Neo-Nazis deny charge of racist arson plot

PERTH - White supremacist leader Jack Van Tongeren and two of his deputies in the neo-nazi Australian Nationalist Movement (ANM) today denied they were plotting to reprise the group's racist firebombing campaign against Perth's Asian community.

Van Tongeren, 57, John Anthony Van Blitterswyk, 53, and Matthew Peter Billing, 33, all appeared in Western Australia's District Court today to plead not guilty to a charge of conspiring to commit arson against four Chinese restaurants last June.

Appearing in the dock in shackles, Van Tongeren spoke only to plead to the charge that he and his co-accused conspired between June 1 and July 16 last year to firebomb the restaurants in the Perth suburbs of Willeton, Karawara and Ferndale.

All three men were ordered to appear again in court in June, where a date for their trial will be discussed.

The men also faced court today on charges of criminal damage and wilfully destroying property, relating to a poster campaign for the ANM and racist graffiti sprayed on properties all over Perth.

Magistrate Pam Hogan adjourned those charges to June.

Speaking outside court, Billing said he was confident they would be acquitted on the conspiracy charges, saying Van Tongeren posed no threat to the community.
"A lot of you people demonise him but just because he has an alternative viewpoint does not make him dangerous," Billing said.

"The case (against us) is moderate, and they have admitted that, so I can't see it going much further -- I have got every belief we will be found not guilty and acquitted."

Van Tongeren was arrested in August last year when an intensive manhunt by WA police ended with his arrest in the heart of the Perth CBD following a tip-off.

Van Blitterswyk and Billing were arrested two weeks later at a rural property in Bindoon, 100km north of Perth.

The court had earlier been told the nub of the prosecution case would be rollover statements from two former ANM recruits, Daniel Klavins and Ian "Monty" Johnson.

Klavins, who has already admitted to spraying racist graffiti in the name of the group, told police van Blitterswyk claimed he would "shoot it out" with anyone who tried to arrest him and intended to "beat Ned Kelly's record of killing policemen".

The arrests came two years after Van Tongeren's release from prison following a 12-year sentence served for organising an anti-Asian campaign, which included the firebombing of five Chinese restaurants.

The Vietnam veteran was convicted of 53 charges including conspiracy to drive Asians from the state, false pretences, breaking, entering and stealing, illegal use, theft, arson, causing an explosion, wilful damage, attempted arson and assault.

- AAP