Julian Assange
621 weeks of deprivation of liberty for telling the truth
621 weeks of deprivation of liberty for telling the truth
Like a dog looking for the suitcase and the drugs it contains, we know that there is something behind the Libyan affair, that big money, corruption, retro-commissions, mafia practices make up the story of this cat and mouse game in which Belgium and the blue clique(1) play a leading role. It smells like gunpowder, but a solid system protects the protagonists of the affair, in which from the smallest to the largest things are organized in such a way that the dog does not get to the loot. The solidity of the structure is based on the diffusion of responsibilities and hierarchical knowledge to all, where each directly superior link knows the advantages of those who are inferior to him and holds them by these secrets, ensuring a cascade protection. This form of organization with tacit, « obliged » solidarity, specific to mafia systems, is subtly manifested in « coded » communications, such as the words of Anne Delvaux, a Belgian politician and former journalist, who said in the Publifin affair, when she refused to reimburse part of the sums received: « I am not a member of the mafia. And if necessary, I am ready to go to court to get to the bottom of this. I think some people don’t want that.(2).
The « some » who do not want « all is said » have heard it, and they will think twice about the risk of losing their privileges. While the media and politicians worked together to present what was common practice as an exception, we discover that almost everyone is involved, each one deriving benefits from a globally unjust situation in proportion to the level of personal power and the size of the circle of « friends ». These illegitimate privileges, small or large, which a majority, a minority in society, enjoys, implies that everyone individually closes their eyes to the iniquitous and illegal practices that they necessarily imply. We have here the recipe for the status quo, the ingredients for continuity, whether in terms of « climate » or social. In what is literally a system, from these small compromises to these big compromises, there is no real room for real change.
This is why the choices that are made politically are almost never in the service of the people, the common good and the nature that welcomes us. They can only be opposed to what founds the collective.
But enough of introductory remarks, let’s go back to some situations where we feel that we are entering these intimate circles in which we exchange a few services between friends, where money is at the center of everything, but the proofs are difficult to find.
Robert Claushuis is interesting in more than one way in the affair of the Lybian funds, funds that bind Prince Laurent by a contract that his non-profit organization Global Sustainable Development Trust (GSDT) had signed with the country of the « guide ». Let us recall the facts, which we repeated in our consequent analysis » Welcome to plutocracy: Kazakhgate, Africa, networks… the MR on all floors « (3): » Prince Laurent, via his ASBL Global Sustainable Development Trust (GSDT), claimed, following a 2008 contract for the reforestation of desert regions in Libya for about 70 million euros, compensation for unilateral breach of contract by Libya in 2010. The Libyan state never responded to the request, despite the fact that the Brussels court twice ordered it to pay 48 million euros to the ASBL. The Belgian government has always refused to unfreeze the Libyan funds. Euroclear, which has the status of an international clearing house (ICSD), claims to be immune from seizure by virtue of a 1999 law. Hence the complaint filed by the ASBL in 2015 for breach of trust and money laundering « .
Robert Claushuis, on the other hand, seems to have no connection with the whole affair. Director at East-West Debt, this group, which until recently consisted of three companies (East-West Debt NV, Antwerp, East-West Debt BV, The Hague and East-West Debt Ltd, Cambridge), is specialized in debt recovery, » coordinating legal (sic) recovery actions and supervising more than 50 lawyers « .(4). East-West Debt NV was incorporated on March 14, 1996 with a capital of 3.600.000 Fb or 89.241 €. Robert Claushuis was the sole shareholder at the time(5). The directors mentioned in the accounts filed with the NBB are Bernardus Löwenthal (resident in the Netherlands) and Kathleen Ball (resident in Antwerp)(6). Robert Claushuis seems to have transferred in some urgency in November 2018, his company from Antwerp to Luxembourg, exactly 19 Route d’Arlon, 8008 Strassen(7), 15 minutes drive from Alpha Management Services (Route de Thionville, Luxembourg). Alpha management, which acts on behalf of Claushuis, the originator of nearly 351 offshore companies, is a true platform that creates and liquidates companies according to the needs of its clients.
Robert Claushuis is mentioned in the Panama Papers, via Barney limited, of which Alpha management services SA (Luxembourg) is the intermediary, but also via Dunlands SA(8). The latter and Barney Limited, based in the Seychelles, were incorporated and then purchased from Mossack & Fonseca in 2004, only to be liquidated in 2010. Among the many companies Robert Claushuis manages is Middle-East Consultants Ltd, based in London with its parent company in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Let’s also bet that many of the companies with which it is linked are totally unknown to us, that’s the very principle of offshore.
Either, we see here that offshore structures abound and that there is a big money business behind it, nobody would say otherwise.
In the official documents of East-West Debt (EWD) published in the Moniteur, we find the name of Didier De Baere, listed as director and legal representative. On the professional data sharing site LinkedIn, it says he was a director of EWD from January 2001 to April 2009. We also learn that the man was an advisor to the Belgian national bank, managed at Maintenance Partners trade negotiations with Iraq and Lebanon or set up a European banking license for a Lebanese bank; we also find him at the Royal Belgian Football Association in charge of the development of the new stadium in Brussels, also involved in the Brazil 2014 Cup.
Is it an understatement to say that Didier De Baere and Didier Reynders have crossed paths? For Didier de Baere was appointed in August 2018 as deputy director general of the agency for foreign trade, an agency that » organizes joint economic missions in close cooperation with the regional services responsible for foreign trade and the FPS Foreign Affairs « Didier Reynders is often present at these meetings, together with other ministers such as Pieter de Crem, and Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, who chairs the economic missions.
Didier Reynders, who as Minister of Foreign Affairs participates in numerous economic missions of the Foreign Trade Agency, will perhaps have the opportunity to be more in contact with its new Deputy Director General, Didier De Baere, in a more « official » way.
And then what, you might ask? This is where it gets interesting, because according to our sources, Robert Claushuis approached Prince Laurent via one of the lawyers of his ASBL GSDT, to propose to him to recover half of the 50 million euros that Libya owes him. East-West Debt is very timely, as Robert Claushuis said in a letter to Paolo Iorio, GSDT’s Italian lawyer, since it has been specializing in debt recovery for more than thirty years. The latter would thus be entitled to officially recover the sums unduly held by Libya, while receiving through this transaction some 25 million euros, recovered « legally » by EWD whose loot would constitute the share for services rendered.
Prince Laurent, sensing the sting, refused. Do we sense in him an ounce of indignation against the power of money? Let’s not go too far in the capacity of reconversion of the nobility, but the Prince seems not to want to accept some doubtful compromises and to be ready to reveal a state scandal. Prince Laurent said it: » I will never accept it « . If revealing the truth were to take precedence over recovering one’s claim, even if it means losing everything, decency will have intruded into the interstices of nobility and power. Unpublished. In this case, we will help him. As we will make him understand, if it is possible, that what is happening is not an epiphenomenon of our capitalist societies, but the foundation of them. It is not for nothing that we indicated in the epigraph of our previous article: » Corruption is not an epiphenomenon of our productivist societies, it is consubstantial with them » .Not an accident, then, but just a practice that shows how a system works.
Prince Laurent is indeed on the path of lucidity: » I must tell you that I expected to be confronted with problems of corruption in Libya, but what I experienced in Belgium, I could never imagine . You can hear that he knows something he is not saying: » It is very serious, these militias executed people, made people flee, people were on boats to flee Libya. Do you imagine that my wife and I can keep this secret? On us, what a weight. There is death of men « (9). Certainly, Laurent, this productivist system kills every day, from Congo to Bangladesh, through China, Mexico, Congo… It kills to want to produce and sell, everything and nothing, to desire without limits, to want to be rich and to possess more than the other. On the advertising screens, it is clean, in reality it is death. Two billion in interest disappeared from Euroclear’s coffers, transiting through Luxembourg, home of multiple offshore branches, including those mentioned above, going directly back to Libya according to the UN, feeding certain Libyan terrorist militias, including those of Fayez al-Sarraj, Libyan Prime Minister whom Didier Reynders met in Brussels in February 2017, to remind Belgium’s support for his Government of National Unity (GNA)? The Lybian people who are now fleeing, whom the FEB and the well-meaning bourgeoisie are « welcoming » without trying to understand why they left and what should be done from now on to avoid tearing people away from their country.
When we know that the interests of the Lybian funds placed at Euroclear were released by decision of the Belgian administration, a decision judged illegal by the UN, and that this money came, in particular, to finance Salafist terrorist groups, we can deduce certain proximities and agreements… The affirmative questioning of the Belgian MP Marco Van Hees, is clear to say the least: » In order to release a few million to Belgian companies, did Didier Reynders release a few billion to Libyan militias? ». Let’s also remember the publication of this letter dated August 2012, in which Didier Reynders questioned the Libyan Minister of Foreign Affairs, revealing to his counterpart the amount of Libyan assets held at BNP Paribas-Fortis and ING as well as those frozen at Euroclear Bank in the name of the sovereign funds LIA and Lafico. It is curious for a man who has always denied having intervened in the management of Libyan funds to ask his counterpart if Libya would consider unfreezing part of the funds « for humanitarian purposes ». Humanitarianism is a good thing.
In sIn his letter, Reynders attached a list of Belgian companies from which the Libyan state had contracted debts debts dating from the Gaddafi period. The error identified in this list is strange, to say the least, while the Minister asks for the reimbursement by Libya of 3.608.283,78 euros to the benefit of CK Technologie, which is however a debtor and has been trying for years to reimburse 600,000 euros to Libya. Moreover, the good samaritan Didier Reynders asks for refunds without ever having bothered to contact CK Technology. Strange also when one knows that the money claimed by Prince Laurent, whatever one thinks of the person him a always been refused.
Doubts grow when we learn that lhe former general administrator of the Treasury, Marc Monbali, will tell the investigators of the PJF of Brussels in November 2015, about Didier Reynders’ intervention: » » In this first list of 2012, some companies were paid, such as FN Herstal and CK Technology. » The FN refused to answer questions, CK on her side said she never asked for money from the Libyans — quite logical, she owes them money. Marc Monbaliu will add at the time thatthat he « does not give interviews on the subject » of Libyan funds. Remonstrances, threats, intimidation? This gives an impression of déjà-seen atilluminating this world of where « nothing is said » or or theone threatens to « say everything » (dixit Anne Delvaux), and where in the end little escape. And what is perhaps not said and where it seems better not to dwell is that if CK Technology » was paid « but didn’t receive anything, it could be that « another » CK Technology received the money, right?
The fishpond of Uccle
In addition to the Vivier d’Oie, the pool of homeless people(10)The commune also includes, if not the same, a pool of corrupt people. A fact on which, like others, the press has not dwelt is that relating to Boris Boillon, close to Nicolas Sarkozy. The latter was arrested on July 31, 2013 in Paris, garde du Nord, in possession of a bag containing 350,000 euros and 40,000 dollars in cash. He was going to… to Uccle, and was coming back from Libya. Uccle is also the municipality where Didier Reynders lives and where Armand De Decker, former mayor, will be accused of influence peddling, involved up to his neck in the Kazakhgate affair, while he was the lawyer of Patokh Chodiev.
So it’s a bit of a mess. It even becomes pungent. And it’s time to jump ship. By going to Europe for example? La Tribune recently revealed that the French Minister of Defense » Jean-Yves Le Drian is said to have called Didier Reynders and promised him France’s support for a position as Secretary General of the Council of Europe. A position worth more than 30,000 tax-free euros per month. Didier Reynders declared in January his candidacy for the position of Secretary General of the Council of Europe, a position that will become vacant on October 1st « . This was in exchange for the selection of Naval Group for the purchase of twelve minehunters by the Belgian (six ships) and Dutch (six others) navies for a total of approximately 2 billion euros(11).
And, as usual, the exchanges of processes bear fruit: » The MR Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders has a strong chance to become Secretary General of the Council of Europe in the next June appointment (…) The current Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Defence could take office next October when the current holder of the post, Norwegian Thorbjøn Jagland, passes the torch. »(12). This would also mean the end of Didier Reynders’ career in Belgian politics. What a bargain. After 30 years, it’s time to change, isn’t it, and taste the charms of Gewurschtraminer?
The press is pleased with this, certain that, no more than before, it will not be disturbed: « Good news for Belgium, Didier Reynders’ candidacy for the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe has been included in the list of two finalists drawn up by the Committee of Ministers of the international organization »(13). We don’t know what it will bring us, but, as in soccer, as long as Belgium wins, we are happy.
According to our information, Robert Claushuis, a businessman with an international network of companies, is the man Mr. Fontinoy trusts for high-flying financial operations requiring expertise and above all discretion. Knowing that Fontinoy is » Didier Reynders’ right-hand man », is it excessive to speak of a trio? In our previous article(14), we expressed our doubts about the role of Jean-Claude Fontinoy (JCF) in the Reynders system. Always there, always close to the smells of sulfur, the suitcases, but never anything or always little. We are making progress in our investigation though. Jean-Claude Fontinoy, expert in the cabinet of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, right-hand man and good friend of Reynders, « modest » worker of the SNCB, declares an annual salary of 39,200 euros (+ 500 euros per session). In terms of heritage, however, what we find is surprising to say the least and contradicts these official emoluments. There is a clear contrast between this « modest » salary and the real estate patrimony of the Fontinoy family, composed of more than 60 known lots, with 23 buildings regrouping 36 lots, the rest being constituted of lands, meadows, woods.
Is it therefore indecent to ask where the money comes from? But also which ill-intentioned character has tagged on the walls of some of his properties a few days ago » Libyanblood », » Corruption « … If it was only an intention to harm by spreading false assertions, why didn’t any media report these acts of vandalism, and why is Kairos the first to do so? Did Jean-Luc Fontinoy file a complaint for these damages?
We already said it in our previous article » « .Céline and Jean-Claude Fontinoy have a passion for old stones. Their last transformation, the Douxflamme Cens in Mozet is on the program of the Heritage Days » L’Avenir tells us, full of enthusiasm for this couple of particular collectors: « She could have collected stamps, old postcards or cultivated rare roses. With her husband Jean-Claude, Céline Fontinoy preferred to focus on houses. Not just any house: preferably old houses, with character, with a soul. A devouring passion, costly but profitable, which has been driving him for 30 years ». Stamps are still cheaper, but they don’t allow the same things.« 15 years ago, it was much more profitable than today, » analyses Céline Fontinoy. For monthly repayments of 50,000 francs, you could get twice as much in rentals ».
Let’s remember: JCF chairs the Municipal Consultative Commission for Land Use and Mobility, but is also vice-president of the association » The most beautiful villages of Wallonia ». The strict criteria that condition the « Most Beautiful Villages of Wallonia » label, ensure the knowledge and transfer of information about the places where the most beautiful and therefore the most expensive houses are located. This is an effective way of controlling the real estate in Wallonia.
Shadows remain, more numerous than clarity. We had raised them in « Welcome to Plutocracy… » (15) . Strange indeed that Mr. Olivier Theunissen, Antiquary, receives again an honorary title from the hands of Didier Reynders and is made Knight of the Order of Leopold, this December 21, 2018, already inducted Knight of the Order of the Crown on May 8, 2012, by Didier Reynders too.
It is also funny to see Olivier Theunissen sitting as a director of ITB-Tradetech S.A., a company producing railroad sleepers, which makes 90% of its turnover abroad, notably in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo (SNCC) and Gécamines. ITB, in which the Belgian Ministry of Finance was a shareholder and where Didier Reynders came in 2008 to take part in the first centenary in Genval.
Curious also Jean-Pierre Reynders, Didier’s brother, who in 2004 signed as architect the project of extension of the school building of the Russian embassy. We underlined it last year in an article… since then, no media has neither relayed the information nor dug the Russian track.
Lybian funds, Russia, Kazakhgate, antique dealers, real estate… do these cases form the framework of a single story, or are they the pieces of different puzzles, each of which traces the same system of corruption?
Eric Arthur Parme
