THE HAGUE - An overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives thinks it's fine that the Dutch government is rehabilitating the Curaçao resistance hero Tula. A motion by PVV member Martin Bosma not to do so today only received support outside his own faction from the even more right-wing parties JA21, Groep Van Haga and Forum for Democracy.  

The rejected motion reads as follows: “The Chamber, having heard the deliberation, noted that the Dutch schoolmaster Gerrit Sabel was cruelly humiliated, tortured and murdered by slaves led by Tula during the Curaçao slave revolt; whereas Tula was responsible for this murder; calls on the government not to allow Tula to be part of the commemorative year, and proceeds to business as usual.” 

The House did agree with a motion by Renske Leijten (SP) on the preservation of heritage from the slavery past: “The House, having heard the deliberation, is of the opinion that for knowing and being able to research history, the preservation, management and access of archives as well as oral and cultural traditions and mineral resources are crucial; noting that preservation, management and access to written and unwritten sources in former colonial areas should be strengthened; calls on the government to express the Dutch responsibility for the preservation of tangible and intangible heritage of slavery and colonial history through long-term involvement, where possible also financially, and to hold consultations on this and to inform the House of the outcome, and is about to the order of the day.”