Farmers Defense Force (FDF) says it wants to hold ‘the largest demonstration of all time’ in The Hague on Saturday 11 March. This is what Mark van den Oever, chairman of the action group, says in a video message. But other farmers’ organizations are not yet eager to participate.
Chris van Mersbergen, Marcia Nieuwenhuis, Jurriaan Nolles
Latest update:
17:12
Where exactly the demonstration will be held, Van den Oever did not say in his video message. He did, however, announce a wide range of problems that must be addressed during the demonstration. ,,This time not only with the farmers’ views, but with all the views and problems that are currently playing in our society. From the surcharge affair to the gas crisis, to the sagging houses in Groningen, to the water damage in Limburg. People get a voice about this on stage with us,” says Van den Oever.
According to him, PVV chairman Geert Wilders and Wybren van Haga (Group Van Haga) are among others present. Wilders could not yet be reached for comment. Caroline van der Plas, party leader of the BoerBurgerBeweging (BBB), says that ‘there is a chance’ that she will attend the announced demonstration. “But I have to see the program first. I’m going to take a look. I have been asked, but I have not seen a program yet.”
‘First see how far we can get with consultation’
The news comes as a surprise to Bart Kemp, foreman of farmers’ club Agractie. With Agractie he is engaged in negotiations with politicians and other stakeholders about an Agricultural Agreement. “That is accompanied by numerous conflicts, but the consultations are ongoing. All farmers’ organizations are involved, except Farmers Defense Force. I now notice that the willingness to take action is not very great among farmers. We first want to see how far we can get through consultation.’
The agricultural and horticultural organization LTO also says it will not join. “As an organization, we are not involved in this,” said a spokesman.
Extinction Rebellion back to A12
Incidentally, climate action group Extinction Rebellion wants to block the A12 motorway in The Hague again on Saturday 11 March. That would be the sixth time. At the end of January, climate activists also succeeded in blocking the stretch of highway next to the House of Representatives and the Ministry of Economic Affairs. The Utrechtsebaan was therefore impassable for hours. More than seven hundred people were arrested. Many hundreds of people stood above the tunnel pit to cheer them on. Prior to the protest, seven activists were arrested for calling on others to join.
We will now see which demonstrations are actually registered
The municipality of The Hague has heard about the actions. “The action of Farmers Defense Force has been reported to us,” says the spokesman for mayor Jan van Zanen. “Now it is up to the police to discuss the practical matters with them.” According to the spokesperson, it is currently too early to say whether measures will be taken by the municipality. “We will now first go through the normal procedure and talk to the activists at a later time.”
The big question is where a demonstration with 100,000 people and over 5,000 tractors is possible. The largest demonstration site in the city, the Malieveld, was cordoned off that Saturday in preparation for the CPC Loop that will take place in the city on Sunday 12 March.
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