Acting mayor Cees Bijl of the municipality of Midden-Drenthe has instituted an emergency ordinance in the vicinity of the Jumbo distribution center in Beilen. Anyone who does not live or work in the designated area must leave immediately if a police officer or boa asks.
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“Not much needs to be done before it gets stuck on the A28, which threatens safety,” Bijl argues for the measure. He also wants to ensure that the food supply remains guaranteed. “In addition, there is unrest in Beilen, people are a bit worried about what is happening.”
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According to the mayor, anyone who violates the emergency ordinance is committing a criminal offense. This can be punished with a maximum of three months in prison or a fine of 4350 euros. “We have now experienced two days of blockages and calls are being made on social media to put up blockades again,” says Bijl. “I don’t think that’s desirable because of the disruption of the traffic flow, the stagnation of the food supply and public order and safety.”
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According to the municipality, the threat surrounding the distribution center has now acquired such a character that there is a serious fear of serious disturbance of public order. By this ‘serious disturbance’, the municipality means that there is a fear that people will come into conflict with the police or disturb public order in some other way. This makes it impossible for organizations such as the police to perform their duties.
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The emergency ordinance further states that ‘it is prohibited to stay in a public place in the area concerned with (agricultural) vehicles and/or equipment or to use the road in such a way that the flow of through traffic and traffic to and from of the Jumbo distribution center and the environment on the Domoweg/Kanaalweg is hindered’.
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The Jumbo distribution center in Beilen was blocked on Monday morning. Dozens of trekkers gathered on and around the roundabout in front of the site. The gate was blocked with concrete beams, among other things. Yesterday the activists left, but last night there was again a short blockade. Dozens of people then gathered again in front of the distribution center.
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The ban does not only apply to the Jumbo distribution center. There is also a ban on demonstrations in the vicinity of the Domo factory. “We have mapped out plausible locations with the police and drawn up a map with the restraining order on that basis,” says Bijl. He is not afraid that he will work like a red rag to a bull. “There are heavy penalties, I don’t think people should try.”
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