The Netherlands abstained from voting on the resolution presented by Ghana in which slavery is declared the most horrendous crime against humanity. Parliament passed a motion that basically asks the Netherlands to respect us and treat us as an equal partner. In the motion, it is proposed to use Article 38, Paragraph 1 of the Statute to regulate that respect and equality through a Mutual Arrangement (Areglo Mutuo). By means of a Mutual Arrangement, it should “delineate procedures regarding how decisions are reached and address criteria when determining the Kingdom’s position in the international framework.”
After 5 centuries as a colony of the Netherlands, 5 centuries in a relationship of inequality, the famous persistent democratic deficit, 7 decades of the Kingdom Statute, 5 consensus laws, a mutual arrangement that silenced parliament for 9 years regarding the execution of the Landspakket, Rutte’s “fake” apology speaking of a “comma” instead of a “period”, the even “faker” pardon from the king, and now the abstention from voting on the United Nations resolution, Curaçao’s parliamentarians still believe that equality and respect can be achieved from Dutch politicians!
Regulating respect through Article 38, Paragraph 1 is useless. Respect can be received and demanded when you are an equal partner. Being an unequal partner, you can never receive or demand respect. The Statute has no article that considers Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten as equal partners.
Article 41 states:
Paragraph 1: The Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten look after their own interests.
Paragraph 2 states: The interests of the Kingdom are also a matter of concern for the countries.
Therefore, each country must also serve the interests of the Kingdom/the Netherlands. This means that anything can happen anywhere, but the interests of the Kingdom/the Netherlands must be put first.
The Statute states that for matters that “touch upon” (raak) or “concern” (ga aan) Curaçao—such as, among others, amendments to the Dutch Constitution, Defense, and International Affairs of the Kingdom/the Netherlands—Curaçao must be “heard.” Heard means horen. This means that before the Netherlands/Kingdom decides something, they simply listen to what Curaçao has to say or opine on the matter. Nothing more than that. The Netherlands’ decision does not depend on the outcome of “hearing” Curaçao; the decision of the Netherlands is completely independent. Because Article 5 of the Statute grants authorities of the Netherlands the power to act internationally as an organ of the Kingdom. Thus, they also speak on behalf of Curaçao.
The Netherlands’ position in the United Nations regarding the abstention from voting also counts for Curaçao. The United Nations does not know Curaçao. Therefore, Curaçao, as a Dutch colony, also abstained. What Curaçao thinks about slavery—the most horrendous crime against humanity—does not count and is not relevant to the Netherlands. The Netherlands voted to protect its own interests/image.
The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs refused to comment on the motion. He is aware of the motion, but feels it is not up to his ministry to react to it. He did say that communication surrounding the “aforementioned UN vote” could have gone better. This attitude from the minister speaks loud and clear.
The reaction resulting in this motion from parliament reminds us of the famous Calimero. It laments receiving unfair treatment, but chooses to remain in the situation receiving that unfair treatment. It does not look for a way to free itself by detaching and stepping out of the injustice.
The Netherlands is happy with the wall-to-wall motion. The Netherlands receives confirmation that the government and parliament of Curaçao agree with the Statute, the 5 consensus laws, the Mutual Arrangement, and the presence of the governor. The only thing Curaçao wants is for the Netherlands to fully comply with the Statute: when something “touches upon” us, we must be heard, and when something “concerns” us, please hear us.
Asking the Netherlands to send Curaçao’s opinion to the United Nations as well is superfluous and makes no sense at all. Why? The Netherlands speaks in the United Nations for the Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten. To the United Nations, Curaçao does not exist; the Netherlands exists as a kingdom. Curaçao’s Parliament is making Curaçao look ridiculous in the eyes of the Netherlands and the whole world. What Curaçao must fight for is not to beg the Netherlands for respect, but to fight and forge respect by obtaining a recognized status in the United Nations, and that is Independence. Then, you yourself are in the United Nations to express your opinion clearly. Currently, it is the Netherlands speaking for Curaçao in the United Nations.
As an independent country, we will create our own international and diplomatic relations (as desired in the motion) and we will not have to depend on or beg the Netherlands to be on international platforms like the United Nations. Why do our politicians prefer to keep blundering within the Kingdom? A kingdom that in practice is identical to the Netherlands.
Movementu Kousa Promé
Ellen Maduro-Jeandor