THAILAND: UNDER-FIRE DUTCH MINISTER JOHAN REMKES ARRIVES TO TOUR TSUNAMI DEVASTATION, TOURISTS CONTINUE WITH HOLIDAYS.

Record ID: 419701

  • Title: THAILAND: UNDER-FIRE DUTCH MINISTER JOHAN REMKES ARRIVES TO TOUR TSUNAMI DEVASTATION, TOURISTS CONTINUE WITH HOLIDAYS.
  • Date: 5th January 2005
  • Summary: (W4) PHUKET, THAILAND (JANUARY 5, 2005) (REUTERS) 1. GV/MV: JOURNALSITS SURROUNDING DUTCH INTERIOR MINISTER JOHAN REMKES; JOURNALISTS LOOKING ON (2 SHOTS) 0.07 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) REMKES SAYING: "Because a Dutch minister always has to put the question to himself 'What is his added value at that moment?' A Dutch minister cannot in fact help the people. Also I, for myself, took the conclusion that my added value here at the last days, at that moment was not there."; JOURNALISTS LOOKING ON; REMKES SAYING: "It did not come up in my mind at the moment." 1.07 3. GV: TOURISTS ON BEACH AT KATA; TOURISTS WALKING AROUND BEACH; TOURISTS TANNING ON BEACH (2 SHOTS) 1.15 4. GV: YACHTS AT SEA, WOMAN SWIMMING, BEACH (3 SHOTS) 1.27 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH TOURIST, PATRICIA VANDER MAJDE BIE, SAYING: "I understand if you have a holiday, you want to enjoy it. But if you are a minister you have some responsibility. I think you have to go to the place where it happened to represent your country and the persons who (have been effected by) the tidal wave. There have to be somebody you can lean on, or just know there is somebody from Holland who you can tell your story." 2.03 7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH TOURIST, STEPHON BERENDES, SAYING: "I think he couldn't do anything when it just happened. But a few days after it's good for him to go here and help some people. Now it looks like he run away form the situation so I... 2.37 8. GV/MV: PEOPLE AT BEACH; COUPLE SITTING ON DECK CHAIRS (3 SHOTS) 2.55 9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DUTCH TOURIST, COX OOSTERLING SAYING: "So now he's coming to Phuket, I think he'd better stay at home. Now why is he coming to Phuket, what's he going to do here? Everything is arranged already. Why the minister wants to have a vacation?" 3.14 10. LV/GV: PEOPLE GETTING MASSAGE AT HOTEL (2 SHOTS) 3.22 11. GV: PEOPLE RELAXING AROUND POOL 3.26 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th January 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PHUKET, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Reuters ID: LVADXS6V4XESBSTZ9UYCXK1WHEFD
  • Story Text: Embattled Dutch interior minister Johan Remkes
    arrives in Phuket.



    The embattled Dutch Interior Minister, Johan Remkes,
    arrived at the devastated resort island of Phuket on
    Wednesday (January 5) amidst criticism over his
    controversial decision to continue his holiday in Thailand
    after the tsunami.

    Remkes, who faces a political storm in Holland, told
    Reuters he would visit hospitals and the 22-strong Dutch
    police identification team.

    Lawmakers from opposition parties and the centre-right
    government coalition were outraged that Remkes had not
    stepped in earlier despite holidaying on nearby Samui
    Island when the tsunami struck on December 26.

    The popular tourist destination is 250 kilometers (150 miles)
    from Phuket.

    The Interior Ministry said he had stayed out of the
    rescue situation in order not to interfere with emergency
    work.

    "Because a Dutch minister always has to put the
    question to himself 'What is his added value at that
    moment?' A Dutch minister cannot in fact help the people.

    Also I, for myself, took the conclusion that my added value
    here at the last days, at that moment was not there,"
    Remkes said.

    Remkes was already under fire for his handling of the
    security situation in the Netherlands after the November 2
    killing of filmmaker Theo van Gogh, who was critical of
    Islam but had not been given protection despite death
    threats.

    Despite being plagued by controversy for months, Remkes
    says he has not considered stepping down.

    Six Dutch nationals have been confirmed dead and 30
    listed as missing, while some 200 are still unaccounted
    for.

    Dutch tourists holidaying on Kata beach near the
    devastated resort shore of Patong say they are appalled by
    the minister's decision to continue his holiday.

    "I understand if you have a holiday, you want to enjoy
    it. But if you are a minister you have some responsibility.

    I think you have to go to the place where it happened to
    represent your country and the persons who have been
    effected by the tidal wave. There have to be somebody you
    can lean on, or just know there is somebody from Holland
    who you can tell your story," said 23-year-old tourist,
    Patricia Vander Mejde Bie.

    Patricia's boyfriend, Stephon Berendes, says the
    minister's visit was too little too late.

    "I think he couldn't do anything when it just happened.

    But a few days after it's good for him to go here and help
    some people. Now it looks like he run away form the
    situation so I think he had to stay in Thailand and go to
    Phuket or Khao Lak, somewhere to help. To see if he can
    help and now I think it's too late. You see a lot of
    ministers come to Thailand now. I think it's now too late,"
    Berendes, 23, said.

    Cox Oosterling from Holland says there is little the
    minister can do in the face of the enormous devastation
    caused by the tidal waves.

    "So now he's coming to Phuket, I think he'd better
    stay at home. Now why is he coming to Phuket, what's he
    going to do here? Everything is arranged already. Why the
    minister wants to have a vacation?"
    Remkes is expected to tour the region on Thursday
    (January 6).

    Teams of foreign forensic experts, including from the
    Netherlands, are in Thailand to help identify the dead.


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