Revolutionary Anti-Racist Action
Encyclopedia
Revolutionary Anti-Racist Action or Revolutionaire Anti-Racistische Actie, often abbreviated RaRa was a Dutch
terrorist group, although in the Netherlands the group was called a 'political violent activist'-group. The name "RaRa" is said to also mean "Guess who I am" in Dutch (from the Dutch word raden).
RaRa was active in the 1980s and 1990s within the Netherlands
, bombing sites to express opposition to the apartheid policies of South Africa
as well as to the Dutch asylum
legislation. Their bombings caused a lot of material damage, but no deaths resulted.
, a chain of wholesale traders. As a result Makro ended all economic activity in South Africa. RaRa targeted Forbo, a Dutch maker of floor coverings, and Forbo also withdrew from South Africa. RaRa also bombed various facilities of the Shell
oil company, because it expanded its business in South Africa. RaRa also set fire to the Amsterdam head office of the Royal Packing Industry Van Leer BV on 9 July 1986. The Dutch Interior Minister referred to RaRa as "terrorists" in connection with these arson attacks.
pulled out of South Africa because of arson attacks by RaRa. The Dutch government had refused to insure SHV stores against arson attacks. Damages caused by RaRa arson attacks from September 1985 to January 1987 were estimated at $75 million.
One of the members of RaRa was quoted as saying, in connection with the SHV pull-out, "According to the rules of TV democracy, those with the most access to the media win."
. He was convicted on four of seven charges, the most serious of which was arson, for his part in two 1986 attacks on Dutch wholesale traders, a January attack on a Dutch printer, and the sabotage of a Shell station in Nieuwegein
. He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. A higher court subsequently changed the verdict to a sentence of 18 months imprisonment because some evidence was illegally obtained as the judge during a search of seven properties had been temporarily absent. The others arrested at the same time as Roemersma were released for lack of evidence.
When Roemersma was sentenced, roughly 100 sympathizers protested outside the Amsterdam High Court, where they threw stones at the windows of the court.
, member of the Dutch government. In 1990 and 1991 RaRa also bombed the building of the Dutch Departments of Justice and of Internal Affairs. The Dutch intelligence service was surprised by the 1991 attacks.
After the 1991 attacks the RaRa claimed to "want to stop the asylum policy which abandons people, excludes them and dehumanizes them."
In 1993 RaRa bombed the building of the Department of Social Affairs.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
terrorist group, although in the Netherlands the group was called a 'political violent activist'-group. The name "RaRa" is said to also mean "Guess who I am" in Dutch (from the Dutch word raden).
RaRa was active in the 1980s and 1990s within the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, bombing sites to express opposition to the apartheid policies of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
as well as to the Dutch asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
legislation. Their bombings caused a lot of material damage, but no deaths resulted.
Makro and Van Leer attacks
In 1985 and 1986 RaRa bombed and destroyed divisions of MakroMakro
Makro is a Dutch chain of Warehouse clubs, also called cash and carries. The first one opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years more stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and...
, a chain of wholesale traders. As a result Makro ended all economic activity in South Africa. RaRa targeted Forbo, a Dutch maker of floor coverings, and Forbo also withdrew from South Africa. RaRa also bombed various facilities of the Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
oil company, because it expanded its business in South Africa. RaRa also set fire to the Amsterdam head office of the Royal Packing Industry Van Leer BV on 9 July 1986. The Dutch Interior Minister referred to RaRa as "terrorists" in connection with these arson attacks.
SHV attacks
In January 1987 Steenkolen Handels Vereniging (SHV)SHV Holdings
SHV Holdings is a privately owned Dutch trading company, regarded as one of the world's largest private trading groups. SHV have interests in transport, retail, oil and financial services, including part of the Makro cash-and-carry chain.-History:...
pulled out of South Africa because of arson attacks by RaRa. The Dutch government had refused to insure SHV stores against arson attacks. Damages caused by RaRa arson attacks from September 1985 to January 1987 were estimated at $75 million.
One of the members of RaRa was quoted as saying, in connection with the SHV pull-out, "According to the rules of TV democracy, those with the most access to the media win."
Arrests and conviction
On April 11, 1988 the police arrested 8 people they thought to be behind the RaRa bombings. Another person surrendered shortly thereafter, and a tenth suspect was arrested in May 1986. Only one of the suspects was prosecuted and tried, René RoemersmaRené Roemersma
René Roemersma is a Dutch activist and former member of the Dutch terror groep Revolutionary Anti-Racist Action . Roemersma is the only convicted RaRa activist.-RaRa attacks and trials:...
. He was convicted on four of seven charges, the most serious of which was arson, for his part in two 1986 attacks on Dutch wholesale traders, a January attack on a Dutch printer, and the sabotage of a Shell station in Nieuwegein
Nieuwegein
Nieuwegein is a municipality and city in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is bordered on the north by the city of Utrecht, the provincial capital...
. He was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment. A higher court subsequently changed the verdict to a sentence of 18 months imprisonment because some evidence was illegally obtained as the judge during a search of seven properties had been temporarily absent. The others arrested at the same time as Roemersma were released for lack of evidence.
When Roemersma was sentenced, roughly 100 sympathizers protested outside the Amsterdam High Court, where they threw stones at the windows of the court.
1990s attacks
On November 12, 1991, RaRa bombed the private house of Aad KostoAad Kosto
Arie Kosto is a former Dutch politician.-References:* Mr. A. Kosto at...
, member of the Dutch government. In 1990 and 1991 RaRa also bombed the building of the Dutch Departments of Justice and of Internal Affairs. The Dutch intelligence service was surprised by the 1991 attacks.
After the 1991 attacks the RaRa claimed to "want to stop the asylum policy which abandons people, excludes them and dehumanizes them."
In 1993 RaRa bombed the building of the Department of Social Affairs.
Further reading
- F. Hoekstra In dienst van de BVD. Spionage en contraspionage in Nederland, 2004. (ISBN 9085060230)
- Allan Antliff Only a Beginning: An Anarchist Anthology pp. 91, 92, 240; (Vancouver: Arsenal Pulp Press, 2004) (ISBN 151521679)