[OKFN-NL] [OpenSpending] €278bn through shell companies in Netherlands

Thu Jun 20 21:25:08 UTC 2013

That seems an overblown characterisation of the KvK and their actions or
lack thereof.
Op 20 jun. 2013 23:04 schreef <k.brzezinska at xs4all.nl> het volgende:

> dear OKFN-ers, and other friends,
>
> Hi its Karen.
>
> Okay, I have spoken to my pal in the US. He says the SEC won't have info
> abt those companies unless they have a US branch or operations. One would
> have to go at it state by state, to find which companies are registered.
>
> However, I have now just done a google search of "trusts Netherlands" and
> came up with a disquieting list of possibilities.
>
> I will attach a screen shot because it gave me the willies.
>
> Before we go any further, i would like to point out that 'blocking' of an
> IP address seems like a downright hostile reaction. My question, have any
> scrapers tried scraping from a TOR address (or similar) to avoid being
> blocked?
>
> I'd also like to point out that people who are used to secreting their
> info about billions of currency units aren't known for being mild
> mannered. Just FYI. If we are looking at money that's being laundered, or
> 'merely' evading taxation, we are not going to be popular. And these folks
> are not bound by the laws of governmental courtesy, if you get my drift.
>
> Having been married for some time to someone who represented monied
> criminals (and who ended up drifting in that direction himself) I can say:
> we should keep our eyes open when dealing with these matters.
>
> Finally, is there an OKFN protocol? Were I to call these offices, looking
> for info, do I say I'm a journalist working with the OKFN/ Open Spending
> project? (I"m sure that would get them to open right up...!) ;-)
>
> kind regards,
>
> Karen Brzezinska (Amsterdam)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Got it.
>
> On Thu, June 20, 2013 20:50, Jonathan Gray wrote:
> > Hey Karen,
> >
> > Very interesting indeed. Out of interest where are you based?
> >
> > By following up on the list, I mean:
> >
> > 1. Signing up to the OKFN Netherlands and OpenSpending mailing lists
> here:
> >
> > http://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/openspending
> > http://lists.okfn.org/mailman/listinfo/okfn-nl
> >
> > (I assume that you are on at least one of these in order to have seen my
> > initial message)
> >
> > 2. Replying to my initial email (which you replied to just to me and
> > others
> > to our individual addresses), copying in openspending at lists.okfn.org and
> > okfn-nl at lists.okfn.org. This means that the people on those two lists
> will
> > see your reply, which will enable us to have a broader conversation, and
> > for other people to contribute and to get involved!
> >
> > Looking forward to hearing from you!
> >
> > All the best,
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> >
> > On 20 June 2013 20:43, <k.brzezinska at xs4all.nl> wrote:
> >
> >>
> >>
> >> I really don't mean to laugh. When I worked at the newswires, the
> >> mythological 'openness' of the Dutch government, so very pro-business
> >> and
> >> pro-secrecy, was an open joke. So it comes as no surprise. One of my
> >> favorite memories from that period was when the CEO of one of the
> >> bourse-listed Dutch companies said, in response to a question about
> >> pricing agreements and the possible violation of EU directives by such
> >> agreements, responded: We like orderly markets. What's wrong with that?
> >>
> >> ;-) Uh, gee, nothing.
> >>
> >> Getting back to you: I must admit i don't really understand what you
> >> mean
> >> by
> >> following up on the list, much as i'd like to do it. Can you send me a
> >> link that would explain it to me, if you haven't got the
> >> time/inclination
> >> to do so yourself? I learn these things quickly, but the past months
> >> have
> >> been absorbed by legal matters, a trip to Kenya and taking on some
> >> considerable responsibilities at a neighbourhood tv project. Did I
> >> mention
> >> DIY-aggro at home? That too. Just the tiniest bit of handholding at this
> >> point will yield great benefits, I promise.
> >>
> >> Cheers, K.
> >>
> >>
> >> On Thu, June 20, 2013 19:16, Jonathan Gray wrote:
> >%3
>
>
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