DAR AL HARB - NETHERLANDS: 40% OF THE DUTCH FEEL THAT THEY CANNOT SAY WHAT THEY WANT

Dutch Worried About Free Speech, Crime And Extremists

THE HAGUE, 20/04/07 - Some 40 percent of the Dutch consider that they cannot always say what they want. Nearly 80 percent say that extreme groups threaten democracy. The majority finds security more important than freedom.

The 4 and 5 May Foundation yesterday presented an extensive survey on freedom. The foundation organises both the annual National Commemoration of war victims (4 May) and World War II Liberation Day of the Netherlands (5 May).

In the Freedom Survey, respondents could name three subjects that caused them the most concern. Aggression (60 percent), crime (44 percent), individualism (28 percent) and security (27 percent) had the highest scores, with the economy coming bottom (5 percent).

Nearly 40 percent of respondents do not always feel free to give their opinion. Remarkable, among the group that the report termed 'the broad-minded',' this figure was just 9 percent. Among groups that the report called 'hedonists' and 'luxury-seekers,' 50 and 52 percent feel not always free to speak out.

"On the multicultural society in particular, people feel that they cannot come out with their own views. Evidently this debate is so polarised that people have the feeling they cannot always say what they want."

The report also concludes "ethnic tensions appear to exist not only between immigrants and the indigenous, but also between those who have an aversion to the multicultural society and those who cannot bear criticism of it."

The 'socially engaged' and 'the broad-minded' are scarcely critical of the multicultural society. They are "much less likely to have the feeling of not being able to come out with their own views."

Generally, freedom of speech is seen by the Dutch as the most important basis of democracy. But freedom of religion is on the rise. "In 2002, only 14 percent of respondents considered this one of the most important basic rights; this has now risen to one-third."

Furthermore, "nearly 80 percent consider there are groups active in the Netherlands which threaten the constitutional state, and thereby, our freedom. Extremists and religious fanatics are the most-named groups". They are seen as threatening much more often than terrorists.
When asked to weigh up freedom against security, most interviewees opt for security. Even among those who feel hampered to speak their mind, security is considered more important than freedom.

The government is seen as having the chief responsibility for the protection of security. Although the population finds the government protects them well against an attack from a different country and against accidents and disasters, respondents complain about its tackling of crime.

The survey presented a series of possible and existing security measures to the respondents and asked them whether they considered them acceptable and effective. These measures ranged from camera surveillance to eavesdropping on all telephone traffic against terrorism.

"Remarkably, none of the measures were found unacceptable by a majority."

Terrorism and war, next to climate, comprise the top three international problems about the Dutch are most concerned. There is "a great support for military intervention when the freedom of others is seriously violated."

In response to the question 'What is in your view most necessary for world peace?' the most frequent answer was fighting dictators. Scoring lower were fairer division of wealth and a ban on the production of weapons of mass destruction.

A large majority of respondents believe the chances of war have been reduced by the European Union. "But a majority of people also feel that insecurity within the Netherlands has risen as a consequence of the disappearance of the borders. There thus appears to be a perceived shift from insecurity between countries to insecurity within countries."


Pertinent Links:

1) Dutch Worried About Free Speech, Crime And Extremists