Labour drops attempt to ban 'Allochtoon' term 04/09/2006 00:00

UPDATED 6 September 2006

AMSTERDAM — The Labour Party branch in Amsterdam has backed away from a proposal to ban the use of the term 'Allochtoon' (immigrant, alien, foreigner) by the city council.

As councillors were equally split on whether to ditch or keep the term, Labour leader Manon van der Garde decided not to put the issue to a vote.

"We feel it is very important that this discussion takes place here and we will continue to do this in the future," Van der Garde said.

Earlier this week she said the term is no longer relevant and it is important groups are designated more specifically.

Scrapping the use of the term 'Allochtoon' would also help combat 'us and them' thinking, she said. "We must avoid using the phrase 'Allochtoon as opposed to Autochtoon (native Dutch person)'."

Every few years, and particularly around election time, the idea of dropping the term allochtoon is raised. But the term appears to be deeply embedded in the Dutch mindset as to date it has beaten off most attempts to consign it to history.

However, councillors in The Hague voted to abandon the use of 'Allochtoon' and 'Autochtoon' back in 2004. Instead, the term Hagenaar (meaning someone who is a resident of The Hague) is used where possible.

[Copyright Expatica News 2006]

Subject: Dutch news