Thursday, April 30, 2009

Dutch Intelligence/Security Service: Threat from Left Not Right

Cross posted at The Next Right

From the April 23, 2009 NIS News Bulletin:
The AIVD secret service is concerned about far left and Islamic extremism. Conversely, there is scarcely any threat from the extreme right, according to the AIVD annual report on 2008.
. . .
The AIVD is also concerned about extreme left activism. The service sees an increase in intimidation by animal rights activists in 'home visits' to scientists and staff of companies directly or indirectly involved with animal testing. This trend will continue in 2009. AIVD also sees an increase in violent actions against deportations of illegal migrants, increasingly operating in small cells.

Remarkable is the AIVD's assessment of the Anti-Fascist and Capitalist Archive Collective (KAFKA). KAFKA is regularly cited by Dutch 'quality media' as a research institute into rightwing extremism, but its Antifascist Action (AFA) arm is in reality a movement that uses violence to achieve its goals.

"The picture is often evoked of antifascists defending themselves against aggressive rightwing extremists, while the roles are generally reversed." Especially at extreme-right Netherlands People's Union (NVU) demonstrations, AFA organises violent counter-demonstrations. They have these "carried out by third parties, such as local antifascists, riot-loving youths and football hooligans."
. . .
The extreme right remains a pretty powerless movement. "As in previous years, the extreme right environment in the Netherlands remains characterised by fragmentation and splits" and "there is no question of a trend towards extreme right terrorism".