Dutch Vote on European Union Constitution

first france, now the dutch...a big fuck you to the EU. good news.

Dutch Vote on European Union Constitution

Associated Press | June 1, 2005
By TOBY STERLING

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- The Dutch voted in their first national referendum Wednesday, choosing whether to accept a proposed European Union constitution just days after France became the first country to reject it. RELATED:The Netherlands Votes NO To European Superstate

Polls indicated the Netherlands would be the second.Recent surveys showed that almost 60 percent of voters will vote "no" on the proposal. Following France's rejection of the charter on Sunday, a Dutch repudiation would leave Europe's leaders with no clear backup plan for what to do when two of the 25-nation bloc's members say they will not approve the new ground rules.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, an ardent treaty supporter, voted at his local station near Rotterdam. He said the adoption of an EU constitution would create jobs and bolster security in the 25-nation bloc.

"If we want to continue the fight against terrorism, then we need each other ... I'm still optimistic," Balkenende told reporters. "The question is: do we want to have progress today or do we choose a standstill, and for me the choice is obvious."

Voting started at 7:30 a.m. (1:30 a.m. EDT) and ends at 9 p.m. (3 p.m. EDT), with the first results expected shortly afterward.

By 11 a.m. (5 a.m. EDT), 12 percent of the electorate had cast ballots, the NOS broadcaster reported. The turnout in the last two Dutch parliamentary elections was about 80 percent, while the European parliamentary elections last year generated about 40 percent turnout.

The referendum is nonbinding, but Dutch leaders have pledged to accept it as long as the result is clear and turnout is above 30 percent. Nine countries have approved the treaty so far.

Dutch supporters _ including the main opposition Labor Party _ say the constitution would streamline decision-making in the union and create a single foreign minister to give Europe more sway in international affairs.

"I think it's a good thing if there's a strong Europe," said Jaena Padberg, an early yes voter outside a busy voting station at a community school in Amsterdam. "It's good that our rights will be secured."

Opponents fear that the Netherlands, a nation of just 16 million people, will be engulfed by a superstate headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, and dominated by Germany, France and Britain.

That could mean the end of liberal Dutch policies such as tolerating marijuana use, prostitution and euthanasia.

Still other voters will say "no" to voice their discontent with the unpopular Dutch government. Many here are angry about price increases that followed the introduction of the euro in 2002, and some fear that Turkey will soon be admitted to the union, worsening tensions between Dutch Muslims and the non-Muslim majority.

"In other countries that are going to join, human rights are not as well-protected as they are here," said Mika Gruschke, who was voting "no."

Fellow "no" voter Maarten Pijnenburg said, "Things are going too fast. There's not enough control over the power of European politicians" under the new constitution.

Balkenende repeated that Dutch politicians would not resign if the treaty is rejected. In France, Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin resigned and was replaced by Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin in the aftermath of the charter rejection by 55 percent of voters.

Some analysts expect Dutch "no" voters to be emboldened by the outcome in France, since the Dutch will avoid the stigma of casting a lone veto. Like France, the Netherlands is a founding member of the EU.

The TNS Nipo polling agency predicted 59 percent of Dutch would vote against the charter. Turnout was expected to be far below the 70 percent seen in France, and several Dutch walking past the voting station in Amsterdam said they would not vote.

"I don't understand the contents of the constitution and I promise you I'm not the only one," Mohammed Sali said.

Aurore Wanlin, an analyst with the London-based Center for European Reform, said the EU leaders meeting in Brussels in a few weeks are unlikely to pronounce the treaty dead.

But "when two member founding states vote no, it looks like a big crisis," she said.

So far, nine countries have ratified the constitution: Austria, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia by votes of their parliaments; and Spain by a referendum.

Efforts to ratify the treaty will continue, in the hope that the French and Dutch remain the only members to shun the treaty by the time the process ends in October 2006. The treaty says EU leaders will discuss what to do if, by then, four-fifths of member states have ratified the treaty but even one has "encountered difficulties" getting it accepted.

The Netherlands Votes NO To European Superstate
Future Wars By US/NATO/EU Army Without UN Mandate

Rense | May 31, 2005
By Henk Ruyssenaars

THE NETHERLANDS - The Dutch will vote NO in the referendum on the EU treaty. It's even thought that using electronic 'rigging' techniques - because there's no 'paper trail' from the voting machines - has become 'to dangerous'. One of the TV polls last night showed too big a difference: by a sixty-five percent NO votes, and 25% YES votes.* The angry NO vote by the fed-up Dutch is based on bad experiences of the past years with the growing 'Superstate', which speak for themselves: they were promised a 'Great Europe without Borders' - with the freedom to travel anywhere 'without needing a passport anymore'.

The reality is, that we now in the Netherlands live in an 'Apartheid-state', where we can get fined when we leave our house without an ID card. ''On average a little more than 100 fines a day were issued to people who could not produce identification in January. Since a new law came into effect on News Year's Day [2005] obliging everyone above the age of 14 to carry ID, authorities have issued 3,300 fines, news agency Novum reported. The fines amount to EUR 50 and EUR 25 for those aged 14 or 15.'' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/8gujf

The often malignant and corrupt 'politicians' in Brussels promised 'One Big Europe', with - as one of the advantages - the 'Euro' as the new currency. They were warned that 'live might become up to a half percent more expensive'. In reality more dutch middle class people are going bankrupt than ever, with a fast growing number of people complaining that 'prices have doubled' and their economy is in shambles.

People will vote NO too, because the same gangsters that wrecked their economy, now again are shoving a 439 pages fine print 'blank check' under their noses, urging them to sign again. Threatening with everything negative possible from staggering unemployment figures to 'black outs', and even in a TV message with the Holocaust, done by the despicable dutch neocons conservative party VVD. ('Vereniging Van Dieven') - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cyskr

PEOPLE ARE NOT CLEVER ENOUGH?

The neocon Dutch government's investigation of the complaints - with their own 'commissions' of course - never found any fault. 'People are not clever enough' - as was said by Dutch ministers - 'to understand the exchange rates.' Apparently they themselves don't either: according to high ranking financial specialists, the Dutch Guilder currency was 'sold out' ten percent below it's net worth, enlarging the economical disaster for the taxpayers and enriching 'The Banks of London'. An investigation by the Dutch weekly HP/De Tijd - published exactly two years ago, under the cover title "The Euro Disaster" - confirmed by comparing the cost of living 'before' and 'after' the introduction of the Euro, that the overall cost of living at least had gone up with forty-nine-dot-one percent (49.1%).

No wonder the Dutch are (finally) sharpening their knives, and the people working for the multinationals 'managing' Holland - day and night drowned the country in a tsunami of lies; a false ticker tape parade of YES! EU-propaganda. Paid by the taxpayers of course, who are apparently seeing through the country-wide fog of lies. But even in the official brochures the word 'taxes' is left out; to avoid making people think about who's paying the crook's bills. The Dutch seem not to be willing to accept anymore that Holland is #6 of the richest countries in the world, while they - after Sweden - pay the highest taxes in the world, getting less and less in return, of the 6 months a year they 'tax-work' for the 'government'. A poll published two weeks ago, showed nineteen percent (19) favorable towards the neocon 'government' with an overwhelming eighty-one (81) percent dumping PM Balkenende and his hypocritical 'christian' neocons.

The many reasons why the new 'Treaty for a European Constitution' is very undemocratic and dangerous to peoples lives and well being, is very well shown in this excellent summing up - http://tinyurl.com/cwnyk - with all the important points why nobody ever should sign this blank check.

It has however nothing to do with 'left' or 'right': humanity is divided in the groups 'givers' and 'takers'. The US/Israeli 'neocons' are the worst exponents of the 'takers'. Victims of their 'War of Terror' are all the 'givers'. The 'no opinion' ignorant people too, because they're paying without understanding, or being able to comprehend the scheme.

MILITARIZATION - SECRET AGREEMENTS AND NO UNITED NATIONS APPROVAL

There is a series of top secret agreements between the European Union Council, the United States, Israel and different defense forces and intelligence services, which the EU voters - and many times not even their members of parliament - are allowed to see or hear about. But pay for the secret militarization and infringements on their 'freedoms' the misled taxpayer must.

Anthony Coughlan, the Secretary of the 'EU Research and Information Centre' writes in his excellent article* on the NO to the EU, about the militarization of the EU, as part of the US neocon Empire, it is understood. "It militarizes the EU", Coughlan rightfully writes: "The Constitution points to the end of the formal military neutrality of Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Austria and Malta by replacing the 'Nice Treaty' provision that the progressive framing of a common defense policy "MIGHT lead to a common defense, SHOULD the European Council so decide" with the provision in the Constitution that it "WILL lead to a common defense, WHEN the European Council, acting unanimously, so decides "(Art.I-41).

That decision is clearly only a matter of time. The same Article requires all Member States "to make civilian and military capabilities available to the Union for the implementation of the common security and defense policy"

THE CONSTITUTION PERMITS EU MILITARY OPERATIONS TO TAKE PLACE WITHOUT A UN CHARTER MANDATE.

Article I-16 gives the EU the power to conduct a common foreign and security policy covering "all areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the Union's security, including the progressive framing of a common defense policy that might lead to a common defense". The same Article places Member Statesunder an explicit constitutional obligation to refrain from following an independent foreign policy if that clashes with the EU one: "Member States shall actively and unreservedly support the Union's common foreign and security policy in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity and shall comply with the Union's action in this area. They shall refrain from action contrary to the Union's interests or likely to impair its effectiveness." [ ]

Tony Bunyan, editor of the excellent 'Statewatch', in an earlier comment: "This is another instance of secret policy making. European and national parliaments should be consulted and the texts made public so that there can be a debate as to their content and consequences. Putting these agreements in place is not just about exchanging classified documents, it is also about the construction of a security regime for future cooperation on defense, foreign policy and justice and home affairs between the EU, non-EU states and international organizations. It is about tying in the acceding states and others into the aims and objectives of the EU-NATO-USA politico military axis." [ ]

With other words: the EU army, with it's 'Rapid Deployment Forces', the US SSB, ('Special CIA Forces' 'Rendering' - http://tinyurl.com/89dbf) and NATO troops - all under American so called NATO command in reality - will be able to fight wars without asking again for a UN resolution or a mandate of the Security Council of the United Nations.
UN-BBC-Annan" the Iraq war is illegal - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/5pl2v

The Neocon Dream come true: their 'European Province' of the US Empire striking at will and 'covering' legal or illegal actions without any United Nations approval nor limits. Thanks to everyday's 'home made laws' - like the EU Treaty must become - there will - according to the neocons - be No More Warcriminals!

The Dutch have a proverb: 'the brutal people have
half the world, and try to get the rest.'

That's a very good reason to say NO!


Henk Ruyssenaars


Footnotes

Why All People Should Oppose the EU 'Constitution' - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/cwnyk

Dutch voters poised to reject Constitution - Latest from Expatica Amsterdam - Url.: http://tinyurl.com/ao72d

* A poll yesterday night by State TV's 'Twee Vandaag' (Program 'Two Today') - showed a 40 percent gap between the two sides: 65 percent opposed and 25 percent in favour of the treaty/'constitution'. That survey involved 17,000 people, 78 percent of whom said they were definitely going to vote in the referendum.

WARNING: the EU web pages do *not* have the final text of the Treaty (29.10.2004), they only have the pages of the *draft* treaty (18.07.2003). - Final Act - III.A.30 - of the Treaty to Establish a Constitution for Europe - Url.: http://europa.eu.int/constitution/fu...inalact_en.htm


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The Netherlands
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smart people to reject it.