Fund gives murderer financial grant to sue journalists for libel

This story is rich in little ironies, but probably only of interest to journalists.

A while back, a Dutch tycoon got mad about how he had been portrayed in the media. So mad that he set up a EUR1 million fund for the express purpose of donating money to people who want to sue newspapers (etc.) for libel.

Call it an unusual take on philanthropy and standing up for the little guy. I suppose one understands where he was coming from.

The twist: it emerged today that the fund he established gave money to a questionable figure. Namely, Volkert van der Graaf, the animal rights activist convicted of murdering Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn. Van der Graaf wanted to sue De Telegraaf (Dutch) for besmirching his good name.

What good name does a convicted murderer have to protect, you ask?

Well, suffice it to say that he won his libel case.
Before Volkert van der Graaf began murdering politicians, he was a skilled litigator (though not a lawyer).

De Telegraaf had suggested in a story that there might be a link between Van der Graaf and an unsolved murder, that of an opponent of the animal rights movement.

But the court found there wasn't sufficient evidence to back the claim.

Bad Telegraaf!

In any case, Hans Melchers, the tycoon who established the 'Sue A Journalist Fund' is now pissed off that his money is being spent in this way. Unfortunately it appears there's not a lot he can do about it _ he made it an independent fund.

The fund's managers have decided to change its name from "The Hans Melchers Fund" to something stupid (the Jotumfunds), because it really wouldn't be ethical to leave Melchers' name on a fund he established but no longer endorses.

De Telegraaf is painting this as a media war: it says leftist journalists have taken over the fund's board. And they are now giving money to a leftist in order that he sue De Telegraaf, a conservative paper.

I'm not sure if it's that simple, but the whole fracas amuses me enormously.

***

Just in case anybody is interested, here's the report on the incident that pissed Melchers off in the first place.

I don't think his foundation can sue me for pointing out that the unusual nature of the kidnappers' demand _ for a ransom in cocaine _ was what led the media to libel Melchers. It was easy for the press to make the _ libellous _ slip that this meant the kidnappers had some reason to think Melchers might be able to provide a ransom in cocaine.


(xerxones)
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Amsterdam's Other Drug War

(flickr:jessamyn)

Okay, so Amsterdam's decision to close some coffeeshops got all the attention from the mainstream media.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the city announced a major new initiative that should come as a relief to countless tourists.

"Amsterdam bindt strijd aan met dealers nepdope."

Or "Amsterdam joins the battle against dealers of fake drugs."



"The Central Burrough is tackling problems and criminality caused by the sale of fake drugs in the center of Amsterdam.
The problems caused by so-called 'fake-dope-dealers' in the Red Light District appears to be increasing, judging by signals from the police and inhabitants. The police department has ticketed almost 1,000 unique persons for trading in fake drugs."





(ilona)

"It's difficult to catch fake-dope-dealers. Unless they move to, for instance, robbery, they aren't actually committing any criminal act: their wares are not [Schedule 1] drugs; they are usually just baking soda or little peppermints. "

"Victims, often tourists, scarcely report it because they don't want to be brought into connection with drugs."

"During a conference on Nov. 7, all partners acknowledged the size and urgency of the problem."

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Thoughts on the Global Financial Crisis

(flickr's yozza)

Meanwhile, beer is still trading steady at EUR2 1/4



"Time and the hour run through the roughest day."

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Founder of the famed Febo Automat / Automatiek dies

(flickr:slice)

GeenStijl alerts me to the real news of the day:

Johan Izaak de Borst, founder of the FEBO chain of restaurants, died "in all peacefulness" on May 8, aged 88.

FEBO, for the uninitiated, is famous for its coin-operated food vending machines. You call such a contraption an 'automat' in English, 'automatiek' in Dutch.

In the U.S. they summon up images of Coney Island in the 1950s.

But even today you can run out just about any time of the day or night in Amsterdam and get a croquette or burger _ make that "burger," with meat of indeterminate origin _ for just 2 euros.

Well, maybe it's safer just to say "inspired by" meat.

I think that for most of us, it's safe to say FEBO's slogan "De Lekkerste," or "The Tastiest" is always read with a touch of irony. Even when it crops up in everyday speech.

(slice)

No one gave a damn about food automats until they opened one back up in NYC last year, and suddenly the world realized that Holland has held on to this awesome relic.

At the same time, the Febo has a certain majesty and tradtion to it. Who can honestly say that he's never scarfed down a few FEBO snacks at 3 in the morning while absolutely plastered?

Maybe I haven't done so lately, but still.





A little insider trivia: the name FEBO is taken from "FErdinand BOl" the famed street market that forms the beating heart of my neighborhood. The first maison FEBO was opened here in 1941. Germans or no Germans.

GeenStijl has called for a moment of silence tomorrow at 1 p.m., which I'll try to observe.


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"Don't Destroy Me Tree" Destroyed

It reminds me of the sad tale of the "Jerk-proof busstop" that was destroyed back in October.

A "Don't Destroy Me" tree planted by the children of a town called Moergestel less than a month ago has been destroyed. Burned down by vandals who struck in the night.

(Planting the tree March 5. Screen capture from BD television).

"We hope that those responsible are caught," Chairwoman Hennie van Schooten was quoted saying in the local newspaper Brabants Dagblad. "Let them pull weeds for a year long in Moergestel."

The tree was planted to call attention to increasing vandalism in Dutch society.

"It's a real shame that people have so little respect for our surroundings," said city councilman Joost Wagenmakers. "This is about more than a tree."


(NOT the actual burnt tree. Obviously. Photo: Marthathegoodone.)


I'm testing a new thing called "Twingly." Story about it here.

Article about the tree in Dutch
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