In its efforts to meet the real politics to participate Vlaams Blok has lately should leave some feathers. Especially on the far right wing of the party rumbling lot. Concessions does the Bloc to the established parties after the municipal elections 1999 to govern them in Antwerp (and perhaps to provide even the mayor) the radical wing have an eyesore. When the parliamentary group of the Vlaams Blok in February 1995 agreed with the criminalization of Holocaust denial was a good group full size.
The group of malcontents is roughly divided into two groups. First, there are the old unrepentant Nazis. In particular circles around the Free Historical Research (EEZ) disembarked with great fanfare from the party. The organization / publisher FTA came mid-eighties include circles of former SS men and headed by Siegfried Verbeke. It has been specializing in publishing writings that deny the Holocaust and call for rehabilitation of war criminals and collaborators.
The second group consists of young radical Nazis and Nazi skinheads. They organize themselves in various youth organizations. Some of these organizations (such as the Flemish Youth Mechelen) stay close to the Vlaams Blok lean. This happens especially because they can rely on financial and logistical support from the Block.
Odal-Aktiekomitee
A fast-growing youth organizations who maintains no direct links with the Vlaams Blok is the Odal-Action Committee that from 1995 active. When the Maoist Party of Labor (PvdA) that year Yzertoren Diksmuide wants to visit founds a number of Flemish fascists opportunity group Odal-Action Committee to prevent this visit. Several dozen activists block access for the PvdA members. But it does not get in this one initiative and the Action Committee from 1997 solid form after a demonstration in Bruges under the same name. It makes itself heard by holding small demonstrations with radical demands. To the action in the Action Committee Dixmude wrote all the action is implemented “Because the place of a nationalist militant always there, where he can do battle against the leftist scum.”
This principle is a guiding principle in the existence of the Odal-Action Committee that a very clear anti-posture in: anti-links, anti-foreign, anti-America and especially anti-VB. Its creation explains the Comittee: “First and foremost we are nationalists. That of course means that we have no enemies in our own camp. But that does not allow some say anything, write or do… against us. As some so-called nationalists, who dare not fight the system or the Left, have nothing more to do than to attack us, they should expect to yourself that we will strike back. Forewarned…”
An overview of demonstrations Odal Action Committee.
a. In augustus 1995 the Holland Committee late first heard of them when they Diksmuide want to avoid a wreath from the leftist Labor Party.
b. In maart 1997 the Odal-Action Committee organized a counter demonstration against a demonstration of the anti-fascist organization Block Busters. There are about a hundred fascists present.
c. Op 11 november 1997 the Odal-Action Committee organized a demonstration for rehabilitation of volunteers of the Waffen-SS. The date was not chosen by chance: in Belgium 11 November, a national holiday because of the end of World War I. Holds approximately 40 types along. Initially, the police stops the demonstration, but later still gives permission to walk through.
d. In January 1998 wants Komitee keep a European youth conference in Hemiksem (in the shadow of Antwerp). The intention is that young Nazis discuss from various countries on joint activities such as annual Rudolf Hess march. The meeting by the mayor is prohibited and is pulled to the center of Antwerp, where a short demonstration is held. There are Nazis in Belgium, Netherlands and Germany present. A few months later, houses of people from Hemiksem who have campaigned against the meeting defaced and stoned. Also the home of a Hemiksem Flemish Blokker is daubed with a Star of David and the slogan 'Jude', because he had spoken out against the meeting.
and. In maart 1998 keeps the Odal-Action Committee under the name of “Anti-Zionist Action” a demonstration in Brussels against US imperialism and the military action against Iraq. On the way to nine Dutch arrested by the state police for illegal possession of weapons.
f. In april 1998 it disrupts a meeting of the Vlaams Blok Brussels affiliated organization. They asked questions about the pro-Jewish line of the Vlaams Blok.
g. In juni 1998 There is a meeting in Bruges. There is collected include money for a German far-right support committee for prisoners. Besides Kris Ryan Bert and Bert Eriksson's ANS leader Eite Homan one of the speakers.
h. In juli 1998 the Odal-Action Committee has joined a demonstration in Heerlen, Nederland. It was an action prior to the annual Hess commemoration in Germany. The police intervened and took leaflets and banners up.
i. In september 1998 they hold a demonstration against migrants in Bruges-voting, which political debate is conducted in Belgium.
The Odal-Action Committee has a small frame and a very brief action-oriented ideology. They call themselves Flemish Nationalist and says to seek a Flemish state. At the same time, there is cooperation with Walloon Nazis who seek a strong Belgian state. It seems that the Odal-Action Committee is trying to gain support within Flemish nationalist circles, without self sincerely interested in their demands. The actual guide within the ideology of the Comittee is not the Flemish Nationalism, but taking action against migrants, Jews, left and the Vlaams Blok. This ideology one makes not much dirty words: the whole political manifesto of the Comittee covers half A4 (large font) holle phrase.
Who is behind the Odal-Action Committee?
The leadership of the Comittee is in the hands of the nineteen year old Christian (Chris/Kris) Berteryan. He is the chairman, main organizer of actions, spokesman and writes the petal of the Comittee ("The Political Soldier ') flight. He comes from the youth organization of the Vlaams Blok and is 1996 become involved in the Action Committee Odal.
In 1997 he cites the Dutch press, when CP'86 led by Martijn Freling, announces that he is the leader in Terneuzen in municipal elections in 1998 will be. However CP'86 does not end with it in Terneuzen.
Bert Ryan is supported and controlled by old hand Bert Eriksson. The 67-year-old Eriksson was during the seventies the main man of the Order of Flemish Militants (VMO) and was sentenced several times because of violent actions. During World War II he was in the Hitler Youth Flanders. Eriksson is somewhat comparable to Joop Glimmerveen. His great moments are now more than twenty years behind him. In particular the kidnapping of the bones of former collaborator cyriel verschaeve from Switzerland to bury them again in Flanders, he can not stop talking. Eriksson may be past glory, by his acts of yesteryear he knows this little group of young, radical inspire Nazis. Incidentally, he lives in the Netherlands and in Westdorpe in Zeeland Flanders. Eriksson speaker at almost all meetings of the Odal-Action Committee. He is without a doubt been the inspiration for the name of the Comittee: after the ban on the VMO Odal Eriksson founded the group and was longtime owner of the Antwerp bar Odal.
Contacts
Despite the Holland Committee regularly organizes activities and meetings can not be said to be a great success. There are some nuclei in Flemish cities and one maintains stiff contacts with other fascist youth organizations. Flanders outside of the contact is more flexible. First, there are good contacts with the group around the Walloon neo Hervé van Laethem. Van Laethem since the mid-eighties was involved in almost all the far-right organizations in Wallonia. He is fixated on the fight against anti-fascist organizations and has several times violent actions against organized left. As Odal-president Kris Ryan Bert Van Laethem in 1998 named by the CP'86 as a candidate for the local elections in Terneuzen. He currently Nazi magazine 'Devenir’ from, which is given regular attention to the Odal Action Committee.
Second, since the Comittee 1996 good contacts with the Dutch ANS. In August of that year left some Dutch to Germany to join them in prohibited Rudolf Hess marches. After they three comrades in Belgium, including Chris Bert Ryan, had picked up the entire group was arrested at the French-German border. Since that action be Odal Action Committee and the ANS virtually inseparable. This is partly reflected in the strong outward agreement between the Odal sheet 'Political Soldier’ and the same sheet of the FAP Workers Party Constant Kusters (closely related to the ANS). The name, content and layout of both magazines are practically identical. In addition to the actions of the Action Committee regularly Dutch ANS'ers present. Constant Kusters, Eite Homan, Ed Polman, and Joop Glimmerveen his child at home in these actions. Furthermore, there are often young boys from the area of Kusters note (Chris Smit from Westervoort example).
In addition to their presence in the actions by the Action Committee Odal ANS'ers also supported with postal addresses. During a demonstration in Brussels against the US aggression in Iraq, a pamphlet was distributed from the Anti-Zionist Action '. As contact address, the mailbox of ANS leader Eite Homan used. Furthermore the Comittee stickers with slogans like 'Hand in Hand back to Own Country!’ and "Brussels-Hebron-Gaza, Intifada!. Europe-Palestine-Iraq: One Struggle-one enemy!’. As a responsible publisher for these stickers (in Belgium each publication must have a responsible publisher) the sailor Henry Dam is mentioned. Van Dam is an ex-member of the CP'86 and an old acquaintance of Eite Homan.
The Odal Action Committee looks at first sight to form a gap in the market on the far right wing of the Flemish Politics. Yet they must do it without too much support or supporters in Belgium. In particular, the vindictive attitude towards Vlaams Blok is responsible for this. Furthermore, the total lack of ideology and contacts with Walloon Nazis them not be appreciated. Her radical racism, its anti-Semitism and its violence it is important to keep an eye on.
