Story syndicated in The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Adelaide Advertiser, Courier Mail, The Australian and the general AAP newswire at News.com.au:

Probe into anti-racist ‘hit list’

By Tim Clarke
June 09, 2005
From: AAP

POLICE in Perth are investigating claims a known associate of the white-supremacist Australian Nationalist Movement (ANM) is planning to set up an online ‘hit list’ of anti-racist campaigners in Australia.

Western Australia Police was today passed details of the Redwatch Downunder project, which anti-racism campaigners Fight Dem Back claim was being established by a former supporter of the ANM.

A spokesman confirmed the State Security Unit would examining claims that emails were being used to draft support for the online intelligence network based on a similar Redwatch website in the UK.

“We have been sent the details, and have passed them onto the State Security Unit, who will be looking into them,” the spokesman said.

“We would have been aware of the group’s activities, and forensic officers keep an eye on any activity surrounding the ANM.”

Mat Henderson-Hau, from Fight Dem Back, said the group had evidence dozens of emails had been sent to white supremacists around Australia and New Zealand seeking information.

“They say they want information on ‘anarchists, reds, homos and multiculturalists’, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and vehicle registrations,” Mr Henderson-Hau said.

“The purpose of this website is to threaten, intimidate and facilitate physical assaults against people who stand up against white supremacists in our community. As far as we are concerned, this is a terrorist threat.”

Earlier this year, the British Home Office launched an investigation into the Redwatch website, which publishes home addresses and telephone numbers of anti-racism campaigners, politicians and journalists.

Police raided webmaster Simon Sheppard’s home early last month, seizing computers and books under legislation that outlaws incitement to racial hatred.

The site, which is still active, publishes individuals’ information under the slogan: “Remember places, traitors’ faces, they all pay for their crimes.”

In Perth, several members and associates of the ANM have this year been convicted for race-hate graffiti attacks on a synagogue and other buildings around the city.

The men admitted to spray-painting swastikas, racist slurs and anti-semitic messages, such as “Hitler was right” and “Asians Out” on buildings, fences and bus shelters, and to plastering several locations with posters promoting the ANM.

ANM leader Jack van Tongeren and his deputy, John van Blitterswyk, are awaiting trial after denying they ordered the graffiti attacks, and that they were plotting to reprise a racist firebombing campaign against Perth’s Asian community.