"Maybe walk all nationalists Saturday 28 February or jointly in one march. Then the first Pegida demonstration in the Netherlands, "muses a spokesman for the rightwing extremist group Identitair Resistance in the NRC at the beginning of this year. "We try connecting adventurers, neo-Nazis and prevent madmen "Raffie Chohan of Pegida Netherlands states in August on Radio 1. The announced Pegida demonstration from February did not take place. Op 11 October, will Pegida Netherlands indeed its baptism of fire. What can we expect from this organization? A spokeswoman for concerned citizens? Or a collection of extreme right-wing activists?
Since November 2014 in Germany there are weekly demonstrations Pegida. Edwin Wagensveld is a Dutchman living in Germany and involved from the beginning in the demonstrations. He sees the number of participants initially grow strongly. About a thousand on the first demonstration in Dresden, three thousand two weeks later. Begin 2015 the PVV or Wagensveld requires an endorsement of Geert Wilders wants to read. Op 25 January, he brings Wilders' message played for over fifteen thousand protesters in Dresden. Wagensveld has evolved from participant to popular speaker and organizer.
Dutch interest
Despite the fact that the German Pegida demonstrations are relatively easy to visit, the number of Dutch participants that bad. Raffie Chohan runs on behalf of the Dutch Defence League along with Pegida demonstrations in Düsseldorf and Wuppertal, where they met Wagensveld. The far-right veteran Alfred Vierling sees Wagensveld in Dresden read the endorsement of Wilders. A month or two later Geert Wilders speaks personally to a demonstration in Dresden. There are more Dutch Pegida activists, but many are not really there.
The more radical version of Pegida, Hogesa (HoGeSa) get some more Dutch interest. The Nazi Dutch People's Union (NVU) visits with Flemish sympathizers HoGeSa a demonstration in Cologne and Quad do this in Hanover. Wagensveld also been reported in several demonstrations HoGeSa.
Wagensveld is strikingly similar demonstrations active in Germany. And it is to him apparently not enough. He beats his wings in the Netherlands and finds in Raffie Chohan of the Dutch Defence League (DDL) a kindred spirit. Chohan, together with her husband Maarten Hoekwater the driving force behind this organization, which opposes "the EU, Islamisering en Sharia in Nederland’.
If the DDL in May organizes a demonstration against Islam, Chohan calls to her friends Identitair Resistance advertising for this event. Chohan had earlier attended a demonstration of Pro Patria, a front organization of Identitair Resistance. De Pro Patria demonstratie got out of hand and revealed afterwards clearly an extreme right-wing initiative. However, the DDL supported a new demonstration attempt Pro Patria. An Elsevier journalist let them know they have no objection to the participation of the Nazis in the demonstration. “You're stronger when you can lay down the differences next to you. We have the same enemy: the Islamic State.”, According to the concerned citizen Chohan.
The DDL demonstration against Islam, in addition to the radical German speaker Melanie Dittmer several seasoned extreme right-wing activists present, including Ben van der Kooi.
The NCE sends a delegation and with their banner strong presence among small fifty participants. Afterwards let Chohan know to be very disappointed. Not in the presence of Nazi activists, which were accosted by one or banned. But she was just disappointed in the low turnout. Chohan also continues in the same radical way.
Will the real Pegida rise?
Wagensveld noisy regularly takes away from right-wing extremists, where he "wants nothing to do with '. The overt association with the Chohan NCE, Pro Patria and Identitair However, an objection will Wagensveld not matter to sever ties with her. Indeed, the tires are significantly tightened. About a month after the DDL demonstration they decide together Pegida Netherlands to establish. First bump: Battle to name Pegida Netherlands. Peter Polfliet, a man from Friesland is already giving some months now Pegida Netherlands form. With its orange banner he supports demonstrations abroad. Via facebook he tries to set up local chapters and actualities to provide interpretation. Every now and then he met kindred spirits with whom he plans a first demonstration.
Polfliet is geen organisatorisch talent. And its interpretation of current events and his Wagensveld Chohan an eyesore. The former will contact him at. "Several post here on the site, do not reflect our thoughts,and that is a shame,because there the name Pegida on state ", writes Wagensveld. He hopes that the tone and content changes. "Then there might also be a possible cooperation." Polfliet considers the approach as hostile and slams the door in his face close. There's Wagensveld for nothing else than a second Pegida Netherlands to establish. Because of his reputation and the more energetic actions of the 'second' Pegida they now seem to have laid claim to this name.
The first action
"Right attracts extreme right, like left extreme left. there you can not help. We try to distance ourselves, we are very clear. "The speaker is Edwin Wagensveld. In het Radio 1 programs one on the street ', he explains that Pegida is not extreme right, but a movement of concerned citizens. A prominent "concerned citizen" is the German and Pegida founder Lutz Bachmann.
He will be one of the speakers at the Dutch Pegida demonstration. Beside that Bachmann has been convicted in the past for assault, drug trafficking and burglary he raises controversy within his own organization. Begin 2015 He is touched by controversy because his picture has surfaced with a Hitler mustache and separation. For a short time he retires as leader. On his personal Facebook page describes Bachmann war refugees and asylum seekers as "dirty" and "vermin". These observations have led to the prosecution recently indicted in Germany Bachmann for inciting hatred.
Another speaker at the demonstration is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known by his pseudonym Tommy Robinson. Until two years ago, he was the English Defence League foreman (EDL), a hooligan organization that tooth and nail opposition to the presence of Muslims and Islam in the UK. Yaxley-Lennon was behalve EDL-leider ook lid van de British national Party (BNP) and is sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence for assault.
Moreover speak founders Pegida Netherlands themselves on their own demonstration. Chohan, who has no trouble spending time with organizations like the NCE and Identitair Resistance. In Wagensveld, visiting extremist demonstrations HoGeSa. Several German research groups state that he is moderator of the forum HoGeSa. The assertion of a Telegraph reporter that he HoGeSa from an address with the newspaper mailed strengthens this proposition.
Shoot. Bomb it! Concerned citizens?
At first glance, not a model of anxious citizenship, This company. Many comments from visitors to the Pegida Facebook page that neither. "I would love to shoot them myself" wrote a 53-year-old man in response to an article about unrest in a refugee center. "Beating Death and Return!!!"Responds another. Invariably lure Pegida placed articles by this kind of reaction from. This is no reason for Pegida henceforth omit the messages. Nor are such responses removed. A request from Pegida not to use this kind of language often follows, with the motive: "We give our critics ammunition to put us away like a bunch of anti-socials."
Or incitement to hatred and violence is or is not an expression of citizenship is concerned does not actually add much. This kind of noise are increasingly finding acceptance among the Dutch population and politics are translated by the PVV. Wagensveld sees his movement in the extension of this party. "Pegida Netherlands adds to the PVV because the sound is played on street. That people need. "Wagensveld has announced to Radio 1. The recent action call Geert Wilders to revolt against the establishment of refugee centers gaining followers. This confirms the analysis of Wagensveld, with the caveat that it usually concerns actions in their immediate environment. Whether people really need to be in large numbers on the street behalf Pegida go very doubtful.
That part of the already activist right-wing extremists in the Netherlands addressed himself
feels the racist and violent reactions on the Facebook is logical. Just as they would identify with the announced speakers. Their presence is therefore to be expected. A substantial expansion of this group may not be guaranteed. Although there have Pegida believe. "Pegida Netherlands will hold out long. We will not go from the start to demonstrate weekly, we will not make it. But when it goes well monthly at the start and when it will run super I see it to be fine. "Said the optimistic Wagensveld.
