Abstract :
Dutch activist Maarten will be extradited to Sweden. After a long battle the Minister of Justice decided to hand over the 23-yo bike repairer to the Swedish legal system without looking into the content of Maarten's controversial case. To protest this decision sympathisers organised a manifestation(nl) in Amsterdam.
The case against Maarten is shaky at best. He is accused of violently assaulting a police officer during a European Union summit in Göteborg, Sweden in 2001. But witness reports by cops are contradictory and there is sufficient video evidence and witnesses to prove Maarten's innocence.
The chances for Maarten to receive a fair trial in Sweden are minimal. During the legal process following the summit, the Göteborg court has shown more interest in making examples than doing justice. In many cases unusually high sentences were given. The convicting evidence was in most cases very meager and there has been provable tampering with evidence by the Swedish police. Amnesty International and a Swedish governmental commitee have expressed strong criticism of the proceedings. A Swedish lawyer estimates that the chances of Maarten finding justice during appeals are practically non-existent. Body :Maarten's case
In the morning of June 14 2001 an European Union Summit started in Göteborg, Sweden. Maarten had come to town the night before and found a sleeping space in a school made available for that use by the city. Before the demonstrations started and while George W. Bush was arriving, the police surrounded the building with containers. All present (more than 450 people) were arrested. Maarten was taken in on dubious grounds ("You are here to cause trouble") and deported to the Netherlands.
Four months later he received word from Sweden that he was wanted internationally for severe disturbance of the peace and violent assault of a policeman.
On June 2 2003 Maarten was arrested(nl), while on the street with friends in Amsterdam. He was released only after he handed over his passport. For the past year Maarten has not been able to travel, collect his signed (courthouse!) mail or apply for a house or studies. Maarten himself: "I am being punished before even having gone to trial."
No extradition of Maarten!
The Support Maarten campaign has done everything possible to prevent the extradition of Maarten. Unfortunately a courtcase(nl), , parliamentary questions(nl), and all sorts of direct action (see below) did not convince Minister Donner to look at Maartens case. The speakers at the manifestation on friday said this proves again that the Dutch government does not protect its citizens at all from failing judicial practices in other countries.
Because of the unlawfull practices in Sweden all other governments involved decided to try 'their' activists themselves. In Finland this led to the cancellation of a case when the Swedish ombudsman filed a complaint against the chief of police responsible for surrounding the school. And in Germany after a farcical trial(nl), , the prosecutor (!) pleaded acquittal for a woman accused of violent assault by the Swedish authorities.
Maarten will not receive a fair trial if he is extradited to Sweden. His case should be transferred immediately to the Netherlands, in the hope that he will indeed get a fair trial there. So, go to the website supportmaarten.org and let the Dutch Minister of Justice know what you think of the extradition of Maarten.
The Support Maarten campaign
Moving film projection about Maarten at festival(nl),
Containers on Donner's doorstep
Screening Swedish film 'Terrorister' for Maarten
Banner action in four cities(nl),
Donner asked for opinion at meeting about press freedom(nl),
Action at art exposition and palace(nl),