White power groups set for election year push (Sweden)

White power groups were less active in Sweden in 2009 than the previous year, according to a new report. But the movement is expected to increase its efforts in the run-up to the autumn general election.

White power groups were less active in Sweden in 2009 than the previous year, according to anti-racism foundation Expo’s annual report. But the movement is expected to increase its efforts in the run-up to the autumn general election.

Last year an estimated 40 white power groups attracted members across Sweden, roughly the same number as the previous year. But there was a considerable dip in the number of visible activities carried out by these groups, including public demonstrations and the distribution of leaflets.

Expo and the Swedish Security Police, Säpo, share the view that extreme groups on the left and right are likely to become more active this year,with an election coming up in Sweptember.

“These groups’ activities generally do increase when there’s an election,” said Säpo spokesman Patrik Peter.

On Wednesday two people were stabbed while handing out flyers for Svenskarnas Parti (‘Party for Swedes’) in Hallstahammar, 130 kilometres west of Stockholm. Four people people from the extreme left were arrested for attempted murder.

Three days later a demonstration by Svenskarnas Parti in nearby Västerås attracted 150 to 200 supporters. Two people were injured when clashes broke out with around 100 counter-demonstrators.

Expo editor Anders Dalbro highlighted the fact that Svenskarnas Parti, unlike many of their counterparts, will be running for election this year.

“For them it’s going to be a very active year. But organisations not running for election also benefit from the fact that it’s an election year,” he said.

According to Expo’s annual report, set for publication this week, the white power movement was hit by internal divisions in 2009.

“This is most noticeable when it comes to common demonstrations, which previously attracted a lot of people,” said Dalsbro.

The Local Sweden

MONEY, NOT ISLAM, MATTERS MOST IN DUTCH ELECTIONS

For a decade, the Netherlands has been at the forefront of a Europe-wide crackdown on immigration and the debate over a perceived failure of Muslims to integrate. But with national elections less than two weeks away, issues like banning burqas and mandatory citizenship classes have been shouldered aside in favor of the debate over how to balance the budget. Part of the reason immigration issues are dropping on the political agenda is a national consensus that newcomers, especially from poor Muslim countries, should be limited. But it also reflects a concern shared with the rest of Europe over the continent's financial crisis, even though the Dutch have one of the soundest economies among the 27 members of the European Union. All political parties are pledging spending cuts, and whatever the result, the average Dutchman will either see his taxes rise or his government benefits shrink — probably both. A conservative candidate with strong pro-business credentials has opened up a commanding lead in polls, siphoning support from the populist anti-Islam leader Geert Wilders, who has nose-dived from first to fourth place. Mark Rutte of the Peoples Party for Freedom and Democracy, which goes by its Dutch acronym VVD, shone in a nationally televised debate Wednesday, defending a platform that includes building nuclear plants and cutting government jobs. "Windmills aren't powered by wind," Rutte jibed. "They're powered by subsidies." Along with aggressive spending cuts, Rutte's platform is almost as tough on crime and immigration as that of Wilders' Freedom Party — for instance, making immigrants ineligible for unemployment compensation for the first 10 years after they arrive.

Wilders is known for his film "Fitna," which offended many Muslims by linking Islam and violence. He is facing criminal prosecution under Dutch hate speech laws for comparing Islam to Naziism and calling for a ban on the Quran. Rutte's rise has left Wilders struggling to stand out. Earlier this week, Wilders released calculations he says show that nonwestern immigrants are a euro7 billion ($8.6 billion) annual drag on the Dutch budget because of higher criminality and unemployment rates. But his economic platform drew groans and laughter at Wednesday's debate for its single-minded focus on immigration. Health care costs, for example, can be cut by denying medical care to children of illegal immigrants. "You can all laugh about it, but it's about money," Wilders told a skeptical audience. "The Netherlands will have to decide. Are we an immigration country, or are we a country with social services?," he said. Recent polls show Rutte's VVD taking 36 seats in the 150-seat Dutch parliament, with former Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen's Labor the closest competitor at 29 seats. Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende's Christian Democrats are third with 25 and Wilders' Freedom Party is fourth at 17. Balkenende has failed to capitalize on a relatively low unemployment rate of 5.9 percent and a budget deficit that at 3.4 percent is also far better than the European average. Political analysts say many voters are simply tired of Balkenende, who has been in power since 2002.
Meanwhile, Cohen, who was a popular executive in Amsterdam, led in national polls briefly before sliding. That is at least partly due to his poor performance in the debates. Voters often say they appreciate Wilders' speaking ability and his refreshing lack of political correctness, but see him as unfit to govern. "Wilders makes the best jokes, but I don't vote on that basis," said Johan Bosma, an Amsterdam city employee, who supports Labor. "The problem with Wilders is that he has no ideas how to fix things, or he has bad ideas. You can't blame everything on one religion," he said. Flea market worker Assef Yoquobi said he has voted Labor in the past but not seen any results, so would probably not vote this time. "Politicians are all liars," he said. "The VVD, it's for rich people." Asked about Wilders he shook his head, no. "Crazy," he said.

AP.org

RUSSIAN GAYS ELUDE POLICE FOR FIRST CALM PROTEST

Gay and lesbian activists eluded Russian security services in a five-hour game of cat and mouse on Saturday to hold the first gay protest in Moscow not to be broken up by riot police.Gay and lesbian activists eluded Russian security services in a five-hour game of cat and mouse on Saturday to hold the first gay protest in Moscow not to be broken up by riot police.

After luring hundreds of riot police and undercover officers to a different location, a group of about 25 gay and lesbian activists unfurled a rainbow banner on Moscow's main Leningradsky Avenue, chanting "homophobia is Russia's disgrace." They said the subterfuge was needed to avoid a repeat of the violence seen in previous years when Moscow police, nationalists and ultra-Orthodox believers broke up similar protests. "It is very difficult to be openly gay in Russia: you can face serious problems at work and discrimination is very widespread," said Nikolai Bayev, a gay activist at the protest. "Russia is where most Western countries were in the 1970s when it comes to gay rights ... We are only just starting to really come out," he said. Police arrived soon after the brief protest, which the city of Moscow had refused to permit, but the activists scattered. Homosexuality could be punished with jail terms in the Soviet Union and though Russia decriminalized homosexuality in 1993, intolerance remains very widespread. Polls have shown more than 80 percent of Russians see homosexuality as immoral. Mayor Yuri Luzhkov has said gay protests are satanic and previous attempts to hold such events have ended in multiple arrests and clashes with ultra-Orthodox believers who say gays should be punished or treated in hospital for their "illness." Just days before last year's Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow, police arrested at least 40 gay and lesbian activists at a similar protest. Gay activists had asked Western embassies to host the protest but they said their proposal was either ignored or turned down by envoys from the United States, Canada and major European Union states. "The EU and Western embassies are hypocrites," said British gay rights activist Peter Tatchell, who traveled to Moscow to join the protest. "We are being hounded and hunted by the police and the FSB Security Service all because we want to hold a peaceful gay rights protest." The Moscow police declined to comment. A spokesman for the FSB, the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, also declined comment and asked for questions in writing which he said would not be answered before Monday.

Reuters

EDL member seen kicking officer (UK)

A member of the English Defence League who was involved in the disorder which broke out at a rally in Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for 16 weeks.

Jake Payne travelled up to the city from his home with friends to attend the event in Hanley city centre on January 23 this year.

Laura Jones, prosecuting, told North Staffordshire magistrates: "Payne was seen by officers at 3.20pm as part of a crowd in hostile confrontation with police.

"He was seen to kick out violently at one police officer, then encouraging some of the people in the crowd to behave in a disorderly fashion."

She said Payne admitted he was a member of the EDL and had previous convictions for public order offences.
Payne, aged 22 of Florey Gardens, Aylesbury, pleaded guilty to using threatening abusive or insulting words of behaviour with intent and failing to answer to his bail.

Lee Yates, defending, said: "He says he wishes to be sentenced and sent to prison forthwith because he knows from past experience he is unable to comply with community orders."

This is Staffordshire