Arne Myrdal
Encyclopedia
Arne Johannes Myrdal was a Norwegian
local politician and later anti-immigration activist. He had a varied working career, including as a low-ranking military officer and unsuccessful businessman. He was active in local politics for the Labour Party in the 1960s, until he broke out and founded the local Øyestad Free Labour Party (Øyestad frie Arbeiderparti). In 1981, he came in the public spotlight for having co-written a highly controversial local history book for Øyestad
.
Myrdal was one of the founders of the anti-immigration organisation Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring
(FMI) in 1987, and went on to become well known for his activism and violent clashes in the late 1980s to early 1990s, initially as the leader of the organisation. In 1990, he was convicted to one year in prison for allegedly having planned to bomb an asylum centre. He broke out of the FMI in 1991 to form his own more militant organisation, Norge mot innvandring (NMI). Myrdal retired from political activity in the mid-1990s due to failing health. He died in 2007 following long-term illness.
for the infantry. His working career varied between writing local history books about Øyestad
, working as an unskilled worker on the oil facilities Gullfaks B and C, Mongstad
and Rafnes. He also ran a business as a scrap dealer, worked in Televerket
, ran a car dealership in Arendal
and fared at sea.
In the 1960s, Myrdal was a local politician in Øyestad for the Labour Party. He however withdrew from the party as he could not enlist whoever he wanted to the party, and instead founded the Øyestad Free Labour Party (Øyestad frie Arbeiderparti) for the 1967 local elections
. His new party became represented in the municipal council, and Myrdal himself was a local councillor for eight years.
As Myrdal did not get municipal backing for writing a local history book for Øyestad in the late 1970s, he decided to write and self-publish one anyway. The book was published in 1981 and became a best-seller, but received widespread criticism because Myrdal had filled it with possibly libelous private content.
. Myrdal was convicted for four months imprisonment for the incident. When he held a meeting in Tønsberg
in June of the same year, he and other FMI members were chased away by Blitz movement
and SOS Rasisme
activists.
Myrdal was squeezed out of the FMI in April 1991 because of his violent activism. As Myrdal wanted "more action and less talk", he went on to form his own group Norge Mot Innvandring (Norway Against Immigration, NMI). He and his supporters went on to hold a meeting in Brumunddal
in August the same year, which resulted in street fights where hundreds of Blitz and other left-wing activists were chased away by his supporters and local youth. When he later returned to finish his speech, four thousand people stood and turned their backs on him as the result of a comprehensive government-funded program. When he held a speech in Youngstorget
in Oslo later the same year, ten thousand people turned their backs on him.
In June 1992, Myrdal stated in the newspaper Verdens Gang
that he had been in contacts with representatives for the Swedish White Aryan Resistance
. He said that it did not matter who he cooperated with as long as they were fighting for the same cause. In late 1992, Myrdal announced that he had created a "Traitor Register" which included 350 individuals. In November 1992, Myrdal was beaten up outside his home by three activists who said it was a "greeting" from SOS Rasisme.
. He brought this to Myrdal's home, and the next day the police stormed his house. Myrdal was later convicted to one year imprisonment for allegedly having planned to bomb the Hove asylum centre, which was still unfinished and in the building process.
The contacts with the police had been initiated by Klassekampen
journalist Finn Sjue, and Krømcke later confirmed in an interview with the same newspaper that he had joined the FMI with the single purpose of working against the organisation. Myrdal later claimed that it was Krømcke who had brought up the idea of taking action against the asylum centre, that the whole incident thus was a set-up, and that he himself in addition had been under the influence of alcohol the night they met.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
local politician and later anti-immigration activist. He had a varied working career, including as a low-ranking military officer and unsuccessful businessman. He was active in local politics for the Labour Party in the 1960s, until he broke out and founded the local Øyestad Free Labour Party (Øyestad frie Arbeiderparti). In 1981, he came in the public spotlight for having co-written a highly controversial local history book for Øyestad
Øyestad
Øyestad is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region...
.
Myrdal was one of the founders of the anti-immigration organisation Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring
Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring
Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring is a far-right organisation in Norway which campaigns against immigration. The organisation was founded in 1987, and was initially led by Arne Myrdal who was later squeezed out due to his violent activism...
(FMI) in 1987, and went on to become well known for his activism and violent clashes in the late 1980s to early 1990s, initially as the leader of the organisation. In 1990, he was convicted to one year in prison for allegedly having planned to bomb an asylum centre. He broke out of the FMI in 1991 to form his own more militant organisation, Norge mot innvandring (NMI). Myrdal retired from political activity in the mid-1990s due to failing health. He died in 2007 following long-term illness.
Early life
Myrdal was educated in trade school and Officer Candidate SchoolOfficer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
for the infantry. His working career varied between writing local history books about Øyestad
Øyestad
Øyestad is a former municipality in Aust-Agder county, Norway. It is located in the present-day municipality of Arendal in the Sørlandet region...
, working as an unskilled worker on the oil facilities Gullfaks B and C, Mongstad
Mongstad
Mongstad is an industrial site located in the municipalities of Lindås and Austrheim in Hordaland, Norway. The site features an oil refinery for Statoil and other oil companies, including Shell. At Mongstad, Statoil has a crude oil terminal with a capacity of . The port at Mongstad is the largest...
and Rafnes. He also ran a business as a scrap dealer, worked in Televerket
Telenor
Telenor Group is the incumbent telecommunications company in Norway, with headquarters located at Fornebu, close to Oslo. Today, Telenor Group is mostly an international wireless carrier with operations in Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and Asia, working predominantly under the Telenor brand...
, ran a car dealership in Arendal
Arendal
is a town and municipality in the county of Aust-Agder, Norway. Arendal belongs to the traditional region of Sørlandet.The town of Arendal is the administrative center the municipality and also of Aust-Agder county...
and fared at sea.
In the 1960s, Myrdal was a local politician in Øyestad for the Labour Party. He however withdrew from the party as he could not enlist whoever he wanted to the party, and instead founded the Øyestad Free Labour Party (Øyestad frie Arbeiderparti) for the 1967 local elections
Norwegian local elections, 1967
-Result of municipal elections:Results of the 1967 municipal elections....
. His new party became represented in the municipal council, and Myrdal himself was a local councillor for eight years.
As Myrdal did not get municipal backing for writing a local history book for Øyestad in the late 1970s, he decided to write and self-publish one anyway. The book was published in 1981 and became a best-seller, but received widespread criticism because Myrdal had filled it with possibly libelous private content.
Anti-immigration activism
In 1987, Myrdal co-founded and became the leader of Folkebevegelsen mot innvandring (People's Movement Against Immigration, FMI). In April 1990, he led the attacks against incoming demonstrators at the organisation's annual meeting in FevikFevik
Fevik is a village area in the municipality of Grimstad in Aust-Agder, Norway. The village has an area of and has a population of 5,394 people, most working in Arendal or central Grimstad. The village is located on the ocean coast about northeast of the city of Grimstad and about south of the...
. Myrdal was convicted for four months imprisonment for the incident. When he held a meeting in Tønsberg
Tønsberg
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, southern Norway, located around north-east of Sandefjord. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Tønsberg....
in June of the same year, he and other FMI members were chased away by Blitz movement
Blitz (movement)
Blitz is an anarchist, communist and socialist youth community in Oslo, Norway, founded in 1982. The group has often been criticized for their use of violent methods of political protest.- The house :...
and SOS Rasisme
SOS Rasisme
SOS Rasisme is a Norwegian activist organisation, whose stated goal is to reduce racism in society. It was founded in 1985, inspired by the French SOS Racisme...
activists.
Myrdal was squeezed out of the FMI in April 1991 because of his violent activism. As Myrdal wanted "more action and less talk", he went on to form his own group Norge Mot Innvandring (Norway Against Immigration, NMI). He and his supporters went on to hold a meeting in Brumunddal
Brumunddal
Brumunddal is the largest settlement in the Ringsaker municipality of Hedmark, Norway. It is a small, densely populated area surrounded by scenic countryside and farms on the eastern shore of Norway's largest lake: Mjøsa...
in August the same year, which resulted in street fights where hundreds of Blitz and other left-wing activists were chased away by his supporters and local youth. When he later returned to finish his speech, four thousand people stood and turned their backs on him as the result of a comprehensive government-funded program. When he held a speech in Youngstorget
Youngstorget
Youngstorget is a square and marketplace in Oslo, Norway.It is located on the street Torggata, between Storgata and Møllergata. The square was traditionally used as a market place for trade with agricultural produce. It is named for merchant Jørgen Young . It was named Nytorvet in 1852, which was...
in Oslo later the same year, ten thousand people turned their backs on him.
In June 1992, Myrdal stated in the newspaper Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang
Verdens Gang , generally known under the abbreviation VG, is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper...
that he had been in contacts with representatives for the Swedish White Aryan Resistance
White Aryan Resistance (Sweden)
White Aryan Resistance , also known as VAM, was a militant neo-nazi group active in Sweden between 1991 and 1993. The name of the group was derived from the US White supremacist organisation WAR however the point of the acronym is lost in the translation...
. He said that it did not matter who he cooperated with as long as they were fighting for the same cause. In late 1992, Myrdal announced that he had created a "Traitor Register" which included 350 individuals. In November 1992, Myrdal was beaten up outside his home by three activists who said it was a "greeting" from SOS Rasisme.
Alleged planned asylum centre bombing
At the end of 1988, undercover FMI member Tom Krømcke reached out to Myrdal with the possession of dynamiteDynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
. He brought this to Myrdal's home, and the next day the police stormed his house. Myrdal was later convicted to one year imprisonment for allegedly having planned to bomb the Hove asylum centre, which was still unfinished and in the building process.
The contacts with the police had been initiated by Klassekampen
Klassekampen
Klassekampen is a Norwegian daily newspaper, which styles itself as "the daily left-wing newspaper".Klassekampen was founded in 1969 with a Marxist-Leninist-Maoist platform. Until recently, it was owned by The Workers' Communist Party...
journalist Finn Sjue, and Krømcke later confirmed in an interview with the same newspaper that he had joined the FMI with the single purpose of working against the organisation. Myrdal later claimed that it was Krømcke who had brought up the idea of taking action against the asylum centre, that the whole incident thus was a set-up, and that he himself in addition had been under the influence of alcohol the night they met.