peter_d
Reader
'Astrid Roemer should not receive the Prize of Dutch Letters' - Netherlands News Live
The Surinamese writer Astrid Roemer is discredited because she stands up for Desi Bouterse in the December murder case, a few months before she receives the Prize of Dutch Letters. The Commemoration Committee for Victims of Suriname is stunned, and calls on the Dutch Language Union to “openly...
netherlandsnewslive.com
Surinamese author Astrid Roemer was awarded the Prize of Dutch Letters, easily the most prestigeous prize for writers in the Dutch language. The first Surinamese author to receive the prize was going to be honored in a ceremony presided over by the Belgian king. Everybody happy.
Well, not really... It turns out Roemer has very controversial political views, supporting former dictator and convicted murderer/drug criminal Desi Bouterse. And she became louder and louder about it in the past few weeks. As described in the article, this led to a fierce protest, specifically from opinion makers with a Surinamese background, but broader than that. Roemer on her turn, reacted in tweets that were so rude and unworthy that everyone thought her twitter account had been hacked.
From the beginning the committee of Dutch letters emphasized that the prize was awarded for Roemer's literary work, not to her as a person. Does this remind us of something?
Yesterday it was decided that Roemer would still get the prize, but that the ceremony was cancelled. No spotlights for the author, only for her work. The certificate is on its way to Suriname par avion.
Personally I think this is a more elegant solution than what the Nobel committtee did with Handke. But of course most of the protesters don't agree. So story continues...