Anti-Fascists Alert

by Red Fri Oct 23, 2009 18:45

Irish Examiner

Far right concert in Tralee
cancelled

Scott Millar

AN attempt by Eastern European far right activists to hold a rock concert in Tralee this weekend has been scuppered, following the intervention of anti- fascist campaigners and Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris.

Up to 70 European extremists were expected to attend the event this weekend at the Whitehouse Bed and Breakfast in Tralee town centre.

The concert was to feature so-called “Blood and Honour” bands Juden Mord (which translates from Slovak as “Jewish Death”) and Conflict 88.

However, the event was cancelled yesterday.

Proprietor Sean Sugrue said when he became aware of the extremist music which was to be a feature of the event he decided to
inform the organiser it was cancelled. Mr Sugrue only became aware of the nature of the event following the intervention of Anti-Fascist Action (AFA), a group which campaigns against
the extreme right.

Local TD Mr Ferris said the people of Kerry would be appalled if an event such as this was to be held in Tralee. “It has been suggested that these white power music groups are linked to ongoing violent racist attacks on ethnic minorities in the Czech Republic.

“These fascist groups would certainly not be
welcome in Tralee or any part of Kerry.”

The event was to be held as a birthday party for a 30-year-old Czech far right political activist, who is now resident in Dublin.

The 28 bedrooms and the function room of the Whitehouse BB were booked some weeks ago by the Dublin-based fascist .

Last night an AFA spokesman said: “We’re
happy this event did not go ahead. It is a frightening thought that such a group of people with such repulsive beliefs felt they could come to Ireland.”

He added: “AFA is resolute in denying a platform for racist and fascist thugs from overseas to organise and rally in this country, just as we refuse to give oxygen to the very small groups of Irish fascists who wish to organise here who would be impressed by this gathering if it had proceeded.”

The Tralee event had been discussed among Eastern European far right
activists for a number of weeks. Among the up to 70 activists planning to attend were members of organisations including the Czech Republic’s “Bohemia Hammerskins” and “Narodni Odpor” (National Resistance). The latter group is banned in the Czech republic after members were
implicated in violent attacks on ethnic minorities.

Polish activists aligned with the “Blood and Honour” music movement were also planning to attend.

Raids on far right concert promoters in the Czech Republic over the last week had prevented some of those intending to travel to Ireland from making the journey. However, several Eastern European political activists are believed to have arrived in Dublin yesterday.

The group had also planned to visit Dingle
during their stay in the south-west.

by Czech mate Fri Oct 23, 2009 18:50

Sorry Fred but uyou're missing the point. This gig was never gonna happen because AFA made sure of it. We are letting people know because many others may want to get active against the scum.

by @ Fri Oct 23, 2009 20:12

it would be good to point out that immigrants are involved in the action against the fash as well - otherwise we get a one sided "good locals fighting foreign troughs" image

by iosaf Fri Oct 23, 2009 21:11

Of course we are delighted on the Irish left that the neonazis event for tomorrow in Kerry has been cancelled. Credit due to the Irish anti-fascist movement and SF TD Martin Ferris.

We have dealt properly with "the enemy within" Europe & it ought help us understand the importance of this week's anti-fascist struggle in Britain.

Ao as we consider what is occuring in the UK with the BNP and remember how we in indymedia ireland circles undeniably exposed the neo-nazi links of the young man Dwyer shot in Bolivia this year and the neonazis who have worked for Shell as private security contracters -

let's not get complacent or wave our number 2 & 3 fingers around in Victory.
- we're not smoking big cigars yet.

Ireland and in particular the south of Ireland gave voice to David Irving when in 2007 he spoke at UCC and rather than face complete rejection section 31 style was treated to a Late Late Show appearance.

If we now accept (as I hope many of us do) that former taoiseach Bertie Ahern's stewardship of the EU which allowed for expansion into the east of the continent and freedom of movement for citizens from the former Warsaw Pact to compete equally with Irish citizens for jobs in the EU regardless of the states they resided in (meaning they had the same chance of a job competing with an Irish citizen whether they were in Ireland or the Spanish state) was something which enriched the culture of our island thanks to the arrival of the first wave of immigration in our modern history ...,

Then we ought regard the emergence of neo-nazism in those states with as much concern and proactive response as perhaps we have chattered about this week's media launch of David Irving's friend and colleague Nick Griffin on the BBC.

This thread illustrates well a problem in contemporary Europe as modern Ireland.

More Irish citizens reside and work outside of Ireland as "foreigners" than there are immigrant workers making their way in the Irish state.

More children have been born and raised by families which counted on one Irish parent overseas in the EU than are growing up in contemporary multicultural Ireland.

More than any law on blasphemy which would do nothing more than protect the cult of Scientology from accurate accusations of fraud as long as it is permitted to flog its charlatanism in Ireland -

We need anti-racism legislation.

sin é - Ná leathnaigh do bhrat muna féidir leat á chosaint.
= that's it (in a nutshell) don't fly your standard unless you can defend it.

1966 - Gay Byrne hosted the Late Late show for an Irish audience whilst "no blacks, no irish & no dogs" signs adorned British digs.

2007 the flagship programme of the Irish state broadcaster hosted one of the principle global articulators of neo-nazism

Before the UK gave Griffin's BNP prominence, the convicted neo-nazi Irving had exercised his Irish freedom of hate speech.

by wryman Sat Oct 24, 2009 03:52

Two cheers for the guardians of political purity.

by IamSam Sat Oct 24, 2009 06:49

Regardless of my personal feelings about such groups shouldnt we allow and in fact protect ALL peoples freedom of speech? When you consider so many articles here are accusing the state of censorship and blocking peoples freedom of speech and movement I find it ironic that we now see a group being applauded for doing the very same thing they give out about.

by Freedom ? Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:54

IamSam have you ever looked at the websites these groups are linked to. They are not up for the concept of free speech / action. Research content of fascist web sites, you want these peoples voice in our communities?

Past generations of anti Fascists, have paid the ultimate price of fighting fascism. Giving fascism no resistance is like pissing on their graves.

This Will Never Happen Again:

http://romove.radio.cz/en/article/20320

by Jay - WSM Sat Oct 24, 2009 13:36

Never Forgive, Never Forget, Never Again.

Jan Kucera , aged 18 from the Czech Republic. Murdered in Pibram, near Prague on 18 January 2008.

by Anti Fascist - Anti Fascist Sat Oct 24, 2009 14:03

Romani man, paralyzed after neo-Nazi attack, has to learn to speak all over again
Ostrava, 21.10.2009, 05:05, (ROMEA)

Yesterday at the Regional Court in Ostrava the proceedings against eight neo-Nazis charged with grievous bodily harm continued. The court heard testimony from defendants Karel Takáč, Michal Šebela, Libor Maceček, Martin Šebest, Josef Navrátil, Milan Kasl, Vlastislav Burda and an eighth defendant who is a minor. Since his name cannot therefore be publicized, Judge Lenka Čechová decided the proceedings would be closed.

While on Monday the court heard from the defendants, yesterday it was the turn of the victim, 17-year-old Jaroslav Horváth, to testify. His testimony was followed by that of his friend Petr Sivák, who succeeded in escaping the attack. Jaroslav Horváth told Romea.cz that prior to the assault the attackers shouted “We have to beat up this nigger” at him. Petr Sivák added that prior to the assailants driving up in their cars he and Horváth had been calmly standing on the sidewalk: "We were not doing anything that could have provoked anyone to attack us."

According to one of the eyewitnesses (who does not want to be named) the attack took place as reported yesterday by Romea.cz: "I saw three vehicles block off the entire street. Several people jumped out of them and started to chase the two Roma. After the attack they quickly got back in the cars and drove off. It looked like an organized action. I ran to the victim immediately to help. Horváth could not breathe or move properly and was completely confused – he could not even remember his own name. I called an ambulance and the police."

Horváth suffered serious brain injury as a result of the attack. "I had to learn to talk all over again," he told ČTK yesterday. The trial was the first time since the incident that he has met the people who attacked him face to face.

The victim does not remember much about the circumstances of the event. He could not recognize any of the alleged assailants. "They all were wearing balaclavas,” he said, adding that he was unable to walk in the aftermath of the attack. "I could not stand or talk. I did not talk for a month. Then I slowly started to learn to talk again. One of my arms is partially paralyzed,” the youth said.

The attack took place on the corner of Jarošova and Smetanova streets. Romea.cz has learned that the family living in the house closest to the attack also witnessed the entire thing. However, they have moved away after receiving threats that if they testified in court they would reap the consequences.

The victim’s father said his son was in a coma for several days after the attack: "When he came out of it, he was paralyzed on the right side of his body, he could not move his arm or his head, he could not talk. He underwent a long process of rehabilitation during which he exercised and learned to talk again, but to this day he cannot move his arm properly and he stammers. He cannot continue his studies in this state."

The defendants are not unknown to the police. ČTK reports they are all aggressive football hooligans or neo-Nazis. They allegedly belong to the Thugs Havířov group, one of the largest fan clubs of the Baník Ostrava football team. One of the defendants is also an active member of the neo-Nazi National Resistance.

The victim is represented by Mgr. Roman Krakovka, an attorney with the law offices of Miketa and Partners with financial support from ROMEA, o.s. The court proceedings will continue on 7 December 2009.

Markus Pape, František Kostlán, translated by Gwendolyn Albert
ROMEA

Czech police charge 18 neo-Nazis, some allegedly preparing a terrorist attack
Prague, 23.10.2009, 17:05, (ROMEA)

Detectives from the Organized Crime Detection Unit (Útvar pro odhalování organizovaného zločinu - ÚOOZ) have charged a total of 18 people with supporting and promoting a movement aimed at suppressing human rights and freedoms after house searches conducted Wednesday. One man and one woman remain in custody. ÚOOZ head Robert Šlachta made the announcement at a press conference today, adding that neither the number of those charged nor the extent of the charges are necessarily final. He also said this is the first time officers have ever suspected extreme-right adherents of preparing a terrorist attack.

Wednesday’s raid, during which officers arrested a total of 24 people, concerned three separate criminal cases. The first one involved police arresting 12 people in Dobříš, Prague, Tábor and several other towns who are allegedly linked to the neo-Nazi organization White Justice. The ÚOOZ has determined that this organization is connected to National Resistance and aims to spread the ultra-right ideology through violence. Of the 12 people arrested, police charged 10 and released them on their own recognizance.

In the second case, officers arrested six people in Kladno and in Prague and subsequently charged two of them with allegedly distributing materials promoting National Resistance. As Romea.cz reported earlier, they are Patrik Vondrák, leader of the Workers’ Party in Prague, and Michaela Dupová, head of the neo-Nazi organization Resistance Women Unity (RWU).

The third case concerns six people who have allegedly participated in organizing 14 White Power concerts. They were also released on their own recognizance.

Burn victim from Vítkov sees her children today for first time since the attack
, 30.4.2009, 14:02, (ROMEA)

Anna Siváková (27), who suffered serious burns in the recent arson attack on the home of a Romani family in Vítkov na Opavsku, is making progress in her recovery such that she has been moved from the intensive care unit to a regular ward. Today she saw three of her children for the first time since the incident. The fourth, two-year-old Natálka, is still in a very serious condition.

"Today almost the entire family was able to be together for the first time. They took advantage of the nice weather and spent some time outside on the hospital grounds," Kumar Vishwanathan, who has been helping the Romani minority in Ostrava for several years, told ČTK. "It is important they are together. They are able to face up to everything better," Vishwanathan said after visiting the family.

A spokesperson for the Ostrava Teaching Hospital where the parents and little girl are in the care of doctors told ČTK today that her condition is still very serious. Doctors are keeping her in artificial sleep. The child suffered second and third-degree burns over 80 % of her body during the arson attack.

Arsonists attacked the home of the Roma family 10 days ago. They threw three Molotov cocktails into the house. Police are investigating the case as one of reckless endangerment and assault. They are also investigating whether there was a racial motive for the arson.

All three of the injured have been in the care of doctors at the Ostrava Teaching Hospital since the end of last week. The child's father was transferred there from the prison hospital in Prague to which the police had sent him soon after the fire, when it was discovered that he had avoided serving a prison sentence. Czech President Klaus then ordered his serving of the sentence be postponed. The Czech head of state will soon decide whether to grant him clemency.

In connection with the fire, police are searching for the dark-colored vehicle that allegedly drove around the house immediately after the arson attack. According to witnesses, the car's headlights were off and several people were sitting inside. Witnesses can give any other information about the vehicle or those in it by calling the police on 974 721 323. "It is now possible to confirm that detectives are currently checking up on several types of vehicles," North Moravian police spokesperson Soňa Štětínská told ČTK.

Neo-Nazis brutally stab 19-year-old male
Usti nad Labem, North Bohemia, 12.4.2009, 17:05, (ROMEA)

Police in Ústí are investigating a brutal attack by neo-Nazis that occurred last Sunday morning during which one of the movement's promoters stabbed a 19-year-old who was objecting to that promotion on Mezní street in the Severní Terasa neighborbood. The man was hospitalized with wounds to his chest and back, the newspaper MF DNES reports today.

Tension is rising in Ústí nad Labem in advance of the planned neo-Nazi demonstration there. According to MF Dnes, the attack may be related to exactly that event.

Witnesses to the incident told the paper that the neo-Nazis were giving the Nazi salute, and the youth whom they attacked allegedly shouted them down. Police have not yet found the assailants. "The injured party said he was attacked at a public transportation stop by promoters of the skinhead movement. Allegedly he first sparred with them verbally, after which one of them stabbed him with a knife in the chest and back. The aggrieved is said to be an opponent of the skinhead movement," Ústí police spokesperson Veronika Hyšplerová told MF DNES.

However, police officers have not yet interrogated the victim due to the state of his health.

The stab victim is still hospitalized in Masaryk Hospital in Ústí, where he was brought by ambulance on Sunday. "We admitted him with stab wounds, his condition is stabilized. However, we are not going to make a specific statement as to his injuries," Jiří Vondra, spokesperson for the Regional Health Authority, which administers the hospital, told MF DNES.

MF DNES attempted to contact the stab victim, but he refused to give an interview. Through his doctor he said that he fears for his life and wants to remain anonymous. Friends of the injured youth have given two versions of why the attack occurred.

In a similar case, the Prague High Court sent two other neo-Nazis, Lukáš Vorobel and Martin Vachta, behind bars one month ago

by Con Carroll Sat Oct 24, 2009 19:51

nice one to AFA
no long written analysis needed
in the words of ANTI FASCIST vetrans Bob Doyle. Mick o Riordan
No platform
Nopasaran
also to deputy Martin Ferris, nice one