THE HAGUE, WILLEMSTAD - The reports about massive deportations of Venezuelan refugees from Curaçao are causing concern in the Second Chamber of the Dutch Parliament.

GroenLinks MP Nevin Özütok asked for a debate with the Ministers of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and of Foreign Affairs. The MP received too little support for that, but many factions did support her additional request for a letter from the government on the issue.

GroenLinks relies on reports from immigration lawyers in Curaçao who speak of mass deportations without serious investigation into the dangers that the refugees may be exposed to in Venezuela. Özütok did get support for her concerns from D66 MP Antje Diertens, who called it "a very important topic". However, she wants to wait for answers to parliamentary questions and also pointed to the upcoming Interparliamentary Kingdom Consultation (Ipko) at the beginning of January in Curaçao.

For Ronald van Raak (SP) it is a matter of principle that the Second Chamber cannot hold the government of Curaçao accountable. He does hope that the ministers will analyze the current situation regarding refugees. Van Raak also wants to know if there are any new requests for assistance from Curaçao and how the Netherlands has responded.

In the meantime, it was announced that armed military assistance was requested by the Public Prosecution Service in Curaçao for a short period, because the barracks are overcrowded, and the Venezuelans are being relocated elsewhere. The Dutch soldiers and military police were deployed to monitor the extra facilities until the Venezuelans were deported.