Jack van Tongeren
Encyclopedia
Jack van Tongeren (born 1947) has been described as a white supremacist and extreme right wing Australian activist by the media. He was the leader of the neo-Nazi Australian Nationalist Movement (ANM). He served 13 years 1 month and 6 days in prison from 1989-2002 for arson
, after firebombing businesses owned by Asians
in Western Australia
. He was tried in absentia
.
"Jack" is a nickname acquired during his university days. It was during his university days onwards that he began to question the accepted views on history, economics, science, etc. He served in Vietnam
as a corporal in a combat unit, B Company 2RAR/NZ (The ANZAC battalion) 1970-71.
based National Action
(NA) neo-Nazi group in the early 1980s. Jack quit NA and went off to form his own organisation, due to his conviction that NA were being soft on Jews
. He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate
in the 1984 election on an independent ticket, attaining 1,077 votes (0.13%).
In publicity material produced in the 1980s Van Tongeren described Adolf Hitler
as the "great one" and referred to himself as simply "leader". Throughout the 1980s the ANM scattered Western Australia with racist posters. The campaign of racial vilification
turned uglier when the group began firebombing Asian restaurants and carried out burglaries to finance their operations. During this period, ANM member David Locke was murdered by two associates after he was suspected as being a police informer.
, Prime Minister John Howard
, ASIO
head Dennis Richardson
"and all MPs who actively support Asianisation and multiracialism and the destruction of our Australian constitution and Aussie way of life". This tape, and police intelligence prompted protective details for the figures named and a wide ranging manhunt.
In August 2004, Van Tongeren was re-arrested and charged with plotting to commit four arson attacks and 19 counts of criminal damage.
On 20 February 2006, Van Tongeren, out on bail pending his trial, failed to report to Police and was believed to be at large and travelling with former ANM member Matthew Billing.
On 23 March, a letter was received by staff at ABC
Television Studios, purporting to be from Van Tongeren. It claimed that charges against him were a conspiracy created by the WA Government, and indicated that they would need to be dropped by Attorney-General Jim McGinty, in order for Van Tongeren to return from hiding.
On 4 April, Van Tongeren and his co-accused Matthew Billing were found and arrested in the Boddington
area south-east of Perth.
Both men once again faced the courts over the 2004 arson plots.
During a hearing on 2 November, Van Tongeren had collapsed, was taken to hospital, and later used a wheelchair
http://www.fightdemback.org/2006/11/03/jvt-pulls-a-hilali-2/.
Van Tongeren was released from jail on the condition that he leave Western Australia. He currently resides in the eastern states http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21473685-1243,00.html.
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
, after firebombing businesses owned by Asians
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He was tried in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
.
"Jack" is a nickname acquired during his university days. It was during his university days onwards that he began to question the accepted views on history, economics, science, etc. He served in Vietnam
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
as a corporal in a combat unit, B Company 2RAR/NZ (The ANZAC battalion) 1970-71.
1980s
Van Tongeren was initially a leading light in the SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
based National Action
National Action
National Action may refer to:* National Action , a defunct Australian Political Party* National Action , an emerging Maltese Pressure Group*National Action , a South African political party...
(NA) neo-Nazi group in the early 1980s. Jack quit NA and went off to form his own organisation, due to his conviction that NA were being soft on Jews
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
. He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
in the 1984 election on an independent ticket, attaining 1,077 votes (0.13%).
In publicity material produced in the 1980s Van Tongeren described Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
as the "great one" and referred to himself as simply "leader". Throughout the 1980s the ANM scattered Western Australia with racist posters. The campaign of racial vilification
Racial vilification
Racial vilification is the term in the legislation of Australia that refers to a public act that encourages or incites others to hate people because of their race, nationality, country of origin, colour or ethnic origin...
turned uglier when the group began firebombing Asian restaurants and carried out burglaries to finance their operations. During this period, ANM member David Locke was murdered by two associates after he was suspected as being a police informer.
2000s
In July 2004, Van Tongeren reportedly sent a videotaped message to media outlets, attacking people he believed supported multiracialism. These included Western Australia Attorney-General Jim McGintyJim McGinty
James Andrew McGinty is an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1990 to 2009, representing the district of Fremantle. He was Labor Party leader and Leader of the Opposition from 1994 to 1996...
, Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, ASIO
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
head Dennis Richardson
Dennis Richardson (politician)
Dennis Richardson is an American Republican politician from Central Point, Oregon who is serving in his third term in the Oregon House of Representatives...
"and all MPs who actively support Asianisation and multiracialism and the destruction of our Australian constitution and Aussie way of life". This tape, and police intelligence prompted protective details for the figures named and a wide ranging manhunt.
In August 2004, Van Tongeren was re-arrested and charged with plotting to commit four arson attacks and 19 counts of criminal damage.
On 20 February 2006, Van Tongeren, out on bail pending his trial, failed to report to Police and was believed to be at large and travelling with former ANM member Matthew Billing.
On 23 March, a letter was received by staff at ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Television Studios, purporting to be from Van Tongeren. It claimed that charges against him were a conspiracy created by the WA Government, and indicated that they would need to be dropped by Attorney-General Jim McGinty, in order for Van Tongeren to return from hiding.
On 4 April, Van Tongeren and his co-accused Matthew Billing were found and arrested in the Boddington
Boddington, Western Australia
Boddington is a town and shire in the Peel region of Western Australia, located south-east of Perth. The town sits on the road from Pinjarra to Williams on the Hotham River...
area south-east of Perth.
Both men once again faced the courts over the 2004 arson plots.
During a hearing on 2 November, Van Tongeren had collapsed, was taken to hospital, and later used a wheelchair
Wheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
http://www.fightdemback.org/2006/11/03/jvt-pulls-a-hilali-2/.
Van Tongeren was released from jail on the condition that he leave Western Australia. He currently resides in the eastern states http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21473685-1243,00.html.
External links
- "Threat to kill WA attorney". The Age, 31 July 2004
- "Supremacist leader in court". The Age, 7 August 2004
- "Anti-Asian campaigner Van Tongeren unrepentant upon release". abc.net.au, 20 September 2002
- The Van Tongeren Case 2004. Dr. Jim Saleam and others
- "Race-hate fanatic hiding out in sleepy town". news.com.au, 30 March 2007