Death of reputed Aryan leader stumps police (USA)

Frank E Roch Jr

Baytown man, 54, ruled over some 1,500 in and out of prison

When police found a heavily-tattooed, dying man slumped in a pickup truck crashed along U.S. 59 in mid-May, he had so many different identification cards they reportedly didn't know his name.

It would be many hours before police would realize he was the top general of one of the state's most notorious underworld organizations.

Questions still surround the death of Frank E. Roch Jr., the alleged leader of the of largest faction of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, a powerful white-supremacist prison gang.

"It was widely understood, at least in law enforcement circles, he was the general of generals," said John Bales, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.

Roch, a 54-year-old Baytown resident who went by "Pancho," commanded an estimated 1,500 members in and outside of prisons, and had influence over many more associates and supporters, officials said. Exact numbers are unknown.

A funeral was held May 25 and his remains were cremated. But it is still not clear why he died the night of May 19, officials said.

"It is an open case," Houston Police spokesman Kese Smith said. "Witnesses reported seeing the vehicle swerve and strike a concrete barrier."

Harris County medical examiners have not yet determined the cause of his death.

Roch's criminal history went back decades. He was last in prison in 2009, according to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. Road map of his life
A different look

A photo on a funeral home's memorial web site shows a far-different looking Roch than the man with the shaved head in a prison mug shot.

His thick, blondish-gray hair and handle bar moustache are grown out.

His shirt covers the maze of elaborate tattoos inked over his entire torso and arms.

The tattoos form a road map of his life and offer possible clues to his death.

Across his chest was the world "loyalty,“ according to a photo taken while he was in custody.

In the middle of his torso was a tattoo of the gang's shield, including a swastika, and a star denoting his rank of general and chairman.

On his arm, where members are known to have tattoos of vices, is what looks like a hypodermic needle.

"Everybody knows who this guy was," said a state law enforcement officer who requested his name not be published. "His loss has created a major disturbance in this gang."

The officer could tick off a list of Roch's crimes, but respected his tenaciousness as an adversary. He was one of the few prison-gang members that wouldn't give up anything during interrogations.

"He could play mind games," the officer recalled. "I would say he was a high IQ guy, very high IQ."
Blind obedience

Federal indictments unleashed in recent years against members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas describe the gang as promoting white supremacy and being involved in murders, assaults, robberies and extortion.

"Members are required to sign a blind faith commitment in which they agree to do anything directed or requested by their superiors without question," notes an indictment. "Failure to comply may result in severe beatings, known as beat-downs or deaths."

The Aryan Brotherhood of Texas has members in and outside the state. It is divided into two factions, law-enforcement officials said. Roch was the chairman of the larger organization, and led with the assistance of four lower-ranking generals.

 Houston Chronicle

Constitutional Court bans neo-Nazi group (Serbia)

The Constitutional Court of Serbia has determined that Nacionalni stroj is a secret association whose work is banned in accordance with the Constitution.

The organization is not allowed to work, promote and spread its ideas and goals.

The Constitutional Court’s decision also does not allow Nacionalni stroj to be registered in a “registry run by competent organs, associations and political parties”.

The court has also determined that the state and other bodies and organizations are obliged to take necessary measures in order to implement the decision.

The Constitutional Court started the discussion at a closed session on May 19, 2011.

The motion to ban the extreme-right organization was filed in October 2008, with an explanation that it was a “secret political organization” which incites national and religious hatred which is banned by the Serbian Constitution.

The prosecutor said that basis for the decision to ban Nacionalni stroj was also a fact that several members of the organization had been convicted of inciting racial and national hatred at the University in Novi Sad.

This is only beginning, minister says

Justice Minister Snežana Malović told B92 that the Constitutional Court’s decision to ban Nacionalni stroj was a clear message that Serbia would not tolerate organizations that promote racial, religious and national hatred and intolerance.

“Banning racial, religious and national hatred and intolerance is a European heritage. Nazi ideology that promotes such action is unacceptable in a democratic society such as ours and it cannot be tied to our historical and cultural heritage,” she pointed out.

Malović stressed that there must be no second-rate citizens and any discrimination whatsoever in the name of the past and the victims of Nazism, but also in the name of the future.

“Serbia will stop organizations that promote such ideologies with legal, political and democratic means,” the justice minister explained.

She believes that this is only a beginning and that the state will not allow far-right organizations to continue promoting Nazi ideas by changing their name.

Malović also stressed that society and all those involved in the political life needed to take their stand regarding the hate ideology and clearly show who neo-Nazis were.

B92.Net

Moscow police arrest neo-Nazi woman for race-hate murder

Moscow police said on Friday they have arrested a female skinhead accused of committing a race-hate murder four years ago.

According to investigators, Darya Tikhanova, a member of a radical neo-Nazi movement, took part in an attack on two Dagestani men on a commuter train in the Moscow suburbs in June 2007.

Tikhanova, 21, hit one of the men on the head with an empty glass bottle, while six other skinheads knifed the victims.

One of the Dagestani men died at the scene but the second survived the attack.

Tikhanova, who was arrested on Wednesday after more than three years on the run, faces life in prison if convicted.

Racially motivated crimes have become a problem in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Routine attacks by skinheads and gangs of youths on foreigners and people with non-Slavic features are a regular occurrence in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as the city of Voronezh, which hosts many foreign university students, particularly from Africa.

RiaNovosti

"NEVER AGAIN' FOUNDER RECEIVES DISTINCTION FROM POLISH PRESIDENT (Poland)

On 4 June, the Polish Freedom Day, President Bronislaw Komorowski awarded a high-level state distinction, the Officer’s Cross of the Order Polonia Restituta, to Marcin Kornak, the founder and chairman of the anti-racist ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association. ‘Poland really needs your activity. Thank you!’ said President Komorowski congratulating the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ leader. The President met with a group of civil society activists including Jerzy Owsiak, the founder of the charity WOSP and organizer of the annual Polish Woodstock rock festival. A delegation of five ‘NEVER AGAIN’ members was present during the meeting, too.  Marcin Kornak is a co-founder and chairman of the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association as well as the editor-in-chief of the anti-fascist ‘NEVER AGAIN’ magazine. He has initiated the campaigns ‘Music Against Racism’ and ‘Let’s Kick Racism Out of the Stadiums’. He is the principal author of the ‘Brown Book 1987-2009’ and ‘Brown Book 2009-2010’ (published with the support of the EVZ Foundation), which contain results of hate crime monitoring conducted by ‘NEVER AGAIN’.

Born in 1968, Marcin Kornak has used a wheel chair since the age of 15. He is renowned as a poet and author of lyrics for several independent rock bands. After the ceremony, during a reception in the presidential garden, Prime Minister Donald Tusk received copies of the ‘Brown Book’ from ‘NEVER AGAIN’ members and discussed the problem of racism in Polish football with them. The ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association is an anti-racist educational and monitoring organization established in Poland in 1996. In 2011, the ‘NEVER AGAIN’ Association received the Honorary Medal of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising awarded by the Association of Jewish Ex-Combatants and Victims of World War II as well as the European Football Supporters Award. Since 2009, ‘NEVER AGAIN’ has coordinated the FARE East European Development Project supported by UEFA in the lead up to EURO 2012 in Poland and Ukraine. ‘NEVER AGAIN’ has set up the East Europe Monitoring Centre documenting racism and xenophobia across the region.

Never Again Association

Spain’s high court overturns conviction on Nazi propaganda

Spain's Jewish community has slammed a ruling by the country's Supreme Court that overturns the conviction of four people connected to a Barcelona bookstore that sold Nazi literature.

The four connected to the now defunct bookshop, Kalki, had been found guilty by a lower court of fostering xenophobia and anti-Semitism through the selling of Nazi literature. The acquittals include a publisher in the nearby town of Molins de Rei.

In 2009, the four were each sentenced to 3 1/2 years in jail after being found guilty of selling publications that justified the Holocaust and praised the Nazi regime.

In the Supreme Court's ruling, Justice Miguel Colmenero wrote that the selling of Nazi propaganda that promotes genocide is only a crime when there exists a danger that it could create a climate of hostility that would incite violence.

"Jews in Spain view with extreme concern the fact that the Spanish judiciary, so sensitive in certain situations, does not consider as criminal conduct the sale of books denying the Holocaust and promoting racism, in spite of standing criminal legislation to the contrary," the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain said in a statement.

The Israeli Embassy in Madrid in a statement said that Israel was "sad and concerned" to hear of the acquittals, "allowing for the circulation of books that incite hate and deny the Holocaust."

Elan Steinberg, vice president of the American Gathering of Holocaust Survivors and their Descendants, called the ruling "a grievous blow" to Spain's "laudatory efforts to confont its historical fascist past."

"The court has insulted the memory of all Nazi victims -- Jew and non-Jew," Steinberg said in a statement.

Jta

Racist put ham into Muslims’ shoes (UK)

A racist stuffed HAM into Muslims' shoes left outside a mosque as they prayed barefoot inside.

Drunken Jamie Knowlson, 30, also draped slices of the pig meat - which Muslims are barred from eating on religious grounds - on railings around the building.

As he left, the lout shouted "the next visit will be harder" and "bad meat", a court heard.

Knowlson targeted the Al-Baseera mosque in St Judes, Bristol, which around 2,000 Somali Muslims use each week.

When arrested nearby, he told police his sacrilegious attack was a drunken joke. Knowlson later admitted he knew his mindless stunt would cause offence and returned to apologise.

He faced up to two years' jail, but was given a suspended six-month prison sentence because he had said sorry.

Knowlson pleaded guilty to causing racially or religiously aggravated harassment.

Judge Carol Hagen told him: "It is difficult to imagine a more offensive incident."

Knowlson, of Kingswood, Bristol, was also sentenced to 150 hours' unpaid work. A second man faces trial.

After the Bristol Crown Court case, Mubarak Mohamud, imam at the Al-Baseera mosque, said: "Our initial reaction was shock and bewilderment. But we teach tolerance."

The Sun

Police prepare for EDL (UK)

A Kirklees police chief claims it will be ‘business as usual’ in Dewsbury next weekend, despite a planned demonstration.

As we reported two weeks ago, the far-right English Defence League is planning action in the town on Saturday June 11.

A member of the Dewsbury division of the group said it was expecting hundreds of people to visit Dewsbury for the demonstration outside the town hall.

But this week Chief Supt John Robins, Divisional Commander of Kirklees Police said officers were prepared and working with organisers.

“We have received notification from local EDL members that they intend to hold a static demonstration outside Dewsbury Town Hall on the afternoon of Saturday June 11.”

He added: “West Yorkshire Police has a great deal of experience in policing these kinds of events and we are working with the council and communities to put plans in place.

My aim is to ensure it is business as usual for the traders, businesses and the people of Dewsbury on the day.”

Dewsbury Reporter

Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati quits Twitter over race hate abuse (UK)

Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has quit Twitter after receiving racial abuse.

The actress, who plays Sunita Alahan in the ITV soap, has received race hate messages over the last two weeks.

Last week she posted a message on the site saying: "Surprised at the racial abuse and desire to try and hurt people for no reason. I think I'm giving twitter a wee rest..gobsmacked."

But the 44-year-old has now apparently decided to quit the site altogether, telling her 18,467 followers: "Thanks for the banter I've enjoyed my time on twitter. Over and out."

Shobna, who is of indian descent, has campaigned against racism and intolerance and used Twitter to spread information about her campaigns.

She set up an account in support of the Sophie Charity, in honour of Sophie Lancaster, 20, who was murdered in Bacup in 2007.

Steve Huison, who played Eddie Windass in the Street, posted a message saying: "Absolutely disgusted to see that my lovely friend Shobna has been driven off Twitter because of racists. Shame on them."

Julie Hesmondhalgh, 41, who plays Hayley Cropper, in the soap has also received abuse via Twitter.

Julie Tweeted: "Those who just use this to bandy their own hatred and desperation really need to look at themselves."

Manchester Evening News

Muslim women's group launches 'jihad against violence' (UK)

Inspire's campaign aims to combat all forms of violence but with an emphasis on crimes justified in the name of Islam

 A British Muslim women's group has launched a "jihad against violence", in a bid to reclaim the term jihad from extremists.

The campaign, launched by Inspire at City Hall in central London on Sunday, aims to combat all forms of violence but with an emphasis on crimes, including terrorism, domestic abuse and female genital mutilation, that some perpetrators attempt to justify in the name of Islam.

Although jihad means a struggle in the way of God, it has been hijacked by extremists, who have attempted to use it to justify holy war, the group says.

"People think 'jihad against violence' is a contradictory statement but our jihad is for peace," said Inspire's director, Sara Khan. "Islam has become synonymous with all things violent and the repression of women. We thought we couldn't sit back and stay silent while our religion is being used to carry out acts of violence." Khan has previously advised the government on tackling radicalisation and was critical of the government's Prevent programme for combating extremism for not including enough input from women.

Inspire intends to make information refuting the arguments of those who purport to use the Qur'an to justify terrorism and domestic violence against women and children more widely available – information it says is lacking in many Islamic bookshops. It also wants to put pressure on Muslim leaders to confront what Khan says are currently "taboo" subjects and is encouraging organisations and individuals to sign up to the declaration of jihad against violence on its website.

The Guardian

Neo-Nazi pleads guilty for role in murder scheme (USA)

A Pasadena, Texas, member of a neo-Nazi group on Thursday pleaded guilty to charges related to a homicide that took place in Atascosa County, Texas, in May 2008, according to a report obtained by the National Association of Chiefs of Police.

Frank Lavelle Urbish Jr., 39, aka “Thumper,” pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity.  Specifically, Urbish accepted responsibility for his role in the murder of Mark Davis Byrd Sr. 

According to information presented in court, Urbish was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT), a powerful race-based, statewide organization that operates inside and outside of state and federal prisons throughout Texas and the United States. 

The ABT enforces its rules and promotes discipline among its members, prospects and associates through murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, assault, robbery and threats against those who violate the rules or pose a threat to the enterprise.   Members, and oftentimes associates, are required to follow the orders of higher-ranking members, often referred to as “direct orders.” 

According to court documents, Byrd, an ABT prospect member, was murdered by Jim Flint McIntyre, 43, aka “Q-Ball,” of Houston, and Michael Dewayne Smith, 30, aka “Bucky,” of Houston, for allegedly stealing drugs he was ordered to deliver to a customer on behalf of the ABT. 

According to court documents, Byrd was murdered as a result of a “discipline” ordered by Urbish.   Byrd’s body was discovered in Atascosa County on May 4, 2008.  

Smith, an ABT member, pleaded guilty on May 11, 2011, to murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the racketeering-related death of Byrd.   McIntyre, a fellow ABT gang member, pleaded guilty to the same charges on February 11, 2011.

At sentencing, Urbish, Smith and McIntyre all face life in prison.   Sentencing for Urbish is scheduled for Sept. 7, 2011.   Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 17, 2011, and McIntyre is scheduled to be sentenced on Ocober 19, 2011.

Examiner

EDL supporter attacked police horse at Blackburn demo (UK)

AN English Defence League supporter violently attacked a police horse during demonstrations in Blackburn.

The town’s magistrates heard Robert Gavin Tromans punched the animal eight times about the neck as police formed a mounted cordon to control a crowd in Northgate.

Tromans, 29, of Beverley Road, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to using threatening behaviour. He was ordered to do 120 hours unpaid work and pay £85 costs.

Peter Wilde, prosecuting, said the mounted officer described the crowd as ‘volatile and angry’.

Tromans tried to push through the cordon of mounted officers and PC Palmer Davies pushed him back. He grabbed her by the wrist and tried to pull her down.

Mr Wilde said: “She was able to release his grip and he then started punching her horse about the neck with a clenched fist.

“He landed about eight blows.”

Andrew Church-Taylor, defending, said Tromans, a former soldier, was a supporter of the EDL but not a member and had attended the rally with an organised coach party. He was making his way back to the coach when the police blocked the way with the mounted cordon.

He said: “He found himself being pushed against the horse and the horse was pushing back.

“He says the horse stood on his foot and he showed the bruises it caused to an officer when he was being interviewed after his arrest. In these circumstances he became annoyed and there was an exchange of words with the officer.

“His intention was to get back to his coach and not to cause any trouble.”

The EDL protest in Blackburn on April 2 saw 2,000 people take part in Northgate outside King George’s Hall. A separate counter demo took place at Sudell Cross.

• A 48 year old man took a swing at a police officer on duty at the English Defence League rally in Blackburn in April.

Blackburn magistrates heard Patrick Joseph Doyle caught the officer on the temple and knocked his helmet off.

And the officer had to follow Doyle into a hostile crowd in order to execute an arrest.

Doyle, of Cobourg Close, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer in the execution of his duty. He was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, made subject to community supervision for 12 months and ordered to pay £85 costs

Lancashire telegraph

French Sociologist: Smurfs Are Sexist Racist Stalinist Nazis

The Smurfs are icons of the animated universe. They have a full-length feature film set for release in mid-Summer. And it can be expected that there will be many attempting to capitalize on what will most likely be a successful cinematic run. But to be attacked by a French sociologist as racists and socialists and Nazis? 

"The Smurfs," an animated feature film starring the tiny blue characters that dominated American television during the 1980's, is set for a late July release. There are already two trailers getting heavy play on the Internet and an occasional rotation on television. And as with any highly anticipated movie, there is the foreknowledge that there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals and groups looking for a hook or tie-in to the characters or the movie in order to make a few dollars. Some of those "tie-ins" will be in the form of attacks, perhaps the raising of controversial subjects. But a new book by French sociologist Antoine Bueno seems to have covered every extreme in describing the little blue characters, noting that the characters and the storyline reflects socialism and Nazism, racism and sexism.

According to Bueno, the Smurfs represent various evils of the world. He all but calls them little blue sexist racist Stalinist Nazis. In Le Petit Livre Bleu ("The Little Blue Book"), Bueno explains how the Smurfs exhibit certain characteristics indicative of some of the more unsavory beliefs and political movements the world has ever known (and still experiences in some degree in some areas). Of course the book has caused a bit of a stir amongst Smurfs fans, many of whom are angry at Bueno's depiction of cartoons beloved by millions of children.

But Bueno, who is a lecturer at the Sciences Po political sciences school in Paris, says that their anger is based on misunderstanding. He actually "loves" the Smurfs. He explains that his book is only a reflection of what the Smurfs were representative of -- society in the 1950s, the era in which they were created.

According to Gawker, he identifies several issues in his book. Among them:

Anti-Semitism: Bueno describes the evil wizard Gargamel as the stereotyped Jew: "ugly, dirty, with a hooked nose (who) is fascinated by gold."

Socialism: The Smurfs owned no property and did a lot of activities together.

Stalinism: Bueno notes that this was embodied in controlling Papa Smurf, who wore a red cap and red pants.

Sexism: Smurfette was the only girl Smurf.

Nazism: Bueno notes that Smurfette's blonde hair points to Nazi leanings. He also posits the Smurfs relationship with Gargamel and his "maybe-Jewish cat, Azrael."

Racism: Apparently the creator of the Smurfs, Belgian cartoonist Peyo, originally came up with The Black Smurfs. The tiny guys became black after one of them gets bitten by a black fly that changed his skin color to jet black. The village somehow eventually all became black Smurfs and degenerated into what Bueno described as "reduced to the state of primitives who jump around and cry: 'Gnap! Gnap!' [Gnash! Gnash!] They lose all trace of intelligence and become completely moronic."

Smurf fans are up in arms about the mostly derogatory depictions and interpretations of Bueno. According to Gawker, he fears for his life after reading some of the comments about himself and his book on the Internet.

It is uncertain if Bueno plans to add an updated chapter to include views on the sociological aspects of the film once "The Smurfs" movie is released.

HULIQ

POLICE IN BRATISLAVA DISPERSE AGGRESSIVE NEO-NAZIS (Slovakia)

Approximately 50 aggressive neo-Nazis attempted to attack the second annual Rainbow Parade in support of gay and lesbian rights yesterday in Bratislava. About 1 500 people participated in the parade. The event started at 13:00 on Hviezdoslavova námìstí, where the first 400 people gathered. The site resembled an impregnable fortress, as barriers had been erected on every side and police officers, including riot units, defended the peaceful gathering from neo-Nazis. A small group of extremists attempted to protest directly on the square. Right-wing radicals wearing "Slovenská pospolitost" ("Slovak Solidarity") t-shirts and dark-colored clothing held a banner reading "For the traditional family, against deviation" and featuring the logo of the People's Party - Our Slovakia (Lidová strana - Naše Slovensko).
Rainbow Parade participants held banners reading "Hate is not a family value" or "I'm the pink sheep of the family." Slogans such as "End homophobia in Slovakia!" resounded from the loudspeakers. The march left the square and headed through the Old Town across the New Bridge (Nový most) to the Petržalka quarter. The numbers of participants gradually increased and separated into two parts on the Tyršov embankment. The first got on buses to go to after-parties in various parts of the city, while the second headed for a boat where a party was also taking place. As the march proceeded beneath the New Bridge, an approximately 50-member group of neo-Nazis attempted to attack the peaceful march with smoke bombs, but police immediately dispersed them. Bratislava Police detained at least 42 people, including 26 of those who did their best to disturb the march beneath the New Bridge.

People from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and other European countries participated in the march. Many were wrapped in enormous rainbow flags. During the program, singer Aneta Langerová also performed. She admitted Slovakia is much more conservative and prudish in this area than the Czech Republic. "Some of that may have to do with the fact that there are still not many laws about human rights for homosexuals. I believe those are basic things which should have been instituted a long time ago and which we do have in Bohemia. We are probably ahead of Slovakia in that respect, and that was even more a reason to come here," Langerová said after her performance. She recently admitted to being in a relationship with a woman herself. The embassies of the Netherlands, Norway and the USA sent representatives to the event. Mayor Ftáènik, Slovak government politicians, Slovak MEP Monika Flašíková-Beòová and her husband Fedor Flašík, Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek and Netherlands MEP Marije Cornelissen greeted the marchers.

Last year, during the first-ever Slovak Rainbow Parade, neo-Nazis organized a counter-action on the day of the march and attacked its participants. Organizers had to change their entire program, canceling their planned march through the center of Bratislava and changing the route to pass through a different part of the city. Right-wing radicals shouted abusive slogans at the approximately 500-strong march and threw smoke bombs and stones into the crowd.

Romea

We're Back !

Due to technical difficulties this blog has been inactive for the last week.

Thankfully those issues now seem to be resolved and normal service will resume.

Finnish Nazi Party Fails in Registration Attempt

The Finnish National Socialist Workers’ Party, otherwise known as Finland’s Nazi party, has failed to complete the registration process for associations. Finland’s National Board of Patents and Registration (PRH) stopped the application process after asking for revisions and additional information.

The PRH set a May 16 deadline for the party to make the changes required. Among other things, the party was asked to clarify their ideological purpose. The PRH asked for the party to provide greater precision in its rules, and to clarify what exactly national socialism means, according to regional newspaper Savon Sanomat.

The PRH has not made a decision on whether or not the party can register as an association, as the deadline lapsed. The party can not apply to the Interior Ministry to join the register of the official political parties unless it successfully becomes an association. The party can submit another application.


YLE

Flemish move for Nazi collaboration amnesty widens rift in Belgium

Far-right party's motion erects another obstacle to forming a national government and ending country's political crisis

One more example of the communal divisions in Belgium – and yet another obstacle to negotiations to form a government – has arisen.

On 12 May, the 333rd day of Belgium's political crisis, all the mainstream Flemish parties, apart from the Greens, supported a motion by the far-right Vlaams Belang party advocating an amnesty for those who collaborated with the Nazi occupation in 1940-45. The bill suggests effacing all the effects of "sentences and sanctions inflicted on the grounds of alleged breaches of public loyalty". It proposes compensation for "financial prejudice" suffered by "victims of postwar repression or their descendants".

Flemish-speaking far-right parties have been battling for almost 20 years for an amnesty. Until now all the proposals by Vlaams Belang, which is largely isolated, have failed. But when the Flemish Social-Democrats (SP.a) decided to endorse the proposal it opened the way for the Flemish majority in the upper house to authorise a debate. Parliament had previously refused to entertain the idea. "In these difficult times it is particularly worrying that this rule should have been broken," said Philippe Mahoux, a Walloon Socialist (PS) party senator. "It is a major obstacle in the path of those who want to establish stable government," said Francis Delpérée, a member of the centrist CDH party.

Armed collaboration with Germany involved roughly equal numbers from the Walloon and Flemish communities, but political collaboration was more extensive in Flanders. where the Nazis awarded privileges such as releasing prisoners of war and placing militants of the Vlaams Nationaal Verbond, a nationalist pro-collaboration party, in positions of authority in Flemish localities, according to the writer Charles Bricman. In 1943 about 2,000 collaborators enrolled in the Walloon Legion, almost 3,000 in its Flemish counterpart. Nearly 14,000 Belgians fought in the Wehrmacht under German colours. The move looks like a warning to French-speaking politicians suspected of holding up negotiations to end the political stalemate. It might even herald a repeat of the events of 2007, when in the course of committee proceedings in parliament the Flemish majority unanimously voted to split the bilingual Brussels-Hal-Vilvorde district.

Almost four years later the situation has hardly changed. After countless attempts, King Albert II is once more holding talks, after Wouter Beke, the latest in a long line of negotiators, asked on 12 May to be relieved of his duties. After more than two months' discussions the leader of the Flemish Christian Democrat (CD&V) party delivered a thick document to the head of state which, he says, contains the basis for possible agreement.

None of the players seems to believe a solution is possible and the Crown obstinately refuses to consider another election. According to the commentators, the most likely outcome is a negotiated partition of the country, which might also take ages.

 The Guardian

Bulgarian Govt with Hands Off Far Right despite New Mosque Rallies - Report

Bulgaria's far-right and nationalist party Ataka is getting ready to stage a new protest rally during the Friday prayer at the Sofia Mosque Banya Bashi.

According to unconfirmed reports, Ataka, whose activists shocked Bulgaria by assaulting praying Muslims in the Sofia mosque last Friday during a rally protesting against the loudspeakers of the mosque, are getting ready for a new rally just a week later.

The Ataka party has not confirmed the reports. However, there are indications that the Sofia Municipality and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, a representative of the ruling party GERB, who can technically ban the provocative rally, will adopt a hands-off policy.

The reason for that is that by banning the rally of the nationalist party Ataka, which is the only ally, though an informal one, of the ruling center-right party GERB, the Sofia Municipality might lead Ataka leader Volen Siderov to withdraw support from the minority government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

GERB has 117 MPs out of 240, and Ataka's 21 MPs provide it with a comfortable majority, after the rightist Blue Coalition with its 14 MPs declared itself to be in opposition. One of the reason Borisov did not make a formal coalition with Ataka, in addition to his widely proclaim desire not to be dependent on coalition partners, is the protest of the European People's Party, of which GERB is a member.

Siderov has threatened Borisov he will stop backing the government unless the authorities took measures to investigate what he claims to be a "nest of radical Islamism" in the Sofia mosque.

Borisov himself and his party GERB initially denounced the actions of their ally; however, Borisov subsequently sought to downplay Friday's incident, saying that the nationalist party Ataka and the ethnic Turkish party DPS (Movement for Rights and Freedoms) are both going down the same road by seeking to pump up their electoral support through incidents with propaganda effect.

If the government collapses, this would mean early elections prepared by a caretaker Cabinet to be appointed by President Georgi Parvanov, a Socialist and major rival of PM Borisov.

Informal reports indicate that while Borisov's party is considering causing early elections, they want to avoid holding a vote on the terms of a caretaker Cabinet appointed by Parvanov, whose term expires in January 2012. Bulgaria is holding presidential and local elections in the fall of 2011, most likely in October.

Novinite

U.N. rights chief raps Australia on refugees, racism

The United Nations' top human rights watchdog on Wednesday attacked Australia's tough refugee policies and the treatment of outback Aborigines, saying there was a strong undercurrent of racism in the country.

Long-standing policies of locking up asylum seekers had "cast a shadow over Australia's human rights record", and appeared to be completely arbitrary, U.N. Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay said.

"I come from South Africa and lived under this, and am every way attuned to seeing racial discrimination," Pillay, a former anti-apartheid campaigner and international criminal court judge, told reporters at the end of a six-day visit.

"There is a racial discriminatory element here which I see as rather inhumane treatment of people, judged by their differences, racial, colour or religions," she said.

Pillay held talks on Wednesday with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and expressed deep concern about the minority Labor government's latest plan to send hundreds of asylum seekers to Malaysia for refugee processing, hoping to appease voter concern about asylum seekers arriving by boat.

The government has been struggling to handle the flow of illegal immigrants and earlier this month said it had struck a deal with Kuala Lumpur to ensure asylum-seekers caught heading to Australia would be sent to Malaysia, which is not a signatory of the U.N. refugee convention.

More than 900 people, mostly from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and Sri Lanka, have arrived in Australia so far this year, while 134 boats carrying 6,535 people turned up last year, prompting the government to harden immigration policy.

While Pillay's criticism may cause Australia some discomfort internationally, it is unlikely to convince Gillard or her conservative political opponents to change tack, given polls showing wide voter concern about border security.

She also criticised an "intervention" policy introduced by the former conservative government and continued by Gillard which places controls on welfare spending for Aborigines to help fight alcohol and child sex abuse in remote outback areas.

"In my discussions with Aboriginal people, I could sense the deep hurt and pain that they have suffered because of government policies that are imposed on them," she said.

Australia's 460,000 Aborigines make up about 2 percent of the population. They suffer higher rates of unemployment, substance abuse and domestic violence than other Australians, as well as having a 17-year gap in life expectancy.

Reuters

EDL member pleads not guilty to affray (UK)

A man from Birmingham has been charged with affray following ugly clashes at an English Defence League demonstration in Aylesbury in May last year.

Stuart Bates, aged 41, of Lazyhill, Kings Norton, was charged with affray by Thames Valley Police on May 5.

He was bailed and appeared at Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court on Monday where he entered a not guilty plea to the charge.

The case was adjourned and the next hearing will be at Aylesbury Crown Court in July.

Bucks Herald

GERMAN COURT REINSTATES 2.5-MILLION-EURO FINE FOR RIGHT-WING PARTY

Germany's far-right National Democratic Party must pay a 2.5-million-euro (3.5-million-dollar) fine for failing to declare part of its income, ruled a high court Monday. The ruling, by Berlin's higher administrative court, upheld a fine imposed on the NDP by the federal parliament, for filing erroneous tax returns in 2007. This penalty had previously been halved by a lower court, whose decision was overturned on Monday, reinstating the original 2.5-million-euro fine. The far-right party is on the verge of financial ruin because of earlier fines. It was forced to pay 870,000 euros in a previous court ruling on party funding records from the 1990s, and was also charged 33,000 euros by a court last December, for incorrectly declared income between 2004 and 2007. Monday's judgement came in response to an appeal process launched jointly by the NPD - who had hoped to annul the entire fine - and the parliament's administrative body, which oversees party funding. The law stipulates that parties are fined double the amount of any undeclared funding.

DPA