A few weeks ago I had an intresting discussion about Belgiums past. Especially about the policy the Belgium state implemented to 'adjust' the Flemish ethnic majority in the nation.
The policy, suggested by Charles Rogier in 1832, was to make all public and state run affairs French speaking/writing only. This included policeforce, civil services, hospitals, entertainement and education. The idea was that the Flemish, the dutch speaking majority of the population, should adept to the fact that they were now part of a Francophone country. (It changed the Flemish from a whealty well educated people to a poor illeterate people in just 70 years time.)
During the first world war orders to Belgium soldiers were shouted in French only, followed by: 'Et pour les Flamands la même chose'(And for the Flemish the same thing) .It is unknown how many Flemish soldiers died because of this.
Change occured during the period in between the 2 world wars, with some universities resuming lessons in Dutch.
However the Belgium state kept cracking down on the Flemish, with many pro-Flemish being arrested after the second world war and being executed for being collaborators.
In 1968 the Belgium goverment fell after 8 days of student protest, 'Leuven Vlaams', (Leuven Flemish), a call from Flemish students that the Catholic University of Leuven, the largest university should resume lessons in Dutch.
It was followed by the first Dutch translation of Belgiums constitution a year later.
Now the question is, has the Belgium state commited warcrimes or crimes against humanity by this policy.
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