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27 May 2008 |
Geneva - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) denounces the relentless attitude of the Dutch government, which has pursued the organisation in the courts since July 2004. The Netherlands demands that MSF reimburse the government for the ransom paid to free Dutch citizen Arjan Erkel, MSF head of mission, who was held hostage for 600 days in the Northern Caucasus.
Geneva courts have twice denied the Dutch government’s claims that it was acting on behalf of MSF and have rejected its arguments. The first ruling was issued on 15 March, 2007 by the Court of First Instance of the Canton of Geneva and the second, on appeal, on 22 February, 2008, by the Civil Court of Justice.
The decision to submit the matter to the Federal Court, Switzerland’s highest court, demonstrates the Dutch Government’s relentlessness in pursuing MSF through the legal system.
“Taking this matter to the Federal Court, after four long years of legal proceedings that ruled against the Dutch, reveals a troubling determination,” says Isabelle Ségui-Bitz, president of Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland. “The process the Dutch government is pursuing completely contradicts its public support for humanitarian activity in conflict areas.”
For more information, contact Sally McMillan on 0447 482 379, (02) 8570 2611 or sally.mcmillan@sydney.msf.org
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