René Roemersma
Encyclopedia
René Roemersma is a Dutch activist and former member of the Dutch terror groep Revolutionary Anti-Racist Action
(RaRa). Roemersma is the only convicted RaRa activist.
and Forbo and Shell
gas stations. His goal was the withdrawal of those organizations out of South Africa
. On 11 April 1988 Roemersma and 7 other suspects were arrested. Roemersma was the only one to be convicted: he got 5 years imprisonment. A higher court ruled that proof against Roemersma on 5 of the 6 attacks had been acquired illegally and he was acquitted. Only the conviction for a 6th (failed) attack was upheld, for which he was convicted to 18 months of jail time, 6 months of which was suspended. As he already had spent 12 months in jail awaiting trial, he was freed.
in Parijs. In May 2006 he attended the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD) conference Deepening Voice and Accountability to Fight Poverty: a Dialogue of Communication Implementers. In 2006 he published a book, Verkiezingen in Congo, over loze beloftes en tellen tot diep in de nacht.
(Other Times) - brought a series of two documentaries on the RaRa group. A long interview with Roemersma was part of this series. Roemersma admitted being involved in the attacks, but did not elaborate on his involvement and did not say anything about committing the attacks. Still several Dutch newspapers claimed he had confessed the attacks. Because of the statute of limitations, no (new) prosecution could follow.
Roemersma did not confess or deny his involvement in the bombing of the house of Secretary of State Aad Kosto
. No preclusion present, the Public Attorney considered re-opening the case against Roemersma, but ultimately decided against it.
Revolutionary Anti-Racist Action
Revolutionary Anti-Racist Action or Revolutionaire Anti-Racistische Actie, often abbreviated RaRa was a Dutch terrorist group, although in the Netherlands the group was called a 'political violent activist'-group...
(RaRa). Roemersma is the only convicted RaRa activist.
RaRa attacks and trials
RaRa attacked sites from MakroMakro
Makro is a Dutch chain of Warehouse clubs, also called cash and carries. The first one opened in 1968 in Amsterdam. In the following years more stores opened in the Netherlands and in several other countries within Europe. In the 1970s and 1980s Makro extended its business to the Americas and...
and Forbo and Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
gas stations. His goal was the withdrawal of those organizations out of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. On 11 April 1988 Roemersma and 7 other suspects were arrested. Roemersma was the only one to be convicted: he got 5 years imprisonment. A higher court ruled that proof against Roemersma on 5 of the 6 attacks had been acquired illegally and he was acquitted. Only the conviction for a 6th (failed) attack was upheld, for which he was convicted to 18 months of jail time, 6 months of which was suspended. As he already had spent 12 months in jail awaiting trial, he was freed.
After Rara
From 2005 till 2006 Roemersma worked at the Panos InstitutePanos Institute
The Panos Institutes are a network of independent non-governmental organisations working to ensure that information is effectively used to foster public debate, pluralism and democracy...
in Parijs. In May 2006 he attended the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
(OECD) conference Deepening Voice and Accountability to Fight Poverty: a Dialogue of Communication Implementers. In 2006 he published a book, Verkiezingen in Congo, over loze beloftes en tellen tot diep in de nacht.
Looking back
In November 2010 a Dutch TV program - Andere TijdenAndere Tijden
Andere Tijden is a history programme on Dutch television of the NTR and VPRO. There is also a version of the programme called Andere Tijden Sport which shows programmes about sports history.- External links :* *...
(Other Times) - brought a series of two documentaries on the RaRa group. A long interview with Roemersma was part of this series. Roemersma admitted being involved in the attacks, but did not elaborate on his involvement and did not say anything about committing the attacks. Still several Dutch newspapers claimed he had confessed the attacks. Because of the statute of limitations, no (new) prosecution could follow.
Roemersma did not confess or deny his involvement in the bombing of the house of Secretary of State Aad Kosto
Aad Kosto
Arie Kosto is a former Dutch politician.-References:* Mr. A. Kosto at...
. No preclusion present, the Public Attorney considered re-opening the case against Roemersma, but ultimately decided against it.