Welcome to the new edition of evil:austria!

The most important incident in Austrian home politics this month - but which will have consequences beyond Austria - certainly was the meeting of European extreme right persons organized by FPOe politicians, and a few things more....

Once again, for newcomers, an explanation what this newsletter is about and why we produce it:

evil:austria is our monthly newsletter providing information about the situation in Austria (and regarding the consequences of FPOe/OeVP government). We decided to produce this newsletter since we realized that knowledge regarding the actual situation in Austria is not very widespread abroad. The government, after discussions about EU-"sanctions" against Austria were dropped, succeeded in removing the daily insanity from the attention of the international public. Meanwhile "sanctions" have been lifted, which almost all political groups here celebrated as a victory, and the "interest" taken in the development in Austria has decreased even more. The "normalisation" of the right-wing/right-extreme government continues, and therefore information about the aggravation of the situation in Austria is even more important. It is therefore highly desired that you spread this newsletter as widely as possible, so that as many people as possible get to know about the situation in Austria. So please spread, spread, spread this. Of course you may also use this material (also in excerpts) for magazines and papers, but we would be glad if you sent us a short mail in this case.

Any criticism and comments please send to (if possible, please write in German and English):

raw@raw.at

Have fun!

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[1] nazi country:austria
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[2] The rightwing extreme came to Austria
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[3] New alliances in Carinthia
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[4] Cemetery descrated by 'unpolitical' Nazis
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[5] No consequences for SS motto
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[6] New law endangers journalistic freedom
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[7] Asylum rights tightened further
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[8] Deportation after acquittal
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[9] Charles Ofoedu to be deported
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[10] Homophobia, increased
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[11] Haider contributing to Austrian football
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[12] Haider wants to become Chancellor
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[13] The definite end of the informers' affair
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[1] nazi country:austria
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A study done by Innsbruck University questioned 2,000 Austrians aged between 15 and 75 about xenophobia and authoritarianism. According to this study, 22% of Austrians display a high degree of xenophobia and another 26% a very high degree of xenophobia.

Looking for the causes (e.g. for authoritarianism, rightwing extremism, nationalism...), this study for the first time applied the 'California-F'- scale (Adorno) and other scales on authoritarianism. According to the results,approximately 25% of Austrians are very much authoritarian with another approx.30% being moderately authoritarian. - The core of authoritarianism isauthoritarian submission (doing what you're told to do), authoritarianaggression (kicking those below oneself) and conventionalism: all this belongs to the canon of rules in Austria.)

Regarding the antisemitism scales, about one third (35%) was rated 'moderately', 14% were rated as highly, and another 6% as very highly anti- semitic. Regarding the rightwing extremism scale (e.g. "Hitler's mistake was the 2nd World War, but apart from that, National Socialists were sensible people"), 17% proved 'moderate' scores (neutral, undecided), while 6%showed high scores and 3% very high scores. This means we've got 10% extreme right persons with a recruiting potential of 17%-plus.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[2] The rightwing extreme came to Austria
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On occasion of the fourth anniversary of the extreme right weekly paper 'Zur Zeit' [At These Times], its editors Andreas Moelzer -cultural speaker of Joerg Haider in Carinthia- and John Gudenus -an MP for FPOe- gathered an 'illustrous' crowd for an event titled "The European right and the media" at the beginning of November. Promiment extreme rightists from all over Europe came to share annoyment over Political Correctness which endangers them everywhere, and to plan future common European strategies. The most promiment participants were:

* Heinrich Lummer, former Senator of the Interior in Berlin, since long belonging to the far right within the Christian Democratic Party, who is also honorary president of the extreme right gathering "The Conservatives" founded by Joachim Siegerists [translator's note: the name is Siegerist - J.S. tried to get established in the Lithuanian political scene and took part in elections there during the 90ies, so for a time he adjusted his German family name to a sort-of Lithuanian 'Sigerists'. He got extradited from Lithuania.]

* Bruno Megret, called the 'hope of the French Right', chairman of the Mouvement National Republicain (MNR), a group that split from Le Pen's Front National

* Filip Dewinter, chairman of the Belgian Vlaams Blok [Flemish Bloc]

* Istvan Csurka, leader of the Ungarian Party of Justice and Life (MIEP)

* Heli Susi from Estnian Fatherland Party

* Alfred Mechtersheimer, a 'National Pacifist', who according to German secret service 'Verfassungsschutz' is one of "the most important protagonistsof extreme right efforts".

* From FPOe, lawyer Ewald Stadler and Lower Austrian chairwoman Barbara Rosenkranz - wife of the editor of the extreme right magazine "fakten" [facts] made an appearance.

Points of discussion were e.g. the foundation of a common list for the next elections to the European Parliament under participation of Alleanza Nazionale, Lega North, and Front National. Filip Dewinter as well as Bruno Megret were very interested in such a project. Andreas Moelzer also wants to establish contacts to 'according groups in Scandinavia'.

The choice of some of the security personnel for the event was pretty tell- tale. Among them was e.g. Gerd Endres, former vice chairman of extreme right VAPO which was banned in the early 90ies under the law prohibiting to take up national-socialist activities.

(source: http://www.doew.at)

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[3] New alliances in Carinthia
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In the federal state of Carinthia, local SPOe under their chairperson Peter Ambrozy decided to cooperate with FPOe. This happened after the crash of the former OeVP-FPOe alliance in this state. On a national level, this did not raise much attention - after all, Strutz (FPOe chairman for Carinthia) and Ambrozy mean to restrict their cooperation to issues. Furthermore, Strutz says it was all democratic; and Ambrozy plans to co- design the "straightforward positive path for Carinthia". Thus, FPOe sneaks their way to the view of being a democratic political party which alleges to be in the political middle, while at the same time taking part in extreme right meetings - which for FPOe and many Austrians indeed is a democratic practice.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[4] Cemetery descrated by 'unpolitical' Nazis
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Already at the end of September, 28 Muslim graves on the cemetary of the town of Linz were desecrated. It was evident that the reason must not be what it shouldn't be: A political background was quickly ruled out, and instead an 'inner-Islamic conflict' was promoted as the cause. Three weeks later, the culprit was caught: a 17-year-old Nazi bonehead who said he committed this because of a "general hate against foreigners". Police in Linz, however, still do not see a political background.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[5] No consequences for SS motto
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There will be no consequences for the persons who, during a parade in Carinthia commemorating the 80th anniversary of the public decision to stay within the federal state of Austria, carried a picket with the former SS motto: "My honour is loyalty". Legal procedures against the two elder 'gentlemen' have been dropped since the two allegedly did not know that this was indeed the motto used by SS. Only shortly prior to this, Lower Austrian FPOe chairperson Ernest Windholz greeted his party comrades with this motto, of course also not knowing its origin.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[6] New law endangers journalistic freedom
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The plan of a new law has caused some commotion: up to one year in prison for persons who publish secret documents, thus endangering "public security, defence of the country, foreign relations or the economic interests of the country". The law explicitely says that "the occurence of a damage is not a prerequisite", therefore a conviction can happen without any evidence of a damage resulting from the publication. The law will apply mostly to journalists, as it renders research of state scandals illegal. But as Minister of inJustice Boehmdorfer said, we don't need investigative journalism in Austria.....

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[7] Asylum rights tightened further
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A further tightening of asylum rights is planned by Austrian Home Sec Strasser (OeVP). It will not be possible in future to ask for asylum from abroad (up to now, this is possible in Austrian embassies). Applications also will be decided upon within 48 hours, with a 72 hours' maximum. This will get rid of the right to a fair process, as a proper legal representation of the cause of asylum seekers will not be possible within this time - but this isn't in the best interest of the lawmakers anyway.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[8] Deportation after acquittal
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During the Operation Spring (a racist motivated drug raid), Anthony Onyeij was arrested for being a drug dealer in summer 2000, but was one of the few persons who was acquitted. After his acquittal, Anthony was not able to claim damages for his time in prison, but was immediately placed in detention for deportation, with an attempt of deportation made soon. As he successfully complained against deportation, this brought him right back into detention awaiting trial. Reason: resistance against state powers. The trial against him is not completed as of yet. After six months in detention awaiting trial, he once again was placed in detention for deportation, and by an illegal ban on visitors and using a public holiday to make legal actions against his deportation impossible, he was deported on October 27, 2001. As of now, there is no possibility to get into contact with Anthony in Nigeria.

(source: http://www.united.action.at)

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[9] Charles Ofoedu to be deported
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On November 11, writer and humyn rights activist Charles Ofoedu was placed in detention for deportation. After the death of Marcus Omofuma during deportation, Charles was arrested during the Operation Spring (in summer 2000) and authorities styled him as a drug boss (Charles described the occurences in connection with his arrest in his book "Dawn"). The only conviction possible was for money laundering on highly dubious 'evidence'. Basing on this sentence, police issued a 10 year ban re residence in Austria which presently is pending with Austrian Supreme Court. Despite of a decision not having been taken, Charles has been taken into detention for deportation, apperently in order to create facts before the Supreme Court's decision. Because of massive protest immediately after his arrest, Charles was set free again three days later and has been given a deadline until December 1st.

(source: http://www.no-racism.net)

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[10] Homophobia, increased
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Infamous paragraph 209 makes gay sexual relations to persons under the age of 18 illegal. A 36-year-old man was sentenced to several months on probation and one month in prison for maintaining a relationship to a man aged 17. A Vienna court appealed and increased the sentence to five months in prison, due to the "increased tort of this crime".

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[11] Haider contributing to Austrian football
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Former FPOe head and Carinthian Prime Minister Joerg Haider some time ago also became president of the football team FC Carinthia. As things go, his favourite team lost again, but Herr Haider knew whom to blame for this: It's the referee, of course. Haider called it a "definite dirty trick" since 3 goals scored by his team were ruled offside and disallowed [translator's note: one offside goal is bad luck, three of them may be taken as an indication for stupidity;) ]. So far, this may be seen as nothing unusual, but of course Haider has his means and ways: he announced that he will ask Vice Chancellor and 'I-do-everything-Joerg-tells-me' Susanne Riess-Passer to "check these louts of referees who apparently are corrupt, just because Austria [ed.note: a competiting team] think they must win every time."

Take due note: don't get in this man's way - in no way!

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[12] Haider wants to become Chancellor
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In an interview with news magazine "Profil", Joerg Haider made clear what he expects from coalition partner OeVP after the next elections: their consent to have an FPOe member as Austrian chancellor. Also if FPOe scores less votes than OeVP. He does not quite see himself as a candidate for this job, as there was Vice-Chancellor Susanne Ries-Passer, he rather views himself as a 'substitute player'. Right, then we'll see when the substitution will be realized.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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[13] The definite end of the informers' affair
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After the informers' affair having been prolonged and investigations against several high-ranking FPOe members have been cancelled meanwhile (see earlier reports), Josef Kleindienst, the person who started the affair and became main witness, had a chance to an hearing with a judge. Since this step was taken one year late, the former member of FPOe police trade union did not want to repeat in front of a judge who gave him the orders and whether he got paid, in order not to give evidence against himself. The person revealing the scandal and several more police officers are still accused of minor offences. Whether there will be a trial after all is not certain as of yet.

(source: http://derstandard.at)

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EPILOGUE
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NO PEACE WITH AUSTRIA!!!