National Front expels 'haters'

The leader of the National Front, Sid Wilson, says he has had to expel many members, including a convicted mosque vandaliser, because of their extreme views.

Mr Wilson, who took over as leader in July, said he did not want criminals or "haters" in the group.

"I've been expelling people left, right and centre."

He was concerned about negative publicity surrounding two former National Front members, Jason Molloy and Ross Baumgarten, who were this week sentenced to a year's jail for the vandalism of six Muslim mosques and cultural centres around Auckland.

The pair smashed windows and sprayed "R I P London" on the Muslim places of worship after the London bombings in July.

Crown prosecutor Bruce Northwood said in court that the police view was that they were members of the National Front at the time of the offending.

But when questioned more closely by Judge Thomas Everitt, he conceded that the police did not believe the National Front was behind the attacks.

Mr Wilson said Molloy had resigned from the National Front in April and Baumgarten was expelled over a firearms incident in July before he was arrested for the mosque attacks.

He said he made it clear to the police the National Front had nothing to do with and did not support the behaviour of Molloy and Baumgarten.

"It hasn't been good for the National Front, they've dragged our name through the gutter again."

Mr Wilson said the term "sand niggers" as used by Molloy in a cellphone text message was offensive.

But he believed some material sourced on internet sites and alleged to be written by Molloy was fake or doctored. "It's a real problem for us. I get people posing as me."

In court Molloy's father, Paul Molloy, said he had proof some material attributed to his son was posted by an imposter.

Mr Molloy told the court a probation officer's report was so biased, inaccurate and upsetting that he felt compelled to speak out. He claimed the report had sourced unreliable internet material provided by an activist and threats of violence had been made against Molloy and his family.

Molloy's lawyer, David Hoskin, said his client disputed he was racist.

Mr Hoskin said Molloy had aspired to be pilot and the offending meant he might now have to put off his studies and face a future of flying cropdusters.

But Judge Everitt was not swayed by their views, referring to offensive comments made by Molloy about Muslims on his cellphone and to police officers.

The Herald has seen Molloy, who was the National Front webmaster, doing Nazi salutes and wearing a white power swastika T-shirt in a group shot of members behind a National Front banner.

On various websites and in online correspondence Molloy had bragged he was a key player in the National Front and talked about social and racial chaos and the shrinking numbers of New Zealand Europeans.

On one site he warned it was time to start preparing for a race war.

Obscenities and offensive remarks about Jews, Polynesians and homosexuals are attributed to him.

But in April Molloy announced he had resigned from the National Front as he was no longer willing to "lay his life on the line" for mediocre results.

Baumgarten's lawyer, Panama Le'au'anae, said his client had unfortunately got involved with the National Front despite his mother's efforts to stop him.

Mr Le'au'anae said Baumgarten's father had died of cancer and he had had a bit of a free rein.

Baumgarten regretted his foolish actions.


The front
* National Front's reputation is that of a fascist white supremacist group.
* It rejects the tags and calls itself patriotic and nationalistic.
* The National Front does not disclose how many members it has.
* In 2004 some members conducted a protest against Asian influence in Christchurch.
* It also led a protest in Wellington in support of retaining the national flag.
* Attacks on Jewish property have been linked with the group but it denies its involvement.