I have written before about the white supremacist groups here in Australia. I was trawling through the Internet last night and came across this rather handy guide about some of the numbers that may be significant in identifying this cohort of society that defies polite description and identification.
“Numbers used by some white nationalists in Australia
If you see any of these numbers in graffiti, tattoos, badges or clothing then it’s possible the person displaying the number is involved in white nationalism.
14 – This number stands for Fourteen Words which is a sentence well-known among people deeply involved in white nationalism: “We must secure the existence of our race and the future for white children.”
18 – The first and eighth letters of the alphabet are A and H, the initials of Adolph Hitler
28 – The second and eighth letters of the alphabet are B and H, which stands for Blood and Honour, a neo-Nazi group which is active in Australia
88 – Using the same coding as above, HH means Heil Hitler
Symbols used by some white nationalists in Australila
Some white nationalists use symbols to identify themselves as a person who believes in white power ideologies. Symbols used by Australians include the swastika, Odal Rune, SS, and the Celtic cross (sometimes with the words “White Pride World Wide”). These symbols may be worn as metal or cloth badges, tattoos, or simply tags on belongings or property.
Words used by some white nationalists in Australia
- NAM meaning National Anarchist Movement
- Volksfront
- Hammerskins
- Blood and Honour
- White Power
- ZOG meaning Zionist Occupation Government
- Aryan”And for those who aren’t aware of some of the work of these groups this brief summary from the same website as cited above will be useful.
“In April 2013, The Conversation reported that Golden Dawn, a Greek political party was targeting growth in Melbourne, with reports that the group has acquired some 200 members and 3000 followers in Melbourne and there are plans for Gold Dawn MPs to visit the city later this year. Golden Dawn, typically described as fascist or a neo-Nazi movement, is currently led by Nikolaos Michaloliakos, a Holocaust denier who has spent time in prison for attacking journalists and carrying illegal guns and explosives. Golden Dawn has been accused of sparking xenophobic violence by promoting anti-immigration policies, and its political symbol bears a striking resemblance to the swastika.
In March 2013, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported that neo-nazi skinheads were planning to stage their annual white power Hammered Music Festival at a secret location on the Gold Coast and city leaders are unable to stop them.
In March 2013, The Age reported that white supremacists were urging Australian “patriots” to gather at meetings with controversial Dutch MP ready for a no-holds-barred fight, while Muslim leaders were encouraging their community to ignore Mr Wilders visit and not to draw attention by protesting.
In December 2012, The Age reported that two young men were jailed for what the judge called a “deplorable, unprovoked, brutal” race-hate bashing of a young Vietnamese international student, leaving him with critical injuries. One of the men acknowledged he had recently joined the skinheads.
In October 2012, The Age reported that vandals had spray-painted the Victorian Parliament building with swastikas.”
And going back some years we had these headlines and news stories to deal with:
“The Attorney-General Jim McGinty was expected in Adelaide for a meeting with his interstate colleagues. But after he was told about the possible threat to his life, he decided to fly back to Perth. Police have also warned the President of the Ethnic Communities Council, Suresh Rajan. SURESH RAJAN: They came to see me to have a chat to me and indicated that given the profile that I’ve taken in regard to this issue that I was potentially a target. DAVID WEBER: Were you shocked by this information? SURESH RAJAN: Not unduly. Look, I think that when we first went to media on this issue, there was always every possibility that Jack was going to retaliate in some fashion.”
And these:
“Since 2001, there have been several incidents of far-right extremist violence in Australia. While none resulted in prosecutions under terrorism legislation, some could be considered terrorism as they constitute acts of politically-motivated violence.
For example, the only fatal terrorist attack in Australia this century was by a Christian anti-abortion extremist named Peter James Knight. On July 16 2001, he entered the Fertility Control Clinic in East Melbourne and murdered a security guard in an attempted massacre. His plan had been to shoot as many people as possible, set the clinic on fire and seal the doors shut. Fortunately he was wrestled to the ground, foiling the plot.
Another incident was an attempted campaign of organised violence by white supremacists in Perth. In 2004, Peter Joseph Van Tongeren conspired with John Van Blitterswyck, Matthew Peter Billing and others to firebomb four Chinese restaurants. Tongeren had led the Australian Nationalists Movement (ANM) in the 1980s, and the attacks were intended to coincide with the launch of his book, The ANM Story.
However, the planned fire bombings were preceded by a racist graffiti and postering campaign, for which five people were arrested. Some of those arrested told the police about the plot, leading to the arrest of Tongeren and the other conspirators. There were also reports of threats by the ANM to kill the then West Australian Attorney-General Jim McGinty, ASIO head Dennis Richardson and Prime Minister John Howard. The conspirators were later convicted over the planned firebombings and also for attempting to organise the bashing of a prosecution witness.
In February 2010, another white supremacist incident occurred. Two people who styled themselves as the Australian branch of Combat 18 (a UK neo-Nazi group) fired bullets at the Canning Mosque in Perth. It was later revealed that a West Australian police officer had tried to tip them off that they were under surveillance. The shooters and the police officer were all charged and convicted.
There are also other assorted incidents. In February 2004 three Asian restaurants in Perth were set on fire and spray painted with swastikas. In 2006 Victoria Police investigated claims that the White Pride Coalition of Australia had circulated an article that reportedly contained bomb-making instructions titled “How to Make a David Copeland Special” (in reference to a UK white supremacist who carried out bombings in London in 1999). Most recently, an 81-year old man was convicted for having spent three years posting bullets and bomb parts to Julia Gillard, Anna Bligh and other political figures, threatening to kill them and demanding that they expel foreigners and refuse entry to refugees.”
Whilst we, in the multicultural community have been the target of some of this vitriol, let us remember that the Aboriginal community leaders have sustained this type of attack on a regular basis. I am well aware of one of my close friends in the Aboriginal community receiving an envelope every month for a number of years. In that envelope were 6 unused bullets. There was no mistaking the intent and suggestion being made by the perpetrator.
Clearly these groups that perpetuate and broadcast this hate and anger have particularly ill intent. In recent years the groups have grown. United Patriots Front, Reclaim Australia, Blair Cotterel, Denis Huts and all their cronies represent a strata of society that have had their hate filled positions fuelled by the likes of Donald Trump, Sarah Palin in the US and Cory Bernardi, George Christensen and the Australian liberty Alliance (Marion Hercock, Anthony and Debbie Robinson, Kirralie Smith and Bernard Gaynor) here in Australia. And given that their positions have not been attacked by the Prime Minister and the hierarchy of governing parties, they have been given the oxygen that feeds that hate.
Until we see strong leadership from the people that matter they will continue to thrive and remain a threat to our peaceful, harmonious existence.
