Extremism

Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic
Security Policy Section

Report on the Issue of Extremism in the Czech Republic in 1999

»contents

5. Fundamental Trends for Extremist Activities Abroad65

International world organisations, EU countries, alongside with all democratic country Governments demonstrated in the course of 1999 their negative attitude towards any manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia or other extremist activities. An ongoing globalisation process has contributed to connections among various extremist groups and a multinational framework of extremist movements which is a considerably important factor requiring a common approach against this world-wide dangerous phenomenon at a multinational level.

In 1999, the division of the extremist spectrum into right-wing, left-wing and nationalistic extremism remained in force, as in 1998, and it did not undergo any substantial changes in European countries.

In 1999, the foundations for world-wide protests with international participation and considerable political and ideological heterogeneity of participants were laid.

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting in Seattle in 1999

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) meeting known as ”the Millennium Round”, aimed to liberalise world trade. Opponents to the WTO and globalisation decided on the occasion of the opening of the ”Millennium Round” to commence world-wide protests against ”turbo-capitalism” and the world ruled by mega-corporations destroying the national economies.66

More than 40, 000 demonstrators and activists from 144 countries and from the whole United States of America arrived in Seattle. They represented a very unusual alliance of trade unionists, conservationists, activists for benefits of the third world, anarchists and other initiatives, which otherwise do not have much in common and very often support different ideas. Tens of activists underwent exercises in special camps where they were taught to climb buildings to be able to hang slogans against the WTO and to fight the police.

Due to the mass protests, the conference was not open on time, the place was changed, a state of emergency was declared followed by curfew and finally the National Guard and police reinforcements were called from the neighbouring states. In preparing the security measures, some things were underestimated: the importance of timely communication between the WTO and restrained groups of demonstrators, anarchists who restricted the space for negotiations and groups of vandals who by their activities put the civic associations calling for mass but not violent protests in the shade.

The events in Seattle showed that the similar mass protest couldn’t be ruled out during the other international forums.67 In the light of this context, it is obvious that globalisation also persuades the protest against it. The Internet has become an important means of enabling ”concentrated” protests to be organised.

5.1 The Extremist Scene in the Central European Geopolitical Area
The right-wing extremist spectrum

In Germany, right-wing extremism on a long-term basis has been counted as one of the greatest threats for democracy. In March 1999, the German Federal Government announced that right-wing extremism was rising and managed to influence more and more people via the Internet and skinhead rock bands singing racially motivated songs. In the course of 1999 (from January till October), 1,193 xenophobic crimes were registered (in 1998 -1 498 crimes) of which 231 cases were attacks to people, 25 werecases of incendiarism, and 278 were cases of distribution of print-outs and wearing symbols of forbidden organisations. As in the previous years, most of such incidents were committed in East German provinces and they were aimed at foreigners in 1999.68 According to the data of the Federal Bureau for Constitution Protection, 53,600 persons ranked among extreme right organisations in 1999(in comparison with 1997 it is an increase by 14%); of which 8, 400 were inclined to violence (in 1997 - 7 600 persons). From the regional point of view, the East German provinces remain the centre of extremist motivated crimes.

The individual province authorities for constitution protection concentrated on the activation of the neo-nazi scene and its better organisation. This activation involved permanently more aggressive texts of illegally spread nazi songs, open manifestation of hostility against Jews, immigrants and calls for a ”purged Germany”. The information from security services proved that in the course of 1999 the skinhead movement was under clear control of neo-nazis. Berlin and Hamburg are known as centres of neo-nazism and right-wing extremism. In 1999, the police and security bodies also endeavoured to strongly intervene against neo-nazi cultural scene.69

The DVU (Deutsche Volksunion) and the  Republicans proliferated in the year monitored. The DVU however, did not manage to repeat their election success in Saxony-Alsatia (in 1998:12.9%) in any other subsequent elections.70 The centre for promotion of right-wing extremist leaders consisted of an ideological discussion on the German ”guilt” and casted doubts about the extent of nazi crimes. The right-wing extremists continued making use of actual political topics such as flat stigmatising of foreigners and asylum applicants or discussions about the exhibition of Wehrmacht crimes during World War Two. The transition to a new European currency – the EURO – did not escape their notice. This currency is understood by those movements as ”giving up a part of the national sovereignty”.

In 1999, the National Democratic Party (NPD) made itself visible within the right-wing extremist scene. This party is known for organising demonstrations against left-wing violence and drugs mainly through ”national revolutionary cells” Those small extremist groups are comprised mostly of the NPD members who consider their party not to be radical enough. ”The national revolutionary cells” are the bearers of a new strategy, making activities secret, and moreover a strategy oriented towards violent conduct.71 The Federal Bureau of Constitution Protection probably does not rule out the possible danger of a commencement of a terrorist campaign by a small group of right-wing extremists or by individuals.

According to the Report of the Austrian Ministry of Interior on right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Austria, 244 right-wing, 31 anti-Semitic and 8 xenophobia incidents were registered in 1998.72 Right-wing extremist activities were comparable with other Western European countries. The skinhead movement community is very limited in Austria in terms of its membership base. Conspiracy activities by neo-nazi groups focusing on the political subversion of Austria and its adjunction to Germany were disturbing. Those activities involved distribution of illegally printed materials, and even para-military exercises. Such activities were hit hard by the Austrian authorities.73

The hostility towards foreigners connected to the inflow of illegal migrants to Austria became ”a topic” after the extraordinary electoral success of the Party of Independence (FPO), which became the second strongest political party in Austria gaining 27% of votes.74

The right-wing extremist spectrum underwent a considerable development in Hungary in 1999.75 Typical representatives of this spectrum were, as in 1998, skinhead movement supporters known for fighting against Roma, Jews and foreign workers. So far, no extremist or racially oriented groups - having some several hundreds members - can be considered terrorist, although their members became more militant.76

In March 1999, the largest Hungarian neo-nazi organisation, the Hungarian Welfare Association - HWA organised a demonstration against the country’s integration to NATO. In November 1999, the HWA declared its plan to create a centre; the seat of which would be in Hungary and it would offer national and international printing, translating and IT services to racial and right-wing extremist organisations. In June 1999, the skinhead organisation – the Hungarian National Front - required the revision of the Trianon Agreements.

The right-wing extremists are represented in Parliament by the Party of Hungarian Justice and Life (MIEP), which received 5.5% of the vote in the 1998 elections.

Militant right-wing extremism was represented in Slovakia at the basic level by the skinhead groups concentrating in Bratislava, Trnava, Košice, Prešov, and Skalica regions. Slovak skinheads are opposed to all ”second-rate” races, mainly the persons with a different colour of skin, Jews, handicapped people and sexual deviants. In terms of the number of incidents and their gravity racial motivated violence was connected with attacks to the Roma ethnic groups especially in Central Slovakia (Bánská Bystrica, Prievidza).

In addition, the Slovak skinheads are directed against the ethnic Hungarians. This attitude was represented also in the political scene, where was promoted by the Slovak National Party (SNS).77

In 1999, the principal risk in Poland was connected with the skinhead movement, which has been well developed here and is based on long-term prejudices of the Polish against Jews and Germans. The Polish skinheads’ direction against Roma, Arabs or Asians was in 1999 accompanied especially by verbal attacks rather than physical assaults against those minorities.78 The membership in skinhead organisations did not increase in 1999 and it is approximately 10, 000 persons of which about 3,000 persons belong to the hard core. The rest of them ideological supporters and sympathisers.79

No substantial shift was observed on the right-wing Polish scene in 1999. Among the parties supporting skinheads are the National Front of Poland (Narodowy Front Polski), the Polish National Front, (Polski Front Narodowy), the National Party (Stronnictwo Narodowe) and the Polish National Community /Polish National Party (Polska Wspólnota Narodowa/ Polskie Stronnictwo Narodowe - PWN/PSN). These organisations are only of marginal importance. Certain extreme ideas were registered at some representatives of the Polish Catholic church.80

In addition to the police the Polish Bureau of Constitution Protection (UOP) participated in combating fascist, anarchist and similar extremist movements in 1999. The UOP endeavours to get among the members of those movements co-operating persons and in some cases monitors the top leaders of the extremist scene. It also gathers and evaluates information on the extremist events being prepared.

Left-wing extremist spectrum

Further activation of left-wing extremist occurred in Germany in 1999. Left-wing extremists apart from organising demonstrations that very often resulted in clashes with the police and right-wing extremists proceeded to the actions verging on terrorism.81

In 1999, the group known as the Anti-fascist Campaign –Berlin took up a significant position. It was involved in the campaign aimed at adoption of legislative changes enabling the reform of acquiring citizenship.

Compared with Germany there was not a substantial growth in left-hand activities in Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland. As in 1998, this phenomenon did not represent a big problem.

The left-wing scene was not an issue in Austria and there was not its activation in 1999.

The left-wing extremism was also limited in Hungary and did not represent a significant force on the Hungarian political scene. Nor was the Hungarian anarcho-autonomous scene much stronger. The Worker’s Party, a most important off-Parliamentary political entity, is considered to be a certain political representative of the left-wing extremism whose election potential was in December 1999 about 170 – 180,000 votes.

An increase of left-wing activities was not observed in Slovakia either. However, in connection with poor economic situation of the country (20% unemployment rate) the danger of the left-wing extremism cannot be ruled out.

Dangerous sects and pseudo-religious organisations

As in 1998, the Church of Scientology continued to provoke the greatest discussions on the international forum. This issue was mostly seen in Germany and Austria.82

In Germany the Church of Scientology was still a considerable problem.83 In March 1999, the Bureau for Constitution Protection published information. Accoriding to this information, the Church of Scientology planned in Germany to commence a promotion campaign the total value of which reached USD 40 million. The source of this information was a former member of the Church of Scientology who, for investigation purposes, also confirmed that Scientologists used some special methods utilised among others by intelligence services to get information on their opponents. For example: information on a target person from the neighbours, who of course suspect nothing.

The existence of various extremist sects and pseudo-religious organisations is similarly viewed in Austria where it is regarded as the danger for democracy. The Church of Scientology is from this point of view perceived as the most problematic. This Church is known in Austria especially by pursuing its former members. This led to the prohibition of the Church members working in the state administration bodies. The Austrian security services focused on operations of Scientologists in Austria. As a consequence those measures brought a certain decline in the membership base and substantial restriction of new member inflow to the Church of Scientology.

In 1999, the Austrian security bodies devoted their attention to a community known as White Lotus that held mediation courses and seminars with alleged therapeutic purposes. This community maintains quite wide economic operations (trade in CDs, bio-food or consumer goods of their own production bringing them the annual profit of about AST 30 million.84 Their spiritual leader was delivered a written legal action because of the health risks of breathing techniques taught in the therapeutic courses.

In comparison with 1998, significant development of extremist activities of sects or pseudo-religious organisation was observed in Hungary, Slovakia and Poland.85

5.2 Up-to-date Technology and Extremists

Creation of web sites with extremist topics has become a common thing. Such activities are aimed at mutual communication among extremists as well as at attracting more supporters. In 1999, ”recruiting” web sites offering to children computer games of racist nature, illustrated books with hidden racial and extremist issues and even crosswords – of course in a simplified form for children.

The extremists use the Internet not only for promoting and recruiting activities but also for gaining financial resources, e.g. by disseminating extremist, mainly neo-nazi and racial culture. Via Internet people can order CDs with extremist music recordings or get a data file for a home-made CD.

Furthermore, extremists utilise the Internet as a reliable means of communication between individual groups. For instance anarcho-autonomists intensively used e-mail or electronic conferences; they organised their events through Internet. According to information disclosed by the FBI the number of pieces of information sent via Internet using ciphering algorithms increased from the beginning of 1998 till the end of 1999 from 2% to 7% of the total number, which accounts for 250% increase. The latest technologies represented by the programmes known as PGP - Pretty Good Privacy- are utilised.86 E-mails are not limited only to internal communication between extremists. The cases of mass sending of extremist promotion materials to addressees who had not required such information were observed. Thus, electronic mail originally meant only for communication is becoming the tool for dissemination of extremist ideas.87

Utilisation of modern telecommunication technology by extremists accounts for a separate problem. The mass spreading of mobile phones and the option to use them anonymously (Twist and GO cards in the Czech Republic), sometimes in combination with a commercial equipment for secret operations, provides extremists with another tool for improving their organisation which, of course, makes it more difficult for security services to fight against extremist manifestations.