Proposition 54K3596

Proposition de résolution relative à la réalisation d'une enquête sur le rôle de la SNCB dans les convois ferroviaires et la déportation de juifs durant la Seconde Guerre mondiale.

General information ¶

Authors

PS | SP Gwenaëlle Grovonius
Vooruit David Geerts, Karin Temmerman

Submission date

Feb. 25, 2019

Official page

Visit

Status

Adopted

Requirement

Simple

Subjects

Second World War Jew crime against humanity resolution of parliament rail transport

Voting ¶

Voted to adopt

Groen CD&V Vooruit Ecolo LE PS | SP DéFI Open Vld MR PVDA | PTB PP

Abstained from voting

∉ N-VA VB

Party dissidents ¶

• Peter Luykx (CD&V) abstained from voting.

Contact form ¶

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Discussion ¶

April 4, 2019 | Plenary session (Chamber of representatives)

Full source

The rapporteurs, Mrs Lijnen and Mr Flahaux, refer to the written report.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for supporting this proposal for a resolution. After so many years it is necessary that we scientifically examine what the role of the NMBS was in the deportation of Jews and Gypsies in our country. We know that the NMBS had a lot of resistance fighters in its midst, but also a lot of collaborators.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that the next government and Parliament will implement the resolution and examine the role of the NMBS.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. David Geerts for introducing this text.

By voting, the Parliament will entrust this task to the Government. It will be up to him to ensure that a follow-up is organized. I hope that the principle that will be followed will be the same as that which was acquired for the excellent work done by CEGESOMA historians on responsibilities with regard to the Shoah. Given this parliamentary tradition, whether with the Senate or not, I hope that this will be done in an optimal way so that, as with the Shoah, we can, in some time, have a text. He will not have to rewrite history, but will be able to enlighten us on the responsibilities of one another. Remember the debate we had about the Shoah, about the responsibility of the Belgian state and officials.

Mr. Miller, the purpose of this memorial work that this Parliament evokes from time to time is also to trace responsibilities, to look to the future and to prevent such horrors from repeating. This is the very meaning of history, which is not a science of the past; rather it is addressed to future generations.

The vote of Parliament, through the text of Mr. Geerts, of which I highlight the interest, as I also highlight the personal contribution of Mr. Geerts, is an important element for the future.

I would like to thank the members who have already taken the floor. I would also like to express my support for the present draft resolution.

We have cooperated in the committee by submitting two amendments, which were also unanimously adopted, in order to obtain a broad support. In this way we can write a piece of history.

I would also like to offer an erasalut to colleague David Geerts, unfortunately in his absence. The first time I saw him was on the same day he took the oath. David will end his career here now, but it’s nice that he can do so with the resolution that comes ahead today.

I welcome the initiative taken.

It has already been asked by the SNCB to charge a team to extract from possible archives. I would suggest the next government to entrust the matter to a special commission, ⁇ the Senate, which would offer a democratic representation of all groups, intellectuals and historians and all associations that have expressed their interest in working with the documents they have in a working group. I will give a note to my future colleague to explain in what sense I perceived that things should go on the basis of the almost unanimous vote of our committee.