More racial violence feared in Britain

By Hasan Suroor

LONDON, JULY 22. More racial violence in Britain is feared with the extreme right groups such as the National Front and Combat 18 reported to be preparing to step up their hate campaign in coming weeks by holding rallies in sensitive areas, including Burnley which saw widespread rioting recently.

According to reports, the NF has sought permission to organise marches in a number of towns where there is a large ethnic population and though the permission is unlikely to be granted as the new Home Secretary, Mr. David Blunkett, has taken a tough stand against racist groups there is nothing to prevent NF supporters to gather under some other pretext-as happened in Oldham and Bradford. Their sheer presence and the odd racist gesture or comment could provoke a riot given the prevailing tension.

This is what happened in Stoke last weekend when rumours about an NF march brought Asian youths into the streets leading to a confrontation with the police.

Revealing a ``secret plot to stir riots'', The Observer today said experts were worried that violence could spread beyond northern towns which, so far, have borne the brunt of this summer's wave of racial disturbances. Birmingham, which has a big Pakistani and Bangladeshi concentration, could be the next target as the NF planned a march there on August 4, it said. There are nearly 100,000 Asians in the area which is known to be prone to tension and commentators warned that even a small spark could cause a conflagration.

Particularly worrying, however, is the NF's plan for a rally in Burnley on September 1 to coincide with an Anti-Nazi League carnival. The NF has been accused of deliberately timing its rally in such a way as to provoke a confrontation. A repetition of what happened in Bradford early this month when ANL and NF supporters clashed is not ruled out, especially as Burnley is yet to recover fully from recent riots allegedly caused by the presence of NF activists.

``Another fear is that a football match between Bradford City and Burnley on September 1 will generate racial tension,'' The Observer said pointing out that the start of the football season next month could lead to an increase in racial tension with ``hooligans'' using the occasion to target Asian communities. The Commission for Racial Equality is concerned over the growing activities of far right groups and wants police to be firm with them. During the recent riots in Oldham, Leeds, Burnley and Bradford police were accused by ethnic groups of being ``soft'' on white racist elements. The government however defended it and blamed the violence on ``thugs'' on both sides.

There has been a disturbing rise in the presence of NF, particularly since the general elections in June. Its supporters actively, and often provocatively, campaigned for the British National Party (BNP) which contested the election on ``rights for whites'' slogan.

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