International persbericht Movement to the Future of Curacao (MFK)
WILLEMSTAD, Curaçao, March 28, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In a highly politicized environment, the only way that Gerrit Schotte, the former Prime Minister and senator, and Cicely Van der Dijs, his partner, may increase their chances of receiving a fair hearing in the upcoming appeals process in Curaçao is if new judges are brought in from the Netherlands to hear their case.
In filing a petition to have judges come directly from the Netherlands and with no prior involvement in the Curaçao court system, the legal team representing Mr. Schotte has made this a condition sine qua non to at least attempt to obtain a fair trial for their client.
According to Eldon Sulvaran, Schotte’s defense attorney “Judges must come from the Netherlands or the entire case will continue to be politically tainted.”
The current composition of the Court of Appeals in Curaçao includes Dutch judges who reside on the island and who are heavily influenced by local politicians and the Dutch language press, which is overtly biased against the former Primer Minister. These judges do not read the Papiamentu language press that tends to be more balanced in its treatment of Mr. Schotte and his party the Movement for the Future of Curacao (MFK).
According to Mr. Sulvaran, “Curaçao is such a small island that everyone knows each other. The Dutch judges who live here interact closely with the local Dutch Community and the pro Dutch politicians. They also do not learn Papiamentu so all of their news comes from the heavily biases Dutch press. Their rulings tend to reflect this close relationship.”
In this highly politicized environment surrounding the trial and the appeals process the government is using it as an opportunity to overcome its very low approval ratings. A recent opinion survey by Vox Latina, an independent international research firm, shows that over 70 percent of the public does not approve of the job the government is doing. With legislative elections slated for September 30, 2016, pro government forces are using the Schotte trial as a campaign tool to attack the MFK leader in particular.
Gerrit Schotte and Cicely Van der Dijs appealed the ruling of the Court of First Instance because it was based on clear violations of the Criminal Code including the presentation of illegally obtained evidence, the violation of his privacy, and the harassment of his partner Ms. Cicely Van der Dijs. These violations represent very clear and direct infringements of Schotte and Van der Dijs’ fundamental rights to a fair and impartial trial.
The MFK believes that the ruling is part of a political persecution campaign staged by Dutch authorities to end Schotte’s political career and to thwart its chances of winning the September elections.
Schotte and Van der Dijs hope that with the arrival of new judges to hear their case they have a better chance at obtaining an impartial tribunal as mandated by law. It may also be the only way in which Curaçao’s justice system can regain the trust of its citizens who overwhelmingly view the conviction of Mr. Schotte and his partner as politically motivated.
Contact:
Secretary General Mr. Sithree van Heydoorn
Movement for the Future of Curacao (MFK)
+5999 540-9714
email: [email protected]
Bron: PRNewswire/Movement to the Future of Curacao
Ook uitgegeven in het Spaans
What a cheap “piece” of shitty rant that is.
Both defendants have been tried and found guilty. The acting lawyer was not able to make a story that could even shave one day of the sentence the judge gave. In the mean time mr Schotte has been accused of demolishing the Curacao Secret Service (VDC) to mend the bad remarks that was on the records, about four of his cabinet members and of himself. By succeeding in that he is now accused of high treason. In wartime that would mean the bullet. Even with Dutch judges.
“Judges must come from the Netherlands or the entire case will continue to be politically tainted.”
What a cheap peace of shitty rant that is.
The same lawyer who screamed his butt out about (dutch) judges transgressing our local Legal System is now spinning this story not only for his own (political) gain, but also because his defendant is an already (convicted and criminal) politician. Their aim, which is downright unethical and even laughable, is to reinforce the weak osmotic brain system of ignorant voters in case the Court rules against his client.
His only attempt is to create a collective tantrum, disrupt what’s established and relive 1969 all over again for the same wrong reasons. And believe me, he’ll be proud to be crowned the King of the Rats, ’cause he isn’t any different.
Goed gesteld. Het lijkt mij dat de advocaten club dit niet moet tolereren.
Mooi, met deze uitlatingen geeft MFK dus duidelijk aan ronduit achter Schotte te staan en worden er weer wat manipulatie registers open getrokken. Er kan ook niet anders worden verwacht, want MFK is opgezet met geld van criminele figuren, niet als politieke groepering, maar als criminele organisatie die politiek bedrijft in het belang van die criminele figuren. Het is ernstig en triest dat vele onschuldige aanhangers van MFK niet doorzien dat ze worden misbruikt om criminele invloed te verwerven in het landsbestuur van Curaçao.
Schotte/Van der Dijs have every right under the law to seek an appeal to the highest court as long as they can cite a proper legal basis. But Schotte/Van der Dijs are seeking a special exemption when they claim judges must come from the Netherlands as a condition sine qua non to have a fair trial. Judges read newspapers, just like everybody else, but the newspaper coverage of an event has no effect on the judges’ behavior in a system where judges are appointed, as is the case for Curacao.
In the US there is a system where certain judges are elected. In such a system newspaper coverage may help voters select judges. This, in turn, is likely to also have an effect on judicial candidates sentencing behavior.
Schotte/Van der Dijs behave as if they are above the law while their predicament is of their own making. This is actually abuse of the judicial process. Schotte/Van der Dijs legal representation should be sanctioned for filing frivolous motions intended to delay the proceedings.
Beste Hans,
Deze link hebben we inmiddels van velen als tip ontvangen omdat de link veel wordt gepromoot door MFK als van een betrouwbare bron. PRNewswire is weliswaar van Reuters maar behoort tot haar persberichten afdeling. De KKC hoopt dat met deze knipsel duidelijk te hebben gemaakt.
Ook lijkt het ons relevant te lezen hoe Schotte en Van der Dijs het eiland Curacao (opnieuw) internationaal in Noord en Latijns Amerika te kijk zetten.
KKC erkent voorts het aanstootgevende karakter van het bericht. Derhalve is alsnog besloten deze te plaatsen in dit kader: http://knipselkrant-curacao.com//about/:
“Een enkele keer kan het voorkomen dat de Knipsel een ongefundeerd of omstreden artikel plaatst. Dit o.a. met het oog op het aanjagen van een (maatschappelijke) discussie middels de ruime discussiemogelijkheden in reacties onder het artikel en op Facebook”
Hopende duidelijkheid te hebben verschaft,
Met vriendelijke groeten,
De KKC redactie
Moet de Knipselkrant deze MFK advertorial wel als nieuws brengen?
Het komt rechtstreeks uit de sede van de MFK, een broedplaats van criminaliteit.
What’s next? Garage Cordia die in deze kolom haar Toyotas presenteert?
Foei, redactie.