Racism - in brief
01 November 1999
Netherlands: Bilderberg group's royal roots: An article in the Dutch magazine De Groene Amsterdammer has revealed the leading role played by the Dutch royal family in the founding of the secretive "Bilderberg group". This top-level anti-communist think-tank, which recently celebrated its 45th anniversary, brought together leading financiers, politicians and generals in the 1950's to plan the west's counter-insurgency strategy was chaired by Prince Bernhard, consort of the former Queen Juliana. This role has now been taken on by his daughter Queen Beatrix. In an interview with the Groene Amsterdammer Bernhard reveals how anti-American sentiment led him and others to come together in the Bilderberg hotel in the Veluwe. He also reveals how after having been turned down for funding by the Marshall programme he went to the CIA, who where more than happy to help. Interestingly Bernhard has little to say about his eventual departure from Bilderberg in the wake of his implication in the Lockheed bribery scandal of the early seventies. The article provides an insight into the formation of one of the most secretive top-level organisations of the cold-war era. Het Jubeljaar van Bilderberg, De Groene Amsterdammer Issue 123:23.99
Italy: Radical Party linked to fascists: After the Radical Party's success in the European elections (8.5% of the vote, seven MEPs), two of their leaders, Marco Pannella and Emma Bonino, unsuccessfully tried to set up an alliance with nationalist and fascist parties. They called the proposed alliance with Le Pen's Front National, the Lega Nord and Vlaams Blok "technical", pointing to the benefits larger parliamentary groupings enjoy. The initiative was aimed at ensuring that "all MEPs", including those furthest from their own views, should be able to fully exercise their power as MEPs. Bruno Zevi, honorary president and one of the founders of the Radical Party, called the initiative "a disgrace", and took the stand, opening the party's July congress, saying: "Explain why you have chosen to register the MEPs in the group that includes Le Pen's racist right." He walked out of the congress, stressing that anti-semitism by Radicals was "unthinkable", and dismissing talk of a "technical alliance" as a betrayal of their historical heritage. Il Messaggero 13.8.99., Il Manifesto 1.8.99., La Repubblica 30.7.99., La Stampa 17.8.99.
UK: Racist jailed for explosive devices: James Shaw, a National Front (NF) parliamentary candidate who played an important role in the organisation during the 1970s, was jailed for nine years at the Old Bailey in November after pleading guilty to
possessing explosive devices, racist material and offensive weapons. Police arrested Shaw, who worked as a security guard, in west London last April and discovered two home-made devices in a bag that he was carrying; a raid on his home in Brentford uncovered more devices and NF literature. In mitigation Shaw's counsel told the court: "He has a pathological interest in bombs and hates everyone. He hates everyone equally. That is his problem". Sunday Times 28.11.99.
Austria: Haider condemned for Auslander-card plan: Austria's second largest political party, the racist Frieheitliche Partei Osterreichs (FPO, Freedom Party), led by Jorg Haider, has called for the introduction of a compulsory identity card for migrants from outside the EU. The A-card (or Auslander "foreigner" card) would help the authorities to track illegal immigration, claimed Haider. The proposal was widely condemned and opponents have compared the cards, which would hold personal information, length of stay, fingerprints and a photograph, with the identity cards that the nazis forced Jews to carry.