Dutch Students On Strike

A-Infos News Service, 8 December 1999

Tens of thousands of Dutch secondary school students went on strike against government education policy. The government Phase Two policy curtails education prematurely for many students. This year, the Dutch government was willing to spend much taxpayers' money on throwing NATO bombs on the Balkans; destroying human lives, and also, eg, many schools. However, money for good schools in The Netherlands is a different matter ...

There were big strikers' marches; including one of over 20.000 students and teachers in The Hague, the government city. This was much more than the organizers had expected.

Dutch peace activists participated in the march. They distributed leaflets of solidarity with the students; and also calling for solidarity with schools in Yugoslavia, by helping the OBJ (the Dutch Foundation for Reconstruction of Primary Schools in Yugoslavia). These leaflets were very eagerly accepted by the marchers. Also, solidarity postcards with Yugoslav schools, and anti-war brochures, were sold. Through the leaflets, thousands of students learned for the first time about the strike in Leposavic (Kosovo) on November 23. Students and workers protested Clinton's Kosovo visit there. Big business Dutch dailies had not mentioned that protest.

In The Hague, some students threw fruit and eggs at government politicians;and also at opposition politician Paul Rosenmöller [Rosenmöller, Green Left party leader, had supported NATO bombing this spring; to the dismay of many Green Left voters]. The Special Mobile Police attacked peaceful demonstrators. At least sixteen students were arrested, according to RTL 4 television.

The demonstration showed the spirit of resistance is not limited to the demonstrations against Clinton in the Balkans; or to Seattle, USA.