Netherlands: Racism and fascism (3)
01 January 1991
Netherlands: Racism and fascism
artdoc April=1995
Far-Right targets the Left in paramilitary shift
The newspaper NN believes that the fascists are increasingly
focusing on Left-targets and that Centrum Partie 86 is shifting
its emphasis toward paramilitary activities. Members of CP'86 are
also believed to be close to fascist networks, similar to those
operating in the UK and Germany, which have launched attacks on
anti-racists. In August '94, a pamphlet detailing the names,
addresses and photographs of prominent left-wing activists was
issued by this secretive organisation.
At its national conference, CP'86 decided to change its name to
`De Nationale Volkspartie/CP'86 and committed itself to carrying
out 'surprise actions, mobilisation of extra-paramilitary forces
and confrontations with the repressive system'. Amongst recent
targets are:
* a left-wing bookshop and houses believed to belong to left-wing
activists in Nijmegan. The addresses of the left-wingers obtained
by the fascists were out of date, meaning that the houses
attacked were inhabited by people not involved with politics;
* offices of the youth organisation, Jongerenbond (Union of
Youth) in Eindhoven, burnt down on 16 December. Prior to the
attack, a member of a left organisation received a phone call by
a man shouting `Long live racism, Seig Heil'. Four days later,
he received a second phone call by a man claiming responsibility
for the attack
CP'86 also seem to have launched a deliberate policy to
infiltrate left-wing groups. A front organisation, the
`Studenfront Nijmegan', has attempted to capitalise on student
discontent over government policy by blaming cuts on refugees.
In a separate and bizarre move, CP'86 leader, Stewart Mordaunt,
wrote to NN announcing his intention of participating in a left
wing demonstration against police brutality (NN 16.12.94).
CP'86 denounce African footballers
Councillor Marthijn Freling of the far-right Centrum Partie `86
has caused a storm by saying that footballers Regi Blinker and
Gaston Taument do not belong in the Netherlands but should go
back to Surinam (Guardian 22.12.94).
CD councillors prosecuted
A Centrum Demokraten councillor in Purmerender, R. Van der Plas
has been fined 1000 guilders and sent to prison for two weeks for
handing out racist pamphlets outside a disco in Landsmeer in
1991. Van der Plas also faces charges of physically assaulting
the author, Adriaan Venema (De Volkskrant 28.12.94).
A former councillor for the CD, J. Morren, has been fined for
damaging the door of his Polish neighbour when she complained
about his dog (De Volkskrant 28.12.94).
Far-Right increases influence on Rotterdam council
The impartiality of the Mayor of Rotterdam is being questioned
after he failed to interrupt a racist speech delivered by CP'86
councillor, Martin Freling in the council chamber. Previously,
council approval for the building of a new villa for the mayor,
the estimated cost of which was £400,000, was only secured with
the backing of the far-right Centrum Demokraten and CP'86.
Freling himself described the mayor's new villa as a `splendid
thing' (NN 21.10.94).
Swastika carved onto the forehead of Iranian refugee
A 53-year-old Iranian refugee had a swastika carved onto his
forehead by a racist gang who assaulted him outside the railway
station at Zoetermeer on new year's eve. At first the three men
asked the Iranian to help them push their van. But then they
turned on him with racist insults, cut his jacket with knives,
and beat him over the head.
None of the attackers has yet been found (De Volkskrant
3.1.95).
IRR European Race Audit, Bulletin no 12, March 1995. Contact: Liz
Fekete, Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London
WC1X 9HS. Tel: 0171 837 0041
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