Dutch Government Must Honor Promise to Afghan Security Guards, Ombudsman Insists
TheHague, Netherlands – The Dutch government cannot renege on its promise to help Afghansecurity guards who worked for the Netherlands and are now living in hiding, fearing Taliban retribution, according to National Ombudsman Reinier van Zutphen. In a scathingstatement, van Zutphen expressed his outrage at the current cabinet’s decision to break a promise made by its predecessor to evacuate these individuals.
It isinhumane to say: we promised something, but we now actually don’t want to do it, van Zutphen declared. These people risked their lives working with the Dutch military, and they deserve our protection. To abandon themto their fate is a betrayal of the trust we built with them.
The Dutch government had previously pledged to evacuate Afghan security guards who had worked for the Dutch military during the country’s 20-year involvement in Afghanistan. However,following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, the current cabinet decided to prioritize evacuating Dutch citizens and their families, leaving many Afghan collaborators behind.
This decision has been met with widespread criticism, with human rights groups and veterans organizations calling for the government to uphold its commitment to these individuals. The Ombudsman’s statement further amplifies these concerns, highlighting the moral and legal obligations of the Dutch government to protect those who served alongside its forces.
Van Zutphen has called on the government to immediately reconsider its position and take concrete steps to ensure the safety and well-being of these Afghan security guards. He has also urged the governmentto investigate the reasons behind the decision to break the promise and to hold those responsible accountable.
The Dutch government has a moral and legal obligation to protect these individuals, van Zutphen stressed. We cannot turn our backs on those who risked their lives for our country. We must honor our commitments and ensure thatthese Afghan security guards are given the protection they deserve.
The Ombudsman’s statement comes at a critical time, as the Dutch government faces mounting pressure to address the plight of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers. The issue has become a major political controversy, with opposition parties demanding that the government take more decisive action to protect those who have beenleft behind.
The government’s response to the Ombudsman’s statement remains to be seen. However, the growing public outcry and the weight of the Ombudsman’s condemnation suggest that the issue of Afghan security guards is likely to remain a contentious one for the foreseeable future.
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