Full Article: goo.gl/LjrZcL
The Dutroux case is significant not only because of the deep depravity of the crimes committed and witnessed, but because the evidence that emerges from the case is validated twice over; First by legal proceedings, secondly by the publication of many of the prosecution’s records by Wikileaks in 2009.
The Dutroux Affair was further validated by the extreme suppression of evidence in what many have called a coverup perpetrated by the Belgian establishment. The episode is a definitive example of the exposure of deep judicial and political corruption leading to widespread public distrust in the legitimacy of their institutions of government.This sentiment has been echoed most recently in the U.S., where many feel that the rule of law has come to mean little in the face of an utterly corrupt establishment that has become unaccountable to the public.
Belgium’s Dutroux scandal set a terrible precedent for future investigations of child trafficking, murder, and pedophilia rings. However, it also set a precedent of mass public protest in response to such abuses, evident last year in South Korea’s response to the scandal surrounding President Park and her advisor Choi Soon-Sil.
It took almost a decade for the Belgian legal system to convict Marc Dutroux for the mid 1990’s kidnapping and rape of six girls, four of whom were murdered. The case was infamous for an inexplicably high number of mysterious deaths, suppression of evidence by the police, and numerous accounts from witnesses of extreme abuse perpetrated by a well-connected, violent pedophile ring.
The case eventually prompted three hundred thousand Belgians to take to the streets in “The White March.” The Dutroux Affair left such deep scars on the consciousness of the Belgian population that roughly one third of Belgians who shared the surname ‘Dutroux’ with the accused had their names legally changed. Despite the case having been legally concluded, many years later it is apparent that numerous significant elements of the important case remain unresolved.
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Votescam ago
Hi red -- What was so disappointing - heartbreaking -- was that after "The White March" the cover up smeared one of the major witnesses/victims of this abuse, Regina Louf. It's been a while since I've read of the case, but Regina Louf was one of 11 witnesses who came forward to tell what they know of the pedophile rings where they were also victimized. I can't remember exactly at the moment but it was the demonization of Regina Louf which made many Belgians reject the idea of a wider conspiracy than the 6 children originally found harmed -- 4 murdered. Within the investigation (as I recall it) many very honest investigators were overturned and the truth denied by power from above. I don't know if the people will ever be able to go back and have the truth told about what happened -- and what likely is still happening in Belgium. And, again, Church and government officials were involved as well as Royals -- all of which resulted in a very high level and total shut down of the investigation of the case which would have shown much wider corruption and exploitation of children.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Regina+Louf+testimony
stellardrome ago
That's exactly what the article posted by OP talks about:
"Louf’s struggle to speak out on the horrific abuses she claimed to have experienced and witnessed ultimately failed. Investigators who believed her testimony to be credible were removed from the investigation, and her real identity was leaked to the press.
After Louf’s identity was made public, her reputation was systematically destroyed. The BBC wrote that after her identity became known, a government-owned TV station RTBF began a campaign “designed to prove that Dutroux was an “isolated pervert” kidnapping girls for himself, that there was no network, that Jean Michel Nihoul was innocent and Regina Louf was a liar.” After this point, the public effectively gave up struggling to find real justice for Dutroux’s victims. To protest systemic corruption was to be associated with insanity, and so outrage was morphed by shame into heavy silence.
..... In the end, the only answer to the known and unknown victims of Dutroux was the same: a resounding silence."
Votescam ago
stellar --
Well, I think we agree that the smearing of Regina Louf and other right wing propaganda used to cover up the case was able (sadly) to convince much of the public to "go home -- nothing to see here." Whether the public truly bought all of the cover up or whether they just felt powerless when the honest investigators were removed is an open question. But right wing propaganda and lies do work. At least for a time.
The case is one of the best examples of what truly goes on in the cases from the thugs like Dutroux to the higher ups like Nihoul who arrange things for Elites.
One of the most effective things we can do, imo, is to ensure (as this OP does) that more Americans know about the international cases where they can begin to see the similarities of the testimony of victims and also the similarities of those at the top who protect them.
Also to move the US information to international websites.
In the past, I've always posted long term on websites where we had a lot of people from UK - China, whatever -- and from many US states -- where you could feel fairly confident that the information was getting out there and their info getting to us. Currently, I'm not posting on sites where we have that mix any longer -- at least not where I'm aware of it.
:)
stellardrome ago
Agreed! Sounds like you've done great work!