Jack Van Tongeren

Jack Van Tongeren was an nationalist activist in Australia since the 1980s (technically, his name was "Peter", but he was known to all as "Jack"). He headed a small group of activists in Perth, called Tides and Time, printing various patriotic tracts. He joined National Action in March 1984 and in the following month became NA's State Chairman in WA. Van Tongeren split from National Action in 1985, following his refusal to endorse the group's adherence to republicanism and their usage of the Eureka Flag; major problems had also surfaced when NA leaders became aware of his adherence to an ideology that seemed to be neo-Nazi in style [1].

Van Tongeren and several other ANM members were arrested in August 1989 for the firebombings of Chinese restaurants in Perth, as well as for various break-ins of commercial warehouses (it was alleged that the stolen goods were used to fund the ANM's activities). After their trial ended in September 1990, the ANM members had been convicted on dozens of charges; Van Tongeren was sentenced to 18 years jail [2].

Van Tongeren was released in September 2002, and attempted to revive the ANM shortly thereafter, trying to reunite ex-ANM members and other activists in Perth; he was arrested in August 2004 on various conspiracy charges (malicious damage and other offences); his trial is pending [3].