Netherlands: C18 formed - CP'86 split
01 March 1997
Ironically, as the UK Combat 18 spirals into chaos a Dutch branch claims to have been set-up in Rotterdam, Holland. The information has been confirmed by Rotterdam councillor and Centrum Partij '86/Nationale Volkspartij (CP'86/NVP) leader, M Freling, who claims that there are close ties between his party and the Dutch C18. Most of the C18 supporters are believed to be located in the greater Rotterdam region. Earlier this year it had been suggested that CP'86, or at least its intelligence group ODIN which collects personal data on opponents, had forged links with German groups who circulated a hit-list of politicians, judges and members of the police and security services.
These developments are believed to be behind a split in CP'86 in which a group of so-called "moderate" members, based around former executive committee members Wim Beaux, M de Boer and M Hoogstra, left to form a new party called Volksnationalisten Nederland. With their new-found "moderate" credentials they plan to stand in local elections in 1998.
The Dutch extreme right has been in fractious mood since the mid-1980s when the Centrum Partij, founded by Hans Janmaat, split into two factions. Janmaat left to form the Centrum Demokraten (CD), which has enjoyed a modest degree of electoral success with a Le Pen style approach to fascism. Nonetheless, scandal has continuously dogged its steps and leading members have had to face criminal charges relating to drugs and violent assault. The second faction to split from the Centrum Partij was CP'86. Further splits led to the formation of smaller groups such as the Nederlands Blok (which is linked to the Belgian Vlams Blok) and the Nederlands Unie.
CP'86 has continuously taken a more robust approach to its politics and has seen links, and in some instances dual membership, with the overtly nazi Aktiefront Nationale Socialisten (ANS), as well as being linked to a series of racist attacks. More recently the party has been embroiled on a bitter dispute concerning its relationship with the CD and other far-right groups. Interestingly, during these debates Beaux and De Boer were considered to be on the right of CP'86, which raises questions about their new-found moderation, particularly when one takes into account their leading roles in the now defunct Dutch section of the Klu Klux Klan.
Ravage 7.3.97.