Five shots in the middle of Amsterdam had terrified the Netherlands. The victim: the popular reporter Peter R. de Vries. Many citizens now pay their last respects and mourn.
Amsterdam – A larger than life-size photo of Peter R. de Vries hangs on the white brick gable of the Carré Theater in Amsterdam, smiling and yet critical. Including the crime reporter’s motto: “You can’t be free on your knees.”
The popular journalist was gunned down in the middle of Amsterdam a good two weeks ago and died nine days later. Now his coffin is laid out in the traditional theater of the canal city. Thousands pay him their last respects.
Rachel (44) leaves the theater with tears in her eyes. “That was very impressive,” says the woman from Rotterdam. On the white coffin is a photo of the reporter, with lots of flowers around it. “Peter did a lot for our country. It is a symbol of honesty and justice. ”Her mother Marlene (70) is also deeply moved. “He inspired many.”
People come from all over the country
People wait for hours in front of the theater in the heat. The queue extends far beyond the bridge, a good kilometer long. People came from all over the country. Don comes from the north, around 150 kilometers away. “Peter was a righteous good person,” he says. He has his 13 year old son David with him. “Because it is important that he sees that there are such people.”
The reporter was gunned down in the middle of Amsterdam on the evening of July 6th after leaving a TV studio. At least one bullet hit him in the head. Nine days later he succumbed to his injuries – he was only 64 years old. The attack shook the country and was received with international dismay. The crime scene became a memorial with flowers, candles and letters.
The two alleged perpetrators, 35 and 21 years old, were caught on the run a little later. But the investigators assume that they only acted on behalf. Even if little is known about the background of the crime so far, there are many indications that the organized crime is responsible.
Peter R. de Vries was most recently the confidante of the key witness in a large trial against a notorious drug gang. The key witness’s brother and his defense attorney had previously been murdered. After the attack, the TV magazine, for which de Vries had worked a lot, was threatened several times. The public commemoration in the theater is now accompanied by strict security measures. To the relief of many, they are not overly visible.
Fighters for justice
For many Dutch people, de Vries was a symbol of the fight against crime. He bit himself firmly into a case and did not let go until it was loosened. And he stood by victims and relatives.
“He did so much for the community,” says 34-year-old Renate from Rotterdam. “I’m sad and stunned.” Her friend Hedwig (35) is also appalled. “It’s terrible that it happened in the middle of the city.” She also points out that Peter R. de Vries stood up against all kinds of injustice, including racism and discrimination against ethnic minorities. “We have now also lost this voice.”
People should have the opportunity to pay their last respects to de Vries until 8 p.m. on Wednesday. A farewell for family, relatives and friends is planned for Thursday. Then the famous reporter is to be buried in the closest circle. dpa
