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Netherlands: Informer uncovered

01 November 1998

The Dutch secret service (BVD) deployed an agent to infiltrate the movement against the expansion of the national airport at Schiphol. In an attempt to counter radical protests the man was provided with a social background in order to give him credibility. "Marc Witteven" was given a job with a company in the suburbs of Amsterdam, financed by the BVD, as well as an address, a phone number and a history as student of political science in San Diego, USA. In the autumn of 1996 he became active in the Milieudefensie [Environmental Defece] organisation, which campaigned against, among other things, the expansion of Schiphol. He made friends with members of the organisation and after a year became a member of the "Climb Group", a group of activists which hangs banners in eye-catching places. He also wrote radical, even provocative, articles in the journal Ravage, in which he expressed disappointment at the organisation of the radical left in the Netherlands. He flirted with Earth First! and asked whether it was not time to adopt the Mexican Zapatistas' slogan "Ya Basta!", ("Enough is Enough!"). "Witteveen" also wrote an article on his visit to an Earth First! activity camp in Scotland in the summer of 1997. In mid--November 1997 he vanished back to the US, according to his account.

Milieudefensie is appalled by this infiltration. After a previous incident the BVD confirmed in writing that Milieudefensie was not under investigation. The big question is: where is "Mark Witteven" now? Buro Jansen & Janssen will continue its research and would be grateful for any information about "Marc Witteveen".

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