INTERNATIONAL THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 Blackface ban, no Sunday shops: offbeat ideas in Dutch polls

THE HAGUE: Legalizing all drugs, banning a blackface Party (SGP). There is also the evangelical JezusLeeft children’s character, scrapping Sunday shopping and (Jesus Lives), which on its home page says it is a “party introducing mobile apps to tell MPs how to vote are which does not add water to its wine”. Currently with some of the unorthodox ideas being peddled by three seats in the lower house, the SGP wants to ban Dutch political parties. Twenty-eight parties-a post- all Sunday shopping so citizens can “go to church.” World War II record-are vying for the 150 seats in the The party, which has never had a woman in parlia- centuries-old parliament when The Netherlands goes ment since its founding in 1918, also advocates a “no to the polls on March 15. The country’s newest party, work” Sunday, unless the work is an act of charity or an Artikel 1, founded late last year by former TV host essential service. Sylvana Simons to fight racism, has floated perhaps It also vows to close all 600 so-called “coffee shops” one of the most controversial ideas. It entails banning in The Netherlands which sell cannabis, and to ban all a traditional Christmas-time character called Zwarte advertisements featuring alcoholic drinks. The Piet (Black Pete) from public spaces. The beloved jolly Libertarian Party on the other hand, which strives for character accompanies Dutch Saint Nicolas in early maximum freedom and little or no government inter- December to hand out sweets to kids. ference, wants to legalize the production, trade and But foreigners are often shocked to see dozens of possession of all drugs. Founded in 1993, it also wants blackface men and women in gaudy costumes with The Netherlands out of the European Union, NATO and red lips and afro wigs parading city streets. Artikel 1 the United Nations, which exist “solely to help politi- would ban Black Pete figures from public spaces, and cians further their careers.” proclaim July 1 as a national holiday to mark the abo- lition of slavery. Meanwhile, should they get their say, Toilets on all trains the techno-savvy StemNL Party (VoteNL) proposes The 50Plus party, set up to defend the rights of the that all citizens should weigh in on draft legislation THE HAGUE: Dutch far-right Freedom Party leader (Partij Voor De Vrijheid - PVV) Geert Wilders (2nd over 50s, already has one seat in parliament. Apart before the Dutch lower house via a mobile phone right) walks as he arrives at the Senate in The Hague. The Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders from serious proposals on pensions and retirement app. After receiving an alert that MPs are about to cast and his populist Freedom party have suspended all public campaigning for next month’s parliamen- age, it also has a more pressing matter - that toilets ballots, the issue would be put up for a “citizens’ vote” tary elections following an alleged security leak. — AFP should be added to all trains. Initially 81 parties via the app. kind of democracy it deserves,” the party said on its the voice of non-voters heard. From now on, non-vot- enrolled with the Dutch Election Council in mid- website. At the other end of the spectrum, the Non- ers will also get seats in parliament,” the party said, December to field candidates on March 15, but only 28 Party for non-voters Voter Party (NietStemmers) has no political program hoping to cash in on disillusionment among some finally met the criteria to participate. Parties which did StemNL’s lawmakers will then rely on the outcome and plans “not to vote for anything” in the lower 12.9 eligible Dutch voters. not make it included the Kleptocrat Party-which wants of the citizens’ poll to decide which way to vote. In house. “Political parties pretend that non-voters don’t The Netherlands has a plethora of Christian-based to scrap anti-tobacco and anti-smoking laws-and the the 21st century “we don’t need a new government, exist,” the party says. parties from the centre-right Christian Democratic “HHH Party” which in Dutch translates to the “Ha Ha Ha we need a new system to give The Netherlands the “We are going to end that. We are going to make Appeal to the deeply conservative Reformed Political Party”, as well as the Politically Correct Party. — AFP Norway mass killer Breivik ‘not treated inhumanely’ in prison Oslo Appeals Court overturns lower court judgment

OSLO: Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik has not been treated “inhumane- ly” by being held in isolation in prison, an Oslo Appeals Court ruled yesterday, overturning a lower court judgment. “Breivik is not, and has not, been subjected to torture or inhuman or degrading treatment,” it said. The 38-year-old rightwing extremist, who killed 77 people in 2011, will file an appeal against the verdict to Norway’s highest court, the Supreme Court, his lawyer Oystein Storrvik announced immediately after the ruling was published. In April 2016, an Oslo district court stunned survivors and families of the victims when it found the Norwegian state guilty of treating him “inhumanely” and in “degrading” fashion, in breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The lower court judge had noted in particular Breivik’s lengthy isolation regime. He has been held apart from other inmates since his arrest on the day of the attacks, and his lawyers have argued that has been detri- mental to his mental health. The Norwegian state appealed against that ruling and yesterday it won its case. “There are no clear indications that Breivik has been sub- jected to isolation damage during his prison Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik making a Nazi salute. — AFP sentence,” the appeals court found. “The court is was compensating for the strict regime by pro- ‘VIP inmate’ of the opinion that there is a high risk that viding him with three well-equipped cells, as During the appeals hearing the lawyer repre- Breivik will resort to violence in the future,” it well as extra interaction with guards and a senting the state, Attorney General Fredrik PARIS: French presidential election candidate for the right-wing Les Republicains added. The appeals court also upheld the lower prison visitor, among others. “The compensating Sejersted, described Breivik as a “VIP inmate”, in (LR) party Francois Fillon touches a cow as he visits a stall at Paris’ International court’s ruling that Breivik’s right to privacy, as measures are well adjusted to Breivik’s needs. good physical and psychological health, and Agriculture Fair yesterday in Paris. — AFP guaranteed by Article 8 of the Convention, had The court notes, however, that restricted sociali- who was holding up well under his prison condi- not been violated. He had argued the strict con- sation with other inmates is under consideration tions. In prison, he has three cells measuring French candidate Fillon faces trols on his correspondence with the outside and will possibly be tested soon,” it said. more than 10 square metres (107 square feet) world breached his rights. each, some of which have views of nature out- charges but stays in campaign The appeals court noted that Breivik No sign of remorse doors, and where he can play video games, remained a dangerous man who was still trying Breivik said he killed his victims because they watch television and exercise. PARIS: French presidential candidate Francois Recent surveys suggest that far-right leader to spread his extreme rightwing ideology and valued multiculturalism. Convicted of the bloodi- “His prison conditions are better than those of Fillon announced yesterday that judges had Marine Le Pen and centrist candidate build up a network of followers. In July 2011 est crimes in Norway since World War II, he was other prisoners,” argued Sejersted, calling them summoned him to press charges over an Emmanuel Macron are the two most likely to Breivik, disguised as a police officer, tracked and sentenced in August 2012 to 21 years in prison, downright “cosy”. “No other prisoner can discuss expenses scandal but vowed to continue his progress from the first round of the election gunned down 69 people, most of them which can be extended indefinitely. The extremist and play games with prison staff for two hours a campaign. The 62-year-old conservative for- on April 23. Macron is currently shown as the teenagers, at a Labor Party youth camp on the has never expressed remorse for his actions, and day,” he stressed, rejecting the notion of isolation. mer premier was favorite at the start of the winner of a run-off vote scheduled for May 7. island of Utoya, shortly after killing eight people at the opening of his appeals hearing in January But Breivik claimed his isolation has radicalized year to win the French presidency after in a bombing outside a government building in he provoked the court’s ire by making a Hitler-like him, and his lawyer argued it was affecting his clinching the nomination for the Republicans Political assassination Oslo. In January, during the appeals hearing held salute. However nowadays, his actions and state- client’s psychological state. “Is this man healthy in party in November. But he has since been hit Fillon campaigned as a sleaze-free inside Skien prison where the self-proclaimed ments elicit little reaction in Norway, a tranquil a general sense?” Storrvik asked in his final by a series of allegations that he paid his wife reformer ready to administer a “radical” eco- neo-Nazi is incarcerated, the state’s lawyers and prosperous country that is trying to close this remarks to the court. “His mental health doesn’t Penelope and his children hundreds of thou- nomic overhaul and cut public spending. He argued the strict regime was justified because painful chapter of its history. Survivors and fami- seem good, in my opinion.” He cited as proof the sands of euros over decades for allegedly fake postponed a visit to a key farm show yester- he was dangerous. lies of the victims most often try to ignore the man inappropriate content of his letters and his per- parliamentary jobs. day morning and announced the press con- The court accepted the state’s claim that it they simply refer to as “the terrorist”. sistent insensitivity to his crimes. — AFP Fillon said the charges were “entirely calcu- ference, sending the rumor mill into overdrive lated to stop me being a candidate for the amid speculation he would withdraw. Though presidential election.” “I won’t give in, I won’t employing a family member is not illegal in Brexit looms large; Northern surrender and I won’t withdraw,” he told a France, Fillon has not provided evidence pub- press conference yesterday. French prosecu- licly of Penelope’s work beyond her contracts tors launched a full judicial inquiry into the which show various periods of employment. claims last week, increasing pressure on “From the start, I have not been treated like Ireland holds snap elections Fillon’s campaign which has been in crisis anyone else facing the justice system,” Fillon since allegations first surfaced in January. said in his statement to reporters, claiming he BELFAST: Northern Ireland holds snap elections was “absolutely disgusting”. “I think it is disappoint- Union may reduce the prospect for further co- Fillon has been defiant throughout, insist- was the victim of a “political assassination”. “It’s today in a bid to resolve a political crisis precipitat- ing and disgraceful that the DUP have taken a operation,” he told Sky News on Sunday. ing publicly that the facts would exonerate not just me they are killing, but the French ed by Brexit as bad blood and allegations of cor- stance against the majority of the people here,” she The last opinion poll ahead of the vote, of 1,580 him and reminding his party that they have presidential election,” he said. British-born ruption threaten to rock a delicate peace in the said. In Northern Ireland, 55 percent voted Remain people surveyed online by LucidTalk between few attractive alternatives to him. He has Penelope, or Penny as she is known, and two province. Long-simmering tensions boiled over in in the June EU referendum. Across the UK as a Friday and Sunday, put the DUP on 26 percent and accused the media of trying to “lynch” him of their five children were paid around January when deputy first minister Martin whole, 52 percent voted Leave. “Brexit sped into Sinn Fein on 25 percent. In terms of seats, the DUP and believes Socialist President Francois 900,000 euros ($950,000) from public funds McGuinness of the Sinn Fein party quit, saying he the political crisis because Brexit is a highly divisive is expected to win 29 or 30, with Sinn Fein on 26 or Hollande has encouraged the investigations from Fillon’s office budget, the Canard could no longer work with First Minister Arlene issue between unionists and (Irish) nationalists,” 27 in a new 90-seat assembly configuration, to discredit him, which would be illegal. Enchaine newspaper has reported. — AFP Foster from the rival Democratic Unionist Party said Jonathan Tonge, a politics professor at according to Tonge. — AFP (DUP). That triggered fresh elections to the Liverpool University and an author of several publi- Northern Ireland Assembly, a semi-autonomous cations on Northern Irish politics. Russia Orthodox Church fuels body that has powers devolved from London over “Brexit is a disaster for Northern Ireland on so matters such as health, education and the local many levels,” said Tonge. “The most disastrous a powerful pro-life movement economy. If fences cannot be mended between thing would be the return of a border... which will MOSCOW: When Anna Kuzeva became preg- Studenikina said, sitting under an icon of the Sinn Fein and the DUP after the elections, the greatly offend nationalists.” The open frontier nant with her second child, she was terrified. Virgin Mary. Russia’s abortion policies have assembly’s executive could be suspended and the between Northern Ireland and the Republic of With no home, money or family in Moscow, she changed drastically several times in the past province fully governed from London. Ireland is the UK’s only land border with EU territo- saw no way of keeping the baby. So she sched- century. After the Bolshevik Revolution, the In the May 2016 assembly elections, the ry. Border checkpoints are a memory of Northern uled an abortion. But then she met an activist Soviet Union became the world’s first country Protestant, conservative and pro-British DUP won Ireland’s violent past-a time known as “The from an Orthodox NGO, who took her in to a to legalize abortion in 1920. Stalin then 38 seats in the 108-seat assembly. Sinn Fein- Troubles” of three decades of strife in which more shelter in central Moscow for expectant moth- banned the practice for nearly two decades. Catholic, socialist and Irish Republican-won 28 than 3,500 people were killed. With Britain seeking ers, and changed her mind. Sitting in her small, Later, it became the primary method of family seats. Polls and experts predict this week’s election to pull out of the European single market some cosy room, 33-year-old Kuzeva cradles her baby planning, until contraception and information will produce a result mirroring the 2016 outcome, worry about customs posts being installed, damag- boy Ilya as four-year-old Antonina plays with became widely available in the 1990s. In 1993, meaning deadlock. McGuinness resigned in protest ing cross-border trade and weakening the relative her doll. “We are taking you in, but you won’t be the abortion rate was one of the highest in the over a botched green heating scheme, the break- stability of the last 20 years. having the abortion,” Kuzeva recalls being told. world, at 235 per 100 live births, but had ing point after months of tensions with the DUP. The elections and the border issue are being The Mother’s House shelter takes in 10 plunged to less than 44 by 2015, according to Foster had instigated the scheme when she was closely watched. Yesterday Britain’s Northern women and their children for up to a year. state statistics agency data. the province’s economy minister. Ireland minister James Brokenshire traveled to Opened in 2012, it was its director, Maria Nevertheless, with the Church holding Brussels, where European Commission head Jean- Studenikina, who persuaded Kuzeva not to more sway in decision-making, and the gov- Brexit in volatile mix Claude Juncker last week stressed the importance abort. “The Orthodox Church and the public ernment keen to increase the birth rate, abor- While deeply-engrained historical enmity per- of the 1998 peace deal. “The Irish and British have are very concerned about abortions today,” tions are still portrayed by the authorities as a sists between the parties, they have also been worked hard to have it and in no way should it said Studenikina. Across Russia, the pro-life growing problem. Lawmakers last year sought divided by Brexit. The DUP backed the United become under risk,” he said, after talks with Irish movement, which espouses nationalist and to remove abortions from the list of services Kingdom leaving the European Union, while Sinn Prime Minister Enda Kenny. George Mitchell, a for- Orthodox values, is growing in influence and is covered by state health insurance. That bill was embraced both by religious groups and gov- rejected but another one, requiring clinics to Fein wanted the UK to stay within the bloc. During mer US senator who chaired the talks that led to ernment agencies. “The security of our state obtain additional certification to perform abor- a televised debate on Tuesday, Michelle O’Neill, the Good Friday agreement, said the EU had WEST BELFAST: A woman walks past a Sinn depends on what sort of population we have,” tions, was passed. — AFP who replaced McGuinness as the head of Sinn Fein helped to bring Britain and Ireland to the negotiat- Fein poster opposing Brexit on the Falls road in Northern Ireland said the DUP’s pro-Brexit view ing table. “I think the UK being out of the European in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. — AP