Terror in Chinatown

Since end 2000 the Chinatown in the port city Rotterdam in the Netherlands saw a wave of street crimes, which seemed to have a racial character. It sent a shockwave through the local Chinese community leaving it terrified and paralysed.

Rotterdam has one of the largest Chinese community in the Netherlands. Chinatown is located in the downtown where there are many Chinese restaurants, shops and other small business. It is a lively area where Chinese business is thriving.

This area is however not purely a Chinese residential area but shared with other ethnic groups such as the blacks, Maroccans and Turkish living. Since decades those ethnic groups have been living peacefully side-by-side without much notable incidents.

Since end 2000 there was a sudden outburst of violent robberies against the Chinese. The culprits were reported as street gangs from black races that seemed to single out Chinese to target on. The Chinese, either young, elderly or adults were robbed from their money and valuables under gun- or knifepoint. Some victims were, for instance, beaten up or stabbed. Rumours told that a Chinese young lady of 22 was raped, as she did not bring money with her.

The community of Chinatown as whole was terrified and paralysed by a sudden rise of these violent street crimes, which seemed to be eyeing on the ethnic Chinese only. Although the police stepped up security in the area, the robberies went on and it seemed to happen almost on a daily basis.

As a result most Chinese stayed away from the streets of Chinatown, especially after dark. The restaurants and shops consequently suffered a dramatic drop of revenues. For the Chinese people themselves it meant a deterioration of their living conditions as they felt being harassed and were forced out of their favoured shopping and dining out area.

On Monday 5 February 2001 leaders from the local Chinese community managed to unite the Chinese people in a historically unique march to the City Hall to make a loud protest against this racial violence. They demanded the local authorities to do more in order to improve the security in Chinatown.

The response from Mayor Ivo Opstelten only infuriated the Chinese. Mr Opstelten told that more additional measurements had already been taken. The police investigation team in charge had been reinforced from four to eight officers. Further, the mayor stressed that the Chinese themselves should bear some responsibility for their own security by bringing less money on the street, and by always reporting a robbery to the police.

Meanwhile, the initial fear and shock among the Chinese have turned into anger and indignation. There were calls for revenge and retaliation on the blacks. The Chinese have come to realise that their passive attitude has contributed to the situation where criminals keep on to see them as an easy prey.

Yee Chuen Leung
Chief Editor