Press memo, Odekerken family

Vught, 11 October 2007

Parliamentary questions concerning Ir. Jules Odekerken murder case

“Pleased with the support by national politics”

Vught/The Hague- Fred Teeven and Hans van Baalen, members of parliament for the V.V.D. party, have asked parliamentary questions to the minister of Justice and the secretary of state of Foreign Affairs in connection with the Jules Odekerken murder case. “The Odekerken family are pleased with the support by national politics”, says Bart Bakker, who is spokesman for the family. “On Wednesday 7 November at 10.00 o’clock a.m. the judge of Pattaya court in Thailand will pronounce sentence on the suspects in connection with the murder of Jules Odekerken, which took place on 17 November 2003 in front of his house in Pattaya. We hope that justice will prevail after all these years and that the perpetrators of this crime will get the punishment they deserve”.

The parliamentary questions are as follows:

1.          

Are you familiar with the murder of the DutchmanIr. Jules Odekerken on 17 November 2003 in Pattaya (Thailand), and with the fact that the criminal court of Pattaya will pronounce sentence in connection with this case on 7 November 2007? If not, I refer to the website www.julesodekerken.nl with comments by the relatives of the deceased.

2.          

Have Dutch diplomatic representatives informed you of the fact that there are strong indications that persons who are (possibly) responsible for this murder, are trying to affect the independent course of justice in Thailand so that people can escape from punishment?

3.          

Are you willing to ask the Thai government that they see to it that justice will take its independent course, without any form of pressure on those whose task it is to pronounce sentence?

4.          

Are you familiar with the fact that, about a year ago, the relatives of Jules Odekerken were confronted with a dangerous situation, because the suspected initiators of this crime were released on bail? Are you willing to ask the Thai authorities to offer protection to the relatives of the deceased so that they can attend the court session of 7 November unhampered?

5.          

Is it the intention of representatives of the Dutch Embassy to attend the court session of 7 November 2007? If not, for what reason?

6.          

Is the secretary of state of Foreign Affairs willing to ask the Thai Ambassador in The Hague for clarification in connection with these attempts to affect the independent course of justice? If not, for what reason?

7.          

Is it your opinion that Dutch diplomatic representatives should first of all show concern for and pay attention to victims and their relatives rather than convicted perpetrators of crime?

Editorial note

For further information on the parliamentary questions, please contact Fred Teeven, member of parliament for the V.V.D. party.