- Dion: December 12, 2007: “As I stated on the [Bombshell] forum Andy, you are a liar, a hypocrite and no better than the trash that you fight against.”
A month ago Doug Smith, vocalist with local band Bulldog Spirit, declared on a local music forum that the boycott of a local pub, The Birmingham Hotel — called on the basis of its providing a venue for local neo-Nazis — had been a dismal failure. Further, he published what he claimed to be my work address. In response, I joined the forum, disputed his claim that the boycott was a failure, corrected his mistaken belief about my workplace, and further asked him what his motive was in publishing such information. For obvious reasons, Doug never answered my question, but a host of his friends subsequently engaged in a barrage of deranged abuse (‘Mark’ said “I promise you I will beat the fucking shit out of you and then make a black man take a shit in your face”; “im… going to bash you, fukn gooknigger scum” et cetera) — and otherwise demonstrated a remarkable capacity for thoughtful reflection on a serious matter.
Since then my account has been disabled.
Dion, who was one of those who disputed my argument regarding the utility of the boycott (and in fact declared that I was a piece of human garbage for promoting one), also declared that I didn’t know what I was talking about when I claimed that the neo-Nazi movement was on the rise in Russia.
The following article is therefore especially for Dion.
Hate Crimes on Rise in Russia
Bagila Bukharbayeva
January 30, 2008
MOSCOW (AP) — Hate crimes in Russia have grown increasingly brutal and deadly but authorities do little to combat xenophobia, one of the country’s leading rights groups said Tuesday.
Last year, 67 people were killed and more than 550 injured across Russia in ethnically motivated attacks, a 13 percent increase on the previous year, according to the annual report by Russia’s SOVA rights center, which monitors hate crimes.
“Neo-Nazis are out not to beat up (their victims), but to kill,” SOVA’s deputy director Galina Kozhevnikova said at a news conference. There is “an obvious steady rise in racially motivated violence” and the attacks are becoming more brutal, she added.
Nationalist and neo-Nazi groups mushroomed after the 1991 Soviet collapse as a dramatic economic decline spread social frustration, particularly among youth. Xenophobia has grown alongside a massive inflow of workers from impoverished ex-Soviet republics in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Students from Africa, visitors from Asian countries, Jews and Russian anti-Nazi activists have become frequent victims of attacks by Russian nationalists in recent years.
Rights activists say authorities have done little to combat xenophobia. Many apparent hate crimes are treated as simple hooliganism, which carries a far milder punishment. Some activists say the extreme nationalist sentiments are an outgrowth of the Kremlin’s attempts to rebuild a strong state.
Kozhevnikova said that in 2007, Russian courts delivered only 24 convictions related to hate crimes.
In one positive sign however, the report said in 2007 authorities prosecuted leaders of several regional nationalist organizations for spreading xenophobic materials.
Kozhevnikova said authorities turn a blind eye to the ultranationalists’ actions, including public marches, “as long as they abide by certain rules: do not criticize authorities, show loyalty and stick to city outskirts.”
While pro-democracy opposition groups are denied permission to hold rallies in Moscow, authorities allowed about 5,000 nationalists to march in the capital in November, raising their right hands in a Nazi salute and chanting “white power!”
“The most worrying trend is that pro-Kremlin organizations are beginning to actively use the methods of ultra-right groups,” Kozhevnikova said.
She said the best known pro-Kremlin youth group, Nashi, used ethnic and racist slogans, such as “We won’t let migrants rule (Russia),” in the run up to December parliamentary elections.
Nashi spokeswoman Kristina Potupchik denied that her organization uses racist slogans, saying in fact that part of Nashi’s agenda was to fight xenophobia.
The government did not immediately comment on the SOVA report. Maxim Karyakin, a duty officer for the Prosecutor General’s office, said the office had not seen the report though prosecutors were invited to the news conference.
In the past, President Vladimir Putin has publicly condemned the rise of hate crime, xenophobia and neo-Nazism and called on prosecutors to do more to fight extremism.
Locally, white supremacists belonging to the Australia First Party — most recently embroiled in controversy over the predilection of a Queensland leader’s expressed appreciation for being “pulled off by a very fit and athletic male who keeps himself in absolutely wonderful physical condition” — have had a party in Cronulla, site of the “White civil uprising” of December 2005 in which dozens of random strangers were attacked for not being White.
Anti-migrant party seeks support near Cronulla
Annabel Stafford
The Age
January 29, 2008
A political party that wants to end immigration and multiculturalism used the Australia Day long weekend in a bid to recruit new members in the Sydney suburbs surrounding Cronulla, site of the city’s 2005 race riots.
The anti-immigration Australia First party helped organise the event in the Sutherland Shire – which covers Cronulla Beach – on Saturday evening, according to spokesman Jim Saleam.
He said the event was used to try to attract supporters among young people who were still angry over what they saw as their mistreatment in the wake of the 2005 riots.
Australia First refers to the riots on Cronulla Beach – during which people of Middle Eastern appearance were verbally and physically attacked – as a “civil uprising” and likens it to the Eureka Stockade.
It wants to win a seat on the Sutherland Shire Council to fight the use of public funds to promote tolerance and multiculturalism – promotional activities that Dr Saleam calls “propaganda”.
It is also planning activities, including distributing leaflets, in the semi-rural area of Camden, where there has been community tension over plans to build an Islamic school.
The leaflets would warn that the planned school was the first step in “Islamifying Camden” and an attempt to “undermine Australian values”.
Dr Saleam described Saturday night’s party in the Sutherland Shire as “a happy, successful event”.
Thrash metal bands including the outfit Machete – which warmed up with its tune Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi at a pre-concert Australia First meeting on Saturday – played at the event, Dr Saleam said.
Invitations to the event were issued via text message, Dr Saleam said, in an apparent bid to keep police and the media away.
In 2005, text messages were used to call people down to Cronulla Beach to take part in the riot.
Although there were no incidents in Cronulla on Saturday, during a visit to the Sutherland Shire The Age was shown a separate text message purporting to come from anti-migrant sources that called for “fellow Australians . . . to protect the (Sutherland) shire” and “keep gods country wog free”.
The message – passed to The Age by a Sydney resident of Turkish background who did not wish to be identified – said no “wogs” should be allowed past the bridge that separates the Sutherland Shire from other Sydney suburbs.
Note that the band Machete is originally from Canberra, they formed in 2004 from ex-SoulCrusher members Sam (bass), Garth (gits) Darren (drums) and in 2005 they recruited Brendan (ex-Deviant Plan) on vox. Judging by the fact that they’re playing gigs for Australia First, they’re career hasn’t exactly been a screaming success, and it appears unlikely that the boys will be giving up their day jobs anytime soon…
And finally, speaking of neo-Nazis and muzak, there is, of course, an ongoing boycott of The Birmingham Hotel, the venue for a number of neo-Nazi gigs in Melbourne over the course of the last ten years, and — prior to 2007 — the regular venue for the annual Ian Stuart Donaldson memorial gig. Who was Ian Stuart? According to some foreign agitators:
1) …if ian stuart was around today… people like you wouldn’t be talking you would be all scared of him and his master race.
2) @ndy. Your use value is connected to the late great Ian Stuart because people like you fail to see the greatness of people like Ian Stuart. If more people had listened to his voice whilst he was still alive, maybe England wouldn’t be the multi racial shithole that it has become. People with opinions like yours ruin countries. White Pride Worldwide.
3) hail ian stuart heroes never die 14/88
4) Ian and skrewdriver were … people who care about the white race you shitheads seig heil
5) THE MOST INFLUEN[T]IAL MAN OF THE WHITE RACE DIED AND YOU SLAG HIM AND THE FAR RIGHT OFF. “BONEHEAD” EXCUSE ME BUT WHEN CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT I WILL NOT BE FIGHTING FOR YOU. WHITE PRIDE WORLD WIDE[!!!!] HEIL!!!!
6) i say fuck all of you white nigger lover losers niggers should be all sent back to africa niggers wont work niggers and spics and all non white races will be the downfall to this country so if your a nigger lover or a nigger fuck you and burn in hell
Well OK, strictly speaking 6) isn’t about Ian, but I think it’s kinda indicative of the kinda people who are his fans, as well as the kinda people Gary (The Birmy’s proprietor) happily allowed use of his venue for the last 10 years or so. And, of course, also illustrative of the reasons why his business should not be supported. Speaking of which, on Saturday February 9, The Beefeaters, Bulldog Spirit, Napalm Hearts and The Worst are playing @ The Birmy. On Saturday February 2, The Beefeaters will be playing @ The Tote with Mister Coffee, Wazska, Chris Royal & The Dukes, The Resignators, Final Warning and Tabasco Junkies: Final Warning and The Resignators support the boycott; The Beefeaters, unfortunately, do not.
why do you compare russia to australia?
Because Australian neo-Nazis often speak approvingly of the situation in Russia and express a desire to replicate same in Australia?
Thanks for the Specials clip @ndy, I haven’t heard that one before. It puts the song by They Might Be Giants into context as well. I don’t go far into the British ska, preferring Dekker and Max Romeo etc, but this may have rekindled my interest. Brilliant.
No worries PF. (It was by The Special AKA too — a slightly different version of The Specials.) Great song eh? You can find another, live version by The Selecter on YouTube here.
Sorry if this is Off Topic but…
I’ve got enough Madness to kill a horse, and a fair bit of The Selecter. What other 2-Tone can you suggest? I prefer some depth in the lyrics; Madness shits me for that reason (I only play it when my friends request it), so what 2-Tone bands (not necessarily on that label) can you recommend?
him can’t chocks it on I-man
PF
“Because Australian neo-Nazis often speak approvingly of the situation in Russia and express a desire to replicate same in Australia?”
There has never been a recorded incident of racial-hate violence in Australia relating to neo-nazism.
Besides the firebombings and the murders and the assaults… Heavens no. Tony, you are commenting on a post about the Birmy boycott. The Birmy being the pub that was boycotted after neo-Nazis going to a gig there attacked a woman based on the colour of her skin.
“There has never been a recorded incident of racial-hate violence in Australia relating to neo-nazism.”
tony you’re either high, deliberately lying or an uninformed tool who did no research (but still sees fit to make blanket statements)… hell let’s go for an easy one. dr jim saleam’s imprisonment for ordering some little neo-nazi fucksticks to fire a shotgun at the home of an ANC rep in australia
Jim Saleam was not the result of organised crime: neo-nazism. The threats made on the part of Saleam were made at his own will.
I think we’ve passed through the looking glass here peoples.
“Jim Saleam was not the result of organised crime: neo-nazism. The threats made on the part of Saleam were made at his own will.”
really … well i must be the one that is fucking retarded then tony … cause i didn’t realize that you needed a second person to be a nazi or to do things for nazism … also didn’t realize that being in the australian national socialist party wasn’t a good indicator of being a nazi or that a leader of National Action (nazi group) and enlisting the help of 2 other members (for like $8 or something paltry like that if memory serves) to go on an armed attack wasn’t the “result of organised crime: neo-nazism” … apart from it being quite clearly nazism … if you wanted to bring organized crime into it as you alluded to giving the 2 boneheads money for a drink each before and after the attack is hiring people to commit a violent act … if that ain’t getting close to organized crime (you know having an organized group that commits violence) then wtf is … @ndy i’ve had enough of this prick already if you have one of those old file photos of old jimmy in nazi uniform just chuck it up would you?
Adam, whatever you hear from the media is complete utter non-sense. Salaem is a family man, he would never put himself at risk. Those bone heads framed Salaem.
Lovely to see you know what’s going on Andy. The Beefeaters don’t support the Birmy Boycott for a fair few reasons, all of which you’ve failed to mention.
How about the fact that The Birmy’s possibly the only pub on Smith St that welcomes Aboriginals [sic] (and people of any other nationality for that matter)? Or that it’s the only venue in Melbourne that truly supports local bands, offering free practice space and refusing to take any percentage of the door charge from gigs? I guess all this criticism’s fair enough considering they don’t lie about who uses their facilities as appose [sic] to so many other venues in Melbourne who do …
You didn’t happen to make it to The Tote on the 2nd did you? Gospel of Horns (a nazi band as I’m sure you know) had a nice big listing on the upcoming shows board which I’m sure your supporters (Final Warning and The Resignators) must of walked past quite a few times. Funny that, isn’t it?
As great as the name Slack Bastard is maybe you should consider changing it to Misinformed Twat. I’m off to play a set of Jamaican and Two-Tone ska there right now, I’m sure I’ll speak to you soon when you find some other way to twist truths into bullshit.
Evening Reverend.
My “failure” to mention the reasons The Beefeaters fail to support the boycott is possibly related to the fact that to this point The Beefeaters have failed to provide any.
It that so? Dunno. The handful of local Kooris I’ve spoken to about it support the boycott. Maybe some Kooris support it and some don’t? But if you’re claiming that no other pub on Smith Street serves Kooris, that means it’s popular by default. And Gary has already made it quite clear that he doesn’t give a shit who he takes money from. That’s a problem when it extends to violent neo-Nazi gangs such as Blood & Honour and the Hammerskins. And to remind you Reverend:
Further:
I doubt local Kooris support that kind of behaviour or the kind of pub proprietor who encourages it, but apparently you’re some kind of expert on the matter, so who knows?
Regarding venues supporting bands, again, I dunno, I’m not in the habit of booking gigs at pubs, or arranging for practice space. But I’ve been involved in arranging a few at The Arty, and the standard arrangement has been they keep the bar money and organisers get the door money. But you do have a point: it’s in the narrow self-interest of bands to continue to support The Birmy as opposed to supporting the boycott. What the boycott requests is that, instead of putting their own interests first, bands, promoters and punters place the interest of local communities in not having neo-Nazi scum at their venues (that is, public houses) first — especially in areas such as Collingwood and Fitzroy. In this sense, the situation is not dissimilar to an industrial picket. That is, it’s acknowledged that workers, as individuals, lose money by going on strike and not working, and that when a scab crosses a picket line, they do so in their own interest. But the point is that workers — and members of other ‘communities’ or (collectivities) — also have collective interests, and that pursuing them requires collective action. As it stands, the only penalty attached to scabbing on the community boycott of The Birmy is a certain stigma. If you’re happy to live with that, that’s your decision.
Finally, as for lying, it’s a matter of record that Gary lied about the ISD memorial. On the other hand, if you think others are lying, please feel free to provide details. Again, you seem to be the expert.
If it is, you’ve got a crap sense of humour. And I’ve no idea if Final Warning and The Resignators are or were aware of the fact that GotH have an upcoming gig at The Tote. I certainly wasn’t aware of it, but thanks for the heads-up. Last time they played The Tote, management was contacted about the issue and an assurance was given that GotH were absolutely not a neo-Nazi band. Personally, I have my doubts, as do you, obviously. Therefore, if you’re aware of any further evidence regarding the band’s political allegiances, please feel free to divulge it.
You haven’t disputed one single fact I’ve presented Reverend. As a Holy Man, I expect better. If you appreciate irony, please feel free to play the following, and dedicate it to Joel:
Which we [were] asked for when?
You only need to walk into The Pub to see the diversity of the patrons and as I already said before no money is made from the “free function room”.
As have I and that simply isn’t the case.
Yet you and Fightdemback still list them as being one?
Anyway, I can waste my time in much better ways than this so I’ll leave you to it, even a holy man knows that some dickheads are too ignorant to ever learn. I’m sure you need some time to figure out whom else you can print misinformed ideas about now that The Birmy is closing up anyway. Good luck to you.
Evening Reverend.
1)
It’s an elementary point of logic.
You wrote:
“The Beefeaters don’t support the Birmy Boycott for a fair few reasons, all of which you’ve failed to mention.”
I can’t have failed to mention the reasons The Beefeaters don’t support the boycott when they’ve never been provided.
Capiche?
Now you complain that I never asked your reasons for not supporting the boycott. By the same token, you never asked me my reasons for advocating precisely the opposite. Instead, I’ve merely written about the issue extensively, without waiting for either your permission or acknowledgment. On the other hand, as far as I’m aware, The Beefeaters have said nothing. (By the way, are you honestly claiming that you only became aware of the existence of the boycott on February 9, 2008?)
2)
With regards the ‘diversity of patrons’ who use the pub. As far as I’m aware, the pub has few patrons. Secondly, the Kooris I’ve spoken to about the issue support the boycott. None, to the best of my knowledge, after having been informed of the nature of the groups Gary has allowed use of his pub, as well as the assault on a black woman on the night on of the ISD gig in September 2006, have expressed anything other than disgust.
3)
Regarding money-making: yes, the function room is free. On that basis, Gary makes no money from its use, whether by neo-Nazis or The Beefeaters. On the other hand, as you may already be aware, the pub also sells alcohol. You may be naive, but you don’t strike me as being stupid, but to be on the safe side, I’ll spell it out for you: Gary makes money from the sale of alcohol. Gigs at the pub are intended to draw a crowd.
Capiche?
4)
Inre The Arty, fair enough. I’ve only ever organised benefits, and a number of those haven’t been at licensed venues anyway. That said, no offence, but I’ll have to ask around among the people I know who do book gigs whether or not The Birmy is the only pub in Melbourne that doesn’t take a percentage of the door before I believe it to be the case…
5)
“Yet you and Fightdemback still list them as being one?” We do? Maybe. Where?
6)
The Birmy is closing?
Huh.
I’m sure there must be a lesson in that somewhere.
PS.
“I wanna kill this Adam cunt”? “Fucking idiot”?
Honestly. How old did you say you were?
For the last 16 years, The Arthouse has always been 100% door to bands/promoter.
The only exception is the ‘under 18’s’ show because of the unfortunate high costs of holding them [legally required security/extra staff etc] vs the 5 soft drinks that are sold on the day.
Most bands that play at The Arthouse would confirm the door policy as just common knowledge.
Thanks for the confirmation powerfulsoup. I suspected as much, but middle class youth can be so insistent sometimes, I think it’s probably better to simply allow them however much rope they require before they hang themselves.
As I’ll say again: Andy, you have yet to prove the existence of “Nazis” in Australia.
Literally speaking, it’s quite possible that there are no Nazis in Australia. Those that the Australian Government allowed into the country following WWII are now most likely all dead; so too, the majority of other members of the puppet regimes that occupied those parts of Europe under Nazi control. But for what it’s worth, at one point, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre identified 485 Nazi war criminals who settled in Australia following WWII.
Regarding the first group, an article in The Sydney Morning Herald in August, 1999 uncovered documents showing that scientists and technicians were brought from Germany to Australia as part of a scheme to bring in highly trained technicians. The Employment of Scientific and Technical Aliens Scheme (ESTEA) operated between 1946 and 1951, bringing in 127 German scientists of whom almost one-third were affiliated with either the Nazi Party or other Nazi groups. In addition some of the remainder had worked for the Nazis in military research or for I G Farben, the notorious chemical firm that used concentration camp inmates as workers.
Of the second group, in addition to individuals such as Konrad Kalejs and Srecko Rover, perhaps the most prominent example is the Ustasha, and the most prominent puppet Lyenko Urbanchich (1923–2006), a key member of the NSW Liberals, mentor to David Clarke (a Tory member of the NSW Parliament). Clarke, in turn, has played a key role in shaping the career of Alex Hawke, the recently-elected member of Federal Parliament for the seat of Mitchell in NSW.
One of the leading experts on the matter of Nazis in Australia is Mark Aarons. In an interview with the AJN, it is written:
With regards neo-Nazis — that is, those who are not members of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) but who follow in its ideological footsteps — there are a small number in Australia, some of whom are happy to accept the label, many of whom aren’t. Of the former category, Carl D. Thompson (‘Wodensvolk’) is a prominent example; of the latter, a quick perusal of SFDU will reveal scores if not hundreds. Many of those who assembled at The Birmy for the gigs organised by B&H and the SCHS — two international neo-Nazi networks — would also belong in this category.
Generally speaking, those attracted to ‘white nationalism’ have a stunningly poor grasp of political philosophy, and wouldn’t know their arse from a hole in the ground. In my opinion, you’re among one of the stupidest.
And that really is saying something.
You’re suppose to be an educated man, yet you present yourself with that jumble?
Jeeze…
Generally speaking, those attracted to ‘white nationalism’ have a stunningly poor grasp of political philosophy, and wouldn’t know their arse from a hole in the ground. In my opinion, you’re among one of the stupidest.
And that really is saying something.