would not only acknowledge that [the peaceful demonstration], but also come up with an appropriate response if only to show that the concerns of all Dutch people are taken seriously and not just those of its own supporters
He who is silent agrees
Moreover, the reactions that came were pathetic and confirmed the perception that the current government does not know what to do with this dissent. It is unbelievable that Geert Wilders dismisses a group of 100,000 Dutch people as confused, and that there is no response from Schoof. He who remains silent is consenting. The fact that an NSC MP portrays the group of people as a group that has lost its way produces no repercussions. How can it be that we have come to accept this kind of behaviour in political The Hague?
Compassion is not essential, according to our government
It is, of course, unfortunate for our government, which is trying to curtail the right to protest, that this demonstration did not turn violent. So, the protesters cannot be qualified as hooligans or anarchists. In this large procession, people from all provinces, generations, professional groups (including politicians) and population groups marched along to send a signal together that people expect responsibility and humanity from our people’s representatives in The Hague.
In our sector, of course, we have long known that compassion is not a priority of our government. The cuts in development cooperation made that painfully clear. Now that a large group of people do not seem to be taken seriously, I see once again as confirmation that we have sunk through the moral ice with this government.
Only gut feeling matters anymore
A fortnight ago in Vienna at the Austrian trade association Globale Verantwortung, I told them about what is going on in our country and in our sector. In Austria, there has also been talk of the possible participation of the far-right in the government during the formation. It was a close call. After my story, people were still very disappointed with the announced cuts (there too), but also relieved that the far-right did not take control. The sector is not being mowed down for fear of civil society. And it seems that reason still plays a role in Austrian politics. Ours is about attacks on NGOs, about deliberately and strategically undermining civil society.
In any case, the opponents of civil society could do nothing at all with last Sunday’s reasonable demonstration. It sends an odd message that everyone is confused and can’t really be taken seriously by anyone. The silence of over four days is shameful. Therefore, the action is not over yet.
Check the sites of participating organisations to see how you can stay involved and keep sharing photos, posts, and opinion pieces with #RodeLijn. Or join the “De Straat op” demonstration next Saturday in Amsterdam against the far-right and for a solidarity society. The dissent must not be silenced!
De Volkskrant has beautiful images on its site!
