Pierre Carette
Encyclopedia
Pierre Carette was the leader of the Belgian extreme-left
terrorist group Communist Combatant Cells
or CCC. Although Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for terrorist attacks
, he was released in 2003. However, he was briefly arrested again on 5 June 2008 because of a parole violation, but was released by the court on 18 June.
(RAF) in West Germany
. Before that, he had already distributed printwork calling for armed struggle against capitalism, including translation of RAF-pamphlets. In 1982, he published a magazine called "Subversion" for a while. Shortly afterwards, he was a driving force for the establishment of the CCC. Starting in October 1984, this group carried out a series of attacks on political and military targets (but not people), until the apprehension of Carette and three other members in a fastfood restaurant in Namur
on 16 December 1985.
The CCC-members were brought to trial in 1988. In October 1988, Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, mainly because of an attack on the building of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises
(VBO) in Brussels
on 1 May 1985, when two firemen were killed in spite of a warning.
On 23 February 2003, Carette was the last CCC-member to be released from prison. In October 2002, he had given an interview to journalists of the VRT
television program "Ter Zake" without permission. In September 2003, he confronted Wilfried Martens
on the television program "Nachtwacht". Martens
was the prime minister of Belgium at the time of the attacks, and even received police protection against the CCC. Carette stated that he still has the same convictions and that his struggle continues.
Pierre Carette was arrested again on 5 June 2008, after police arrested a number of Belgians with ties to the Political-Military Communist Party, which had been plotting terror attacks in Italy. Some of those arrested had been CCC-members, and it was found that he had re-established contact with them, which had been prohibited by his parole conditions. Howver, as his parole conditions had been modified to allow him to have contact with his CCC associates in a peaceful context, and the police had not bugged his telephone calls with Bertrand Sassoye, there was no way to prove that his contact with Sassoye had been other than peaceful.
Far left
Far left, also known as the revolutionary left, radical left and extreme left are terms which refer to the highest degree of leftist positions among left-wing politics...
terrorist group Communist Combatant Cells
Communist Combatant Cells
Cellules Communistes Combattantes was a Belgian terrorist organization committed to a Communist ideology....
or CCC. Although Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment for terrorist attacks
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
, he was released in 2003. However, he was briefly arrested again on 5 June 2008 because of a parole violation, but was released by the court on 18 June.
Life and work
Pierre Carette became politically active when establishing a committee striving for the release of captured members of the Red Army FactionRed Army Faction
The radicalized were, like many in the New Left, influenced by:* Sociological developments, pressure within the educational system in and outside Europe and the U.S...
(RAF) in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
. Before that, he had already distributed printwork calling for armed struggle against capitalism, including translation of RAF-pamphlets. In 1982, he published a magazine called "Subversion" for a while. Shortly afterwards, he was a driving force for the establishment of the CCC. Starting in October 1984, this group carried out a series of attacks on political and military targets (but not people), until the apprehension of Carette and three other members in a fastfood restaurant in Namur
Namur (city)
Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
on 16 December 1985.
The CCC-members were brought to trial in 1988. In October 1988, Carette was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment, mainly because of an attack on the building of the Federation of Belgian Enterprises
Federation of Belgian Enterprises
The Federation of Enterprises in Belgium is the only Belgian non-profit organization representing companies in all three regions of Belgium. Its members, the different Belgian sectorial employers' organizations, represent companies in key industrial and service sectors. All in all, it represents...
(VBO) in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
on 1 May 1985, when two firemen were killed in spite of a warning.
On 23 February 2003, Carette was the last CCC-member to be released from prison. In October 2002, he had given an interview to journalists of the VRT
Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroep
The Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie , or VRT, is a publicly-funded broadcaster of radio and television in Flanders ....
television program "Ter Zake" without permission. In September 2003, he confronted Wilfried Martens
Wilfried Martens
Wilfried Martens is a Belgian politician. He was born in Sleidinge . Martens was the 44th Prime Minister of Belgium from 3 April 1979 to 6 April 1981 and 17 December 1981 to 7 March 1992....
on the television program "Nachtwacht". Martens
Wilfried Martens
Wilfried Martens is a Belgian politician. He was born in Sleidinge . Martens was the 44th Prime Minister of Belgium from 3 April 1979 to 6 April 1981 and 17 December 1981 to 7 March 1992....
was the prime minister of Belgium at the time of the attacks, and even received police protection against the CCC. Carette stated that he still has the same convictions and that his struggle continues.
Pierre Carette was arrested again on 5 June 2008, after police arrested a number of Belgians with ties to the Political-Military Communist Party, which had been plotting terror attacks in Italy. Some of those arrested had been CCC-members, and it was found that he had re-established contact with them, which had been prohibited by his parole conditions. Howver, as his parole conditions had been modified to allow him to have contact with his CCC associates in a peaceful context, and the police had not bugged his telephone calls with Bertrand Sassoye, there was no way to prove that his contact with Sassoye had been other than peaceful.