Zuideramstel

The Chilean retired brigadier Jorge Zucchino will be prosecuted for torturing Daniel García Soto in 1973. García Soto, currently council member for the PvdA in Amsterdam Zuideramstel and policy advisor at the Netherlands Trade Union Federation FNV, was a student leader at the University of Chile in 1973. It is almost unique for a high-ranking officer to be prosecuted for tortures committed after the military coup in Chile.

According to the indictment, García Soto (photo) was detained in Talca on 19 October 1973, “where, in the course of his interrogation, he received various forms of torture, including blows to his body and electrical shocks applied to his ears, temple and genitalia.”

Over 30 cycling zombies visited the Zuidas business district last Saturday, Rebelact reports. The ‘Wild Zombie Bike Ride to Ghost Town’ was inspired by new legislation that will make squatting illegal. At the Zuidas, there are many vacant office buildings and high-end apartments, the organisers explain.

Photo: Rob Huibers

Sole council member Daphna Brekveld (1958) of Vereniging Oud Zuid (VOZ) wants to continue her political work on the council of the new Zuid District. She will rename her party Vereniging Ons Zuid and will lead the list for the 3 March 2010 election.

The party’s election platform has not yet been written, but the main issues are clear. For example, VOZ wants no more houses demolished unless they are in danger of collapsing; each tree which is cut should be replaced by 2 new ones; the De Miranda outdoor pool should remain at its current location and animals such as goose and pigeons should not be killed when they cause a nuisance.

Further, Brekveld is against organising the 2028 Olympics; the money can better be spent on services for residents.

More and more, districts ask municipal research institute O+S to assess public support for controversial plans, such as the construction of a car park. In an attempt to affect the outcome of such studies, local activists sometimes address respondents. This strategy may be successful, acknowledges Willem Bosveld of O+S.

The Zuideramstel district wants to construct a car park at the Churchilllaan. In August, O+S distributed a questionnaire in the neighbourhood asking residents how they feel about the plan. Subsequently, an action group distributed a letter door to door in which they claimed the questionnaire was biased and warned respondents that the car park would lead to higher parking fees and trees being cut.