Albert Raes
Encyclopedia
Albert Raes was a Belgian magistrate and head of the Belgian Security Services.
Raes finished his secondary school at the Sint-Lodewijks College in Bruges (retorics 1951) and continued at the University of Louvain. He graduated as a doctor in law. During his period as a student he was arrested while manifesting in favour of catholic schools.
In 1955 he organized a congress in Bruges on behalf of the Nouvelles Equipes Internationales, the group of Christian-democratic parties in Europe, predecessor of the European Christian-democratic party (EVP). He also organized a gathering of the European Young Christian Democrats. He completed his military service at the First Regiment of Horse Guards and ended as a reserve officer. Back in Bruges, he started working at the offices of the Officer of public prosecution.
Soon he was made a member of the cabinet of minister Albert De Gryse (PTT), as a private secretary. He continued as member of the cabinets of Arthur Gilson (Home Office), André Dequae (Finances), Pierre Wigny (Justice) and Paul-Willem Segers (Defense). In the meantime he was appointed as prosecutor at the courts in Courtrai and Bruges.
In 1975 he was appointed assistant administrator-general of the Belgian Security services, under Ludovic Caeymaex, who he succeeded in 1977. He remained in this capacity until 1990. The then minister of Justice Melchior Wathelet appointed him in June 1990 as director general for Legislation and Cult within the Ministry of Justice and he remained in this function until his retirement in 1997.
For a number of years there was a problem generated by extreme rightwing groups, such as Westland New Post
and Front de la Jeunesse
. Some of the infiltrations by members of the Security were put into question. A parlementary enquiry followed. Raes was pursued meanwhile by the baron Benoît de Bonvoisin
, accusing him of being a KGB
agent and having accused the baron as an agitaor of the extreme right. The different claims made by Bonvaoisin lead to noting. Parts of the press made suggestions of contacts between the Secret services and groups of extreme right, the Nijvel Gang
and the hypothetical Rose Ballets, without any proof.
With a judgment of November 10, 2009 Eric Van de Weghe and Christian Amory were condemned for having sold forged documents to de Bonvoisin, enabling him to claim that Raes was a KGB-agent. The judgment sais: 'It is without doubt that the falsified documents were transmitted by de Bovoisin to the Belgian police authorities with the aim of harming Albert Raes'. De Bonvoisin was up till now not concemned because health problems prevented him of appearing in court.
As for the extreme left, the Security Services and Albert Raes had to fight the Cellules Communistes Combattantes (CCC) of Pierre Carette
, and succeeded to eliminate them, after they had made several bomb attacks.
At the end of his career, Raes was confronted with disputes about the Belgian stay-behind network
.
'.
In 2000 he was made honorary consul of Morocco
for the Flemish region.
Biography
Raes is the son of Firmin Raes, executive at 'La Brugeoise' and chief of The Chamber of Rhetoric 'De Drie Santinnen'. He is married and has two daughters.Raes finished his secondary school at the Sint-Lodewijks College in Bruges (retorics 1951) and continued at the University of Louvain. He graduated as a doctor in law. During his period as a student he was arrested while manifesting in favour of catholic schools.
In 1955 he organized a congress in Bruges on behalf of the Nouvelles Equipes Internationales, the group of Christian-democratic parties in Europe, predecessor of the European Christian-democratic party (EVP). He also organized a gathering of the European Young Christian Democrats. He completed his military service at the First Regiment of Horse Guards and ended as a reserve officer. Back in Bruges, he started working at the offices of the Officer of public prosecution.
Soon he was made a member of the cabinet of minister Albert De Gryse (PTT), as a private secretary. He continued as member of the cabinets of Arthur Gilson (Home Office), André Dequae (Finances), Pierre Wigny (Justice) and Paul-Willem Segers (Defense). In the meantime he was appointed as prosecutor at the courts in Courtrai and Bruges.
In 1975 he was appointed assistant administrator-general of the Belgian Security services, under Ludovic Caeymaex, who he succeeded in 1977. He remained in this capacity until 1990. The then minister of Justice Melchior Wathelet appointed him in June 1990 as director general for Legislation and Cult within the Ministry of Justice and he remained in this function until his retirement in 1997.
Controverses
During the years 1970 and 1980 Security services encountered regularly controversy. Allegations of malfunctioning were made, but never substantiated.For a number of years there was a problem generated by extreme rightwing groups, such as Westland New Post
Westland New Post
Westland New Post was a Belgian extreme right-wing organization founded in March 1981 by Paul Latinus and members of the Front de la Jeunesse...
and Front de la Jeunesse
Front de la Jeunesse
There are several movements called Front de la Jeunesse:* Front de la Jeunesse, a disbanded militant movement in Belgium.* Front de la Jeunesse, the youth organization of the French Front National....
. Some of the infiltrations by members of the Security were put into question. A parlementary enquiry followed. Raes was pursued meanwhile by the baron Benoît de Bonvoisin
Benoit de Bonvoisin
-Biography:He is the grandson of Alexandre Galopin , former director and governor of the Société Générale de Belgique , and son of baron Pierre de Bonvoison -Biography:He is the grandson of Alexandre Galopin (1879-1944), former director and governor of the Société Générale de Belgique (the main...
, accusing him of being a KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
agent and having accused the baron as an agitaor of the extreme right. The different claims made by Bonvaoisin lead to noting. Parts of the press made suggestions of contacts between the Secret services and groups of extreme right, the Nijvel Gang
Nijvel gang
The Nijvel gang or the Brabant killers is a group or groups thought to be responsible for the "Brabant massacres", a series of violent attacks that occurred mostly in the province of Brabant in Belgium...
and the hypothetical Rose Ballets, without any proof.
With a judgment of November 10, 2009 Eric Van de Weghe and Christian Amory were condemned for having sold forged documents to de Bonvoisin, enabling him to claim that Raes was a KGB-agent. The judgment sais: 'It is without doubt that the falsified documents were transmitted by de Bovoisin to the Belgian police authorities with the aim of harming Albert Raes'. De Bonvoisin was up till now not concemned because health problems prevented him of appearing in court.
As for the extreme left, the Security Services and Albert Raes had to fight the Cellules Communistes Combattantes (CCC) of Pierre Carette
Pierre Carette
Pierre Carette was the leader of the Belgian extreme-left terrorist group Communist Combatant Cells or CCC. Although Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for terrorist attacks, he was released in 2003...
, and succeeded to eliminate them, after they had made several bomb attacks.
At the end of his career, Raes was confronted with disputes about the Belgian stay-behind network
Belgian stay-behind network
The Belgian stay-behind network, colloquially called "Gladio" was a secret mixed civilian and military unit, trained to form a resistance movement in the event of a Soviet invasion and part of a network of similar organizations in NATO-countries...
.
Honorary functions
Raes was a member of the board of the 'Carnegie Hero FundCarnegie Hero Fund
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, also known as Carnegie Hero Fund, was established to recognize persons who perform extraordinary acts of heroism in civilian life in the United States and Canada, and to provide financial assistance for those disabled and the dependents of those killed saving or...
'.
In 2000 he was made honorary consul of Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
for the Flemish region.
Literature and references
- Belgian senate, Parlementary commission on private militias, 1981
- Walter DE BOCK, e.a., Extreem-rechts en de Staat, EPO, Berchem, 1981
- René HAQUIN, Operatie Staatsveiligheid. De Staatsveiligheid en de WNP, EPO, Berchem, 1984
- Jean MOTTARD & René HAQUIN, Les Tueries du Brabant, Complexe, Brussels, 1990, ISBN 2870273517
- Chamber of Representatives, Parlementaire onderzoekscommissie Banditisme, 1990
- The Times, June 6, 1990
- Belgian Senate, Parlementary commission on Gladio, 1991
- Hugo GIJSELS, Netwerk Gladio, Kritak, Leuven, 1991
- Chamber of Representatives, Parlementaire onderzoekscommissie Bende van Nijvel, 1997
- Daniele GANSER, NATO's Secret Armies, Operation Gladio and Terrorism in Western Europe, London, Frank Cass, 2004.
- P. PONSAERS, M. COOLS, K. DASSEN, R. LIBERT, De Staatsveiligheid: essays over 175 jaar Veiligheid van de Staat, uitg. Politeia, 2005
- Guy BOUTEN, Tueries du Brabant. Le Dossier, Le Complot, Les Noms, Editions de l'arbre, 2009, ISBN 978-2-87462-027-0
External links
Upon French Wikipedia:- Nouvelles équipes internationales
- Front de la jeunesse (organisation belge)
- Affaire des ballets roses (Belgique)