LABOUR READY TO LAUNCH OFFENSIVE AGAINST 'WILDERS CABINET' (Netherlands)

The Labour party (PvdA) has accepted it will be in opposition and is planning a major offensive against the expected right-wing government, the Telegraaf reports on Friday, quoting an internal party document. According to the secret plan, entitled 'opposition strategy', Labour is to go all out on countering what it calls the 'Wilders cabinet'. The right-wing Liberals, Christian Democrats and anti-Islam PVV expect to resume their coalition negotiations next week.

Tensions
'It will be up to us to expose the tensions within this coalition and cause the cabinet problems,' the Telegraaf quotes the document as saying. The right-wing cabinet will have just 76 of the 150 seats in parliament and a number of CDA MPs are opposed to any alliance with Geert Wilders' PVV.

Voters
The document, which was discussed by MPs at a secret meeting last week, also outlines how the PvdA will mobilise voters against the right-wing cabinet. 'The right-wing policy of destruction will lead to a lot of opposition in society at large,' the document says. 'We will not be in opposition in The Hague alone, but in a close alliance with social movements, environmentalists, the elderly and youth organisations. We will actively look for those alliances.'

Dutch News

Quran burning controversy bringing diverse people together (USA)

PARENTS TO RECEIVE WELFARE ONLY IF CHILDREN ATTEND SCHOOL(Czech Rep.)

The Czech state wants to take away a part of welfare benefits from parents whose children do not attend school in order to improve education among Romanies. The new programme was presented by education and labour ministers, Josef Dobes (Public Affairs, VV) and Jaromir Drabek (TOP 09), in several places of the Usti region where a strong Romany community has been living. "Those who want support from the state must act responsibly," Drabek said. He said there is no need for big changes in laws because under the present legislation a number of welfare benefits may not be granted unless children regularly attend school. The ministers hope that higher education would help young Romanies find better jobs. Dobes said better education is the only way out of the current situation of Czech Romanies who suffer from high unemployment. He said many Romany children are placed into special schools for children with disabilities at the age of seven only because their command of Czech is not good enough. A child attending a special school has a markedly lower chance of being accepted to a secondary school. The new rules are to be introduced along with other measures that are to prevent welfare benefits from being misused, such as stricter checks and punishments of unregistered and untaxed incomes by the unemployed and a set number of hours of community work done by a person to be authorised to get unemployment benefits. Drabek admitted that it would be good to provide positive motivation for Romanies as well but he said the state did not have money to fund such a programme at present.


Prague Monitor

Police hate crime scheme extends to takeaways (UK)

An initiative to drive down hate crimes committed against taxi drivers and encouraging cabbies to report crime is to be extended to include takeaways and other fast foot outlets.

The campaign, launched in July, involved taxi firms across Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale being issued with window stickers and posters for cab officers, which encouraged victims to report hate crime and warned offenders that hostility and prejudice caused by a hatred of disability, gender, race, religion, belief or sexual orientation would not be tolerated.

Officers said it was so well received it is now going to be extended.

Det. Sgt Phil Turner, from Pennine Division's Hate Crime & Diversity team, said: "Hate crime of any description will not be tolerated in Pennine Division. It is simply not acceptable to abuse or hurt someone simply because of their race, sexual orientation or gender for example. All incidents reported to us are treated with utmost seriousness.

"That's why we're extending this campaign to encourage people to report incidents and discourage people from committing hate crime offences."

He concluded: "I would encourage anyone experiencing hate crime to act and report it. They can do this either via local police of if they prefer, via Stop Hate UK on 0800 138 1625."

Burnley Express

Police appeal after case of racist abuse (UK)

Police are appealing for witnesses and information after a group of women with young children were subjected to racist abuse in Stoke Gifford.

The incident happened between 3.20pm and 4.20pm in Mead Park, Hatchett Road on Tuesday, August 31.

A group of youths were also in the park and one of them was riding a mini motorcycle in a way that made the women worry about an accident with their children, so they called police.

A police community support officer attended and warned the youths about their use of the mini motorbike.

The women later reported hearing racist taunts.

A 19-year-old male has been arrested in connection with the incident and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Anyone with any information that could help the police with their inquiries is asked to contact officers at Staple Hill police station on 0845 456 7000.

This is Bristol