Faethon
19-07-2006, 11:35
Dutch Court OKs 'Pedophile' Political Party
By MIKE CORDER
Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/ROB KEERIS
World Video
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- A Dutch court refused Monday to ban a political party whose main goal is to lower the age of sexual consent from 16 to 12. The judge said it was the voters' right to judge the appeal of political parties.
The party has only three known members, one of whom was convicted of molesting an 11-year-old boy in 1987. Widely dubbed the "pedophile" party, it is unlikely ever to win a seat in parliament. The group would need around 60,000 votes, and pollsters estimate it would get fewer than 1,000.
Opponents had asked The Hague District Court to bar the party from registering for national elections in November, arguing that children have the right not to be confronted with the party's platform.
"Freedom of expression, freedom ... of association, including the freedom to set up a political party, can be seen as the basis for a democratic society," Judge H. Hofhuis said in his ruling.
"These freedoms give citizens the opportunity to, for example, use a political party to appeal for change to the constitution, law, or policy."
He noted that the PNVD party, the Dutch abbreviation of Brotherly Love, Freedom and Diversity, had not committed a crime, but was calling for a change in the law.
"It is the right of the voter to judge the appeal of political parties," he said.
The party sparked outrage when it proclaimed its existence in late May, but prosecutors declined to prosecute its members as a threat to public order.
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"We expected this result," said party treasurer Ad van den Berg, 62. "We are not doing anything illegal so there is no reason to ban us."
Van den Berg was fined and given a suspended prison sentence for molesting an 11-year-old boy in 1987. After his background became known last month, he was chased from the trailer park where he lived in the city of Oostvoorne.
Anke de Wijn, an attorney representing the party's opponents, said the group was abusing Dutch tolerance.
"Victims feel hurt by the wish of pedophiles to make their desires known in public," De Wijn said. "There are few limitations on free speech, and that's good, but this group is making misuse of the privilege, to provoke."
The PNVD's known members were a president, a secretary and a treasurer, as required under Dutch law. In order to stand in elections scheduled for Nov. 22, it will have to submit a list of candidates and the signatures of at least 30 supporters to get on the ballot in any one of the country's 19 voting districts.
Ireen van Engelen of the Solace Foundation, which researches pedophilia, said the party likely would fail to register for the elections because pedophiles seek anonymity.
"They will never want to connect their name to the party and without the signatures they can't go in the elections," she said.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NETHERLANDS_PEDOPHILES?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-17-08-00-57
Riassunto:
Praticamente il tentativo di bannare il Partito dei Pedofili in Ollanda è fallito e il Tribunale ha dato l' OK ufficiale.
L' agenda principale del partito è di abbassare il limite in cui una persona si ritiene consensiente dai 16 anni attuali,ai 12.Il giudice ha detto che è diritto dei votanti giudicare le proposte del partito.Il partito ha solo 3 personaggi noti,di cui uno,il tesoriere, è stato condannato nel 87 per molestia di un 11enne (pena sospesa).
Gli oppositori hanno chiesto di essere bannato,cosi che i bambini non debbano affrontare l' agenda politica del partito.Il giudice ha risposto con libertà di espressione,diritto di associazione,che include libertà di fare partito politico.
Il partito non si crede che potrà mai entrare in parlamento perchè richiederebbe 60.000 voti,contro 1000 che prende ai sondaggi.
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Eviva la libertà di espressione :muro: Immagino la campagna elettorale.in tv: "E ora il messaggio dei Pedofili.Vietato ai minori.Avete 1 minuto di tempo per allontanare il vostro figlio dalla tv". :doh:
By MIKE CORDER
Associated Press Writer
AP Photo/ROB KEERIS
World Video
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- A Dutch court refused Monday to ban a political party whose main goal is to lower the age of sexual consent from 16 to 12. The judge said it was the voters' right to judge the appeal of political parties.
The party has only three known members, one of whom was convicted of molesting an 11-year-old boy in 1987. Widely dubbed the "pedophile" party, it is unlikely ever to win a seat in parliament. The group would need around 60,000 votes, and pollsters estimate it would get fewer than 1,000.
Opponents had asked The Hague District Court to bar the party from registering for national elections in November, arguing that children have the right not to be confronted with the party's platform.
"Freedom of expression, freedom ... of association, including the freedom to set up a political party, can be seen as the basis for a democratic society," Judge H. Hofhuis said in his ruling.
"These freedoms give citizens the opportunity to, for example, use a political party to appeal for change to the constitution, law, or policy."
He noted that the PNVD party, the Dutch abbreviation of Brotherly Love, Freedom and Diversity, had not committed a crime, but was calling for a change in the law.
"It is the right of the voter to judge the appeal of political parties," he said.
The party sparked outrage when it proclaimed its existence in late May, but prosecutors declined to prosecute its members as a threat to public order.
Latest News
Dutch Court OKs 'Pedophile' Political Party
Buy AP Photo Reprints
"We expected this result," said party treasurer Ad van den Berg, 62. "We are not doing anything illegal so there is no reason to ban us."
Van den Berg was fined and given a suspended prison sentence for molesting an 11-year-old boy in 1987. After his background became known last month, he was chased from the trailer park where he lived in the city of Oostvoorne.
Anke de Wijn, an attorney representing the party's opponents, said the group was abusing Dutch tolerance.
"Victims feel hurt by the wish of pedophiles to make their desires known in public," De Wijn said. "There are few limitations on free speech, and that's good, but this group is making misuse of the privilege, to provoke."
The PNVD's known members were a president, a secretary and a treasurer, as required under Dutch law. In order to stand in elections scheduled for Nov. 22, it will have to submit a list of candidates and the signatures of at least 30 supporters to get on the ballot in any one of the country's 19 voting districts.
Ireen van Engelen of the Solace Foundation, which researches pedophilia, said the party likely would fail to register for the elections because pedophiles seek anonymity.
"They will never want to connect their name to the party and without the signatures they can't go in the elections," she said.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NETHERLANDS_PEDOPHILES?SITE=7219&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-07-17-08-00-57
Riassunto:
Praticamente il tentativo di bannare il Partito dei Pedofili in Ollanda è fallito e il Tribunale ha dato l' OK ufficiale.
L' agenda principale del partito è di abbassare il limite in cui una persona si ritiene consensiente dai 16 anni attuali,ai 12.Il giudice ha detto che è diritto dei votanti giudicare le proposte del partito.Il partito ha solo 3 personaggi noti,di cui uno,il tesoriere, è stato condannato nel 87 per molestia di un 11enne (pena sospesa).
Gli oppositori hanno chiesto di essere bannato,cosi che i bambini non debbano affrontare l' agenda politica del partito.Il giudice ha risposto con libertà di espressione,diritto di associazione,che include libertà di fare partito politico.
Il partito non si crede che potrà mai entrare in parlamento perchè richiederebbe 60.000 voti,contro 1000 che prende ai sondaggi.
----------------------------------------------
Eviva la libertà di espressione :muro: Immagino la campagna elettorale.in tv: "E ora il messaggio dei Pedofili.Vietato ai minori.Avete 1 minuto di tempo per allontanare il vostro figlio dalla tv". :doh: