Dutch court refuses to arrest Bush
May 05, 2005
From: Agence France-Presse
A COURT in The Hague turned down a demand by a dozen plaintiffs who wanted to force the Dutch government to arrest US President George W Bush when he visits the Netherlands on Saturday.
The judgement was made public today.
Mr Bush will be in the south of the Netherlands this weekend to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II in Europe.
The left-wing organisations and activists, accused Mr Bush of "numerous grave violations of the Geneva Conventions".
They also said the president was responsible for the deaths of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq and Washington's refusal to recognise the International Criminal Court (ICC), the world's first permanent war crimes court.
In the judgement, dated yesterday, the court said that the case was political and that the demands "could have far-reaching consequences for US-Dutch relations".
Some 31 per cent of Dutch people are opposed to Mr Bush visiting the country with 66 per cent in favour, according to a poll by the Maurice de Hond Institute cited today in the Dutch media.
Some 46 per cent of those surveyed felt that the expected protests against Mr Bush im Amsterdam on Saturday and Maastricht on Sunday are "inappropriate" with 30 per cent in support and 24 per cent undecided.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by 911=inside job
