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News from the Caribbean as of
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Plans to expel Netherlands Antilles offenders may be illegal
Friday, September 8, 2006
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (Reuters): Proposals by a Dutch minister to force young offenders from the Netherlands Antilles to return to the Caribbean even if they are Dutch citizens are against European Human Rights laws, a government advisory body said.
The Dutch Council of State, which advises the Dutch government and parliament on legislation, has warned Immigration Minister Rita Verdonk that such a law would illegally distinguish between Dutch citizens born in the Netherlands and those born in autonomous Dutch Caribbean islands such as Aruba.
The council, whose pronouncements are not binding, made its comments in a private paper to the government, a source close to the organisation said on Thursday.
Verdonk, dubbed "Iron Rita" for her tough stance on immigration, was at the centre of the row which caused the Dutch government to collapse in June.
Her stringent demands of immigrants to the Netherlands, plans to expel failed asylum seekers or those who offend, and introduction of new citizenship tests have made Verdonk one of the highest profile politicians in the Netherlands.
"We have just received the advice and we are studying it right it now," said a spokesman for Verdonk's department.
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