'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
23 December 2005
AMSTERDAM — Haarlemmermeer municipal council lost its legal challenge on Friday against the government’s decision to keep the Schiphol detention centre open.
The council, which controls the operation licence for the cell complex, told Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner earlier this month to close the centre following the deaths of 11 rejected asylum seekers in a fatal fire at the centre in November.
Donner insisted the complex should remain open for at least the medium term as it is needed to hold drug traffickers arrested at Schiphol Airport. When mediation failed to resolve the dispute, the minister used a royal decree to overrule the council.
Haarlemmermeer challenged this in court, but a judge ruled on Friday that Donner had not abused his powers.
[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2005]
Subject: Dutch news