1.
GTV PAN over large crowd
0.11

2.
SV Women chanting amongst crowd, 20,000 signatures in support, gaily dressed women
0.18

3.
GV Mounted police keep crowd back
0.27

4.
LV Crowd & banner in support of Radio Veronica
0.30

5.
SV Owner of Radio Veronica Mr. Verwey addressing crowd (2 shots)
0.40

6.
SV Police keep back crowd
0.43

7.
SV People with banners
0.51

8.
SV,CU Owner of Radio Caroline Mr. O'Rahilly (2 shots)
0.58

9.
GV Crowd past parliament building
1.05



Initials SGM/1542 SGM/1528



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thousands of long-haired youths end girls invaded The Hague on Wednesday (18 April) to fight against legislation which would ban popular pirate radio stations now operating in International waters in the North Sea.

Police estimated the crowd at between 10,000 and 50,000 demonstrators. Mounted policemen were on duty preventing the crowd from causing traffic chaos outside Parliament Building where the pirate radio public debate was in progress.

In a resolution last May, a Strasbourg conference of European Ministers of Posts and Telecommunications urged the Dutch Government to ratify a treaty banning pirate radio. No decision was reached during Wednesday's Dutch Parliamentary hearing.

If the Dutch Parliament does decide to ratify the treaty later this year, the three popular pirate radio stations Veronica, North Sea International and Caroline will be closed down permanently.