Re: Arrestanten Schijnheilig ontruiming opgelet
This is an important message for everyone that has been arrested on the 5th of July 2011, during the eviction of Schijnheilig, on the Passeerdersgracht 23-25 in Amsterdam.
More than a year after the eviction of Schijnheilig, some of those that were arrested have now received a payment proposal, a so-called ‘transactievoorstel’. It is a letter from the Ministry of Justice with a payment slip.
It is important that you do not pay the fine. When you receive a ‘transactievoorstel’ please contact the arrestantengroep.
On the 5th of July 2011, the squatted social centre on the Passeerdersgracht 23-25 was evicted. The policy intervened aggressively at the manifestation that was organised to protest the eviction. Around 160 demonstrators were arrested, one of the biggest mass arrests in post-war Dutch history.
The police justifies these arrests on the basis of the article 2.2, section 3 of the APV. In other words, disruption of the public order. In the letter of the public prosecutor it is stated that there is enough evidence to guarantee a conviction. This is not very credible considering the many irregularities that occurred. Only the fact that some arrestees have been given a fine and others not, is enough to disqualify the case.
If you pay the ‘transactievoorstel’, the case will not be brought before the judge. This would mean there will be no opportunity to question the police behaviour in court. We therefore strongly recommend you to not pay the fine!
If you pay the fine, then you have officially admitted your guilt in relation to the charges. It will not be mentioned on your official criminal record. However, a mention will be made in your ‘juridical administration’. Due to new legislation, when your employer or foreign government requests this information (een “verklaring omtrent gedrag”) it is seen as part of a criminal record.
Put simply, if you pay you admit guilt and will have a note in your juridical documentation, with all its consequences. You will also lose the possibility to appeal the accusations in the future, if you would want to clear yourself of the charges.