THE HAGUE, 30/01/08 - An Indian warrant for the arrest of eight Dutch nationals has been withdrawn. The diplomatic tension between the Netherlands and India has been cleared by the intervention of former Premier Ruud Lubbers.

Indian clothing company Fiber & Fabrics International had reported the eight for slander, cyber-crime, racism and xenophobia. They worked at the Dutch anti-child labour action groups Clean Clothes Campaign (SKK) and National India Working Party (LIW) and Internet provider Antenna.

An Indian court issued a warrant for the arrest of the Dutch nationals in December after they failed to appear in court for their case. All legal proceedings have however now been withdrawn following the intervention of Lubbers. He undertook the reconciliation effort partly at the request of the Dutch and Indian governments.

SKK and LIW have now promised to halt their campaigns against what they say are inhumane labour conditions at Fiber & Fabrics. It has also been agreed that there will be an Ombudsman in the Indian city of Bangalore where employees and others can report their complaints about the labour situation at Fiber & Fabrics. The employees are reportedly also allowed to form a union that can negotiate with management.

SKK and LIW had published a report on the Internet via Antenna with statements by Fiber & Fabrics employees and subsidiary Jeans Knit on bad labour conditions in 2005 and 2006. Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen then indicated his concern on the restriction of free movement for the Dutch nationals who were detained.