[www-features] request for feature

[groente]

hey peeps,

i was wondering if someone could put up the following article as a
feature on www.indymedia.org:


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TITLE: Squatting ban in the Netherlands approaching

LOCATION: Netherlands

IMAGE: http://www.indymedia.nl/img/2009/10/62446.jpg

SUBHEAD: For the last three years a ban on squatting has been in
preparation in Dutch politics. A new act that is to ban squatting in the
Netherlands has passed through parliament last thursday. Squatting empty
houses that have been empty for over a year is currently still legal in
the Netherlands. The new act, an initiative by the Christian Democrats,
the Christian Union and the conservative opposition party VVD, is to
make squatting a felony punishable by at least one year and up to three
years of prison when refusing to evict. Despite strong critique from the
High Court, the union of city councils and even the Amsterdam police
force, the christian/rightwing majority in The Hague is pushing this law
through.

ARTICLE: Having suffered from an immense housing shortage ever since the
sixties, squatting has a long history in the Netherlands and has always
been a legal means for thousands of people to acquire a roof over their
heads. Not only will all these people be criminalised, no initiative to
bring about other solutions for losing their homes has been brought up.
This and the complete disregard for the culture that has been created by
squatters and their vital role in activist infrastructure has been
overlooked.
Currently the senate still has to vote on the new act, but given the
same majority of parties that voted in favor in parliament also exists
in the senate, odds are by January 1st 2010 all squats in the
Netherlands will be up for eviction. Happy newyear.
A three year campaign against the criminalisation of squats, strongly
focussing on improving the public image of the squatting movement has
culminated last thursday in the occupation of parliament square where a
tent camp was set up on the day of voting. The moment the bill was voted
upon the parliament had to disban as the meeting was disrupted by
protest from the spectators bench, which was soon silenced by security
and police. Hundreds of squatters on the square made an attempt to enter
the parliament building to voice their dissent, but were driven away by
riot cops. Later in the evening riot cops violently evicted the entire
square, making over a hundred arrests. Photos: <a
href="http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2009/10/62251.shtml">1</a>, <a
href="http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2009/10/62308.shtml">2</a>.
Upcoming are a nationwide demonstration on Saturday, October 24th and
decentralised action days from October 30th untill November 1st.
International solidarity actions have started in <a
href="http://www.indymedia.nl/nl/2009/10/62041.shtml">Berlin</a> and
callouts are spreading to voice dissent at Dutch embassies worldwide (<a
href="http://squat.net/praha/?p=927">Czech</a>, <a
href="http://blog.goo.ne.jp/kitakawachi_nojuku/">Japan</a>, <a
href="http://globalnewswire.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/squatbannl/">Greece</a>).


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Thanks very much!

x,
l.