Free Varg Vikernes and Marie Cachet!

Today I would like write about one of my favorite musicians and indeed people: Varg Vikernes. I happened upon BBC’s homepage today (something which I don’t do very often) and noticed the headline “’Neo-Nazi’ musician Vikernes in French terror arrest”. Well they got my attention. So let’s review the absolute fallacies presented in this, shall we?

Let’s start with the title of the BBC article: “’Neo-Nazi’ musician Vikernes in French terror arrest”. There is nothing specifically false about this title. “Neo-Nazi” is in journalistic quotation marks; “French terror arrest” is not very clear, but technically that is what he was charged with. And of course he is a musician. So no problems so far. Oh, but let’s continue. The introduction reads, “A Norwegian musician with links to mass killer Anders Behring Breivik has been arrested in France on “suspicion he was preparing a major terrorist act”.” Okay, now we see clear lying. Vikernes has made his position concerning Breivik very clear. Let me quote from an article “War in Europe: Part V – Breivik Unveiled” on his official website. “To Breivik I can only say I hope you do kill yourself.” Need I say more? But why would they even make this connection in the first place? What does Breivik have to do with Vikernes? They both dislike Muslims in Europe? Well about 50% of the people I work with have the same opinion! Are they all linked to Breivik as well?!

I really would like to address this point further before tackling the remainder of this article. It is the primary tactic being used to smear Vikernes’ name. In the minds of the…less informed public, two white men from Norway who hold vaguely similar views on Muslims seem plausibly connected in their actions. By outright lying and saying they are related, we see how they try to blur the line between the two individuals. They attempt to copy all the crimes of Breivik to what Vikernes could “possibly” do. And I think they do a rather poor job at this…. Moving on.

“Vikernes, described by French officials as a neo-Nazi, had in the past received a copy of a manifesto from Breivik, who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011.” We see another very dubious statement here. French officials can describe him in any way they wish, and last time I checked it was not a crime to hold “neo-Nazi” views, however accurate that assertion is (see another article by Vikernes concerning this old accusation). However, I find it extremely fishy that Breivik had sent a copy of his manifesto to Vikernes. Says who? Where is the proof? And so what if he did? Is receiving information from someone you don’t know and clearly dislike proof that you are involved with them? Ever heard of planting evidence? It seems to me to be nothing but a completely fabricated statement anyway, but it matters not either way. Read more about Vikernes’ actual feelings on Breivik here. Let’s continue.

After listing the crimes of Breivik as if they are relevant to the situation, they write, “The official said: “There were several indications that made the services fear he could possibly carry out a violent act.”” And what act is this? Can we please get more details? No? Last time I checked, Vikernes was working on his farmhouse. Where are all the stockpiles of explosives? Where are all the plans located? A secret lab perhaps? This statement is even more ridiculous when you read his blog and see that he repeatedly said that there should be no violent actions and that all actions should be carried out according to the law.

The remainder of the article is written in a completely different tone, as if the BBC writer had gotten their lying quotient done and merely wanted to write a normal news article. It is so honest in fact, that it states clearly that the whole arrest is a fraud! “Officials say Vikernes’ wife had a legal firearms permit when she bought the four rifles.” They were acting completely legally? Then why where they arrested?! “On his website, Vikernes discusses Breivik’s manifesto, but also criticizes him for killing innocent Norwegians.” Wait, I thought the article just mentioned him as having “links” to Breivik? Well which is it? Well technically he has “links” to Breivik in that he talked about him. Maybe that is what they meant? Oh, how very clever. The remainder of the article talks about all the things we already know about Vikernes. I fail to see how these are relevant to a new case. He did his time. End of story.

So we are left with a sense of confusion regarding the situation. The conclusion I draw is that Vikernes and his wife were arrested for legally purchasing four hunting rifles. Does France just openly not follow its own laws anymore? Shouldn’t every French citizen feel outraged at such a situation occurring? Or perhaps all the lying in the article changed their minds… I really do not think so…

This whole situation is much more complicated than it seems. Clearly Vikernes did nothing wrong. There were no plans to commit mass slaughter of innocents. There were no plans to blow up buildings. There were no plans to take over the government. Or anything else that they say. Vikernes and his wife apparently just wanted to go hunting. Legally.

So why was he arrested? Well, I can speculate on the purpose of the arrest. For one, Vikernes has a great following of interested individuals, both in his music and his daily articles on his blog. Perhaps this was an attempt to scare this group of individuals in to cowering in fear? Well, considering how pissed off I am, I’d say they failed completely at that. Perhaps this was an attempt to scare the general population from anti-immigration policies? Well, considering how poorly written this BBC article was, I’d hope no one would be stupid enough to think Breivik is somehow related to Vikernes. So I am left scratching my head. What was the point? To waste our time? A distraction? Simply to restrain Vikernes and to get him to stop? We all know this will only make 10 Vikerneses replace him. And most ridiculous, if he gets a fair trial and not detained on extra-judicial “terror” charges, there is no case. He gets released. What is the point?

So I implore the readers of this article to simply state the obvious truth about Varg Vikernes and Marie Cachet to anyone who will listen. They will be freed in due time! But we must fight on their behalf!