15th March 2012: After the last Plenary Session of the European Parliament, Andrew Brons submitted a Question for written answer to the European Commission on the Genocidal attacks on Boer farmers in South Africa.

He asked:

"On 15 February 2012 there was a debate in plenary on ‘the 19th session of the UN Human Rights Council; statement by the Vice-President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy’. I made a number of points in my one-minute speech relating to the genocidal attacks on South African Boer farmers by politically and racially motivated elements. I wish to know why these points were not answered by the Vice-President.
Since 1994, more than 3000 white farmers and their families have been murdered in brutal attacks. Many farmers and their wives and young children have been beaten, tortured, killed or hospitalised.
The former President of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema, who is described by Forbes magazine as one of the most influential young people in Africa, has called for the song ‘Kill a Boer' to be sung at meetings. Among other slogans are these words: ‘One Boer, One Bullet’.
When farmers have reported attacks, the police have frequently refused to take action, claiming, for example, that their vehicles had run out of fuel.
In September 2011 the Washington NGO, Genocide Watch, upgraded South Africa to stage 6 (‘Preparation’).
If these atrocities had been carried out by Europeans on blacks, there would justifiably be an outpouring of rage by your office and both Parliament and Commission. In the circumstances in question, there is not a whisper of protest.
What is the reason for this hypocrisy, and what action will the High Representative/Vice President take to convey in the strongest possible terms to the South African government that this situation is entirely unacceptable and must be addressed without delay?"

Yesterday he received this reply:

"Dear Mr Brons,
Your question on "Genocidal attacks on Boer farmers in South Africa" contains language which can be considered as offensive, in particular the paragraph where it is written:
"If these atrocities had been carried out by Europeans on blacks, there would justifiably be an outpouring of rage by your office and both Parliament and Commission. In the circumstances in question, there is not a whisper of protest."
Annex III, point 1 of the Rules of Procedure states that "Questions for written answer shall ... not contain offensive language".
Therefore, we would like to ask you to withdraw the mentioned paragraph, as it does not comply with Rule 117 and Annex III to the Rules of Procedure.
The Members' Activities Unit is at your disposal to advise on your question and, when possible, on how it could be reformulated in order to render it admissible.
I look forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Gudrun Tetzloff
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT"