The Secret service of the Netherlands or “Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst” (AIVD), formerly known as the BVD (Binnenlandse Veiligheidsdienst – Domestic Security Service) is the General Intelligence and Security Service AVID.
Among intelligence services the AIVD are consider among the best in the world. They are the secret service of the Netherlands. Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst(AIVD), formerly known as the BVD (Binnenlandse Veiligheidsdienst – Domestic Security Service) is the General Intelligence and Security Service or The Secret service of the Netherlands. The office is in Zoetermeer. Its predecessor was the 1945-1947 Bureau voor Nationale Veiligheid (Bureau ofNational Security).
In World War II the BVD or Domestic Security Service’s exploits were legendary.
Today they are less well known, but none the less are highly respected.
“We can learn a lot from them”, said one intelligence analyst in Charlotte, N.C.
THE AVID TODAY
The AIVD focuses mostly on domestic non-military threats to Dutch National security, whereas the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) focuses on international threats, specifically military and government-sponsored threats such as espionage. The AIVD, unlike its predecessor BVD, is charged with collecting intelligence and assisting in combating both domestic and foreign threats to national security.
Its main activities include;
- monitoring specific groups, such as leftist activists, Islamic groups, and right-wing extremists
- sourcing intelligence to and from foreign and domestic intelligence services
- performing background checks on individuals employed in “positions of trust”, specifically public office, and higher-up or privileged positions in industry (such as telecommunications, banks, the largest companies) – this ironically includes members of parliamentary oversight committees
- investigating incidents such as (terrorist) bombings and threats
- giving advice and warning about risks to national security, including advising on the protection of political figureheads
BUSTING THE HAFSTAD NETWORK
Since the murder of Theo van Gogh and the discovery of the Hofstad Network, AIVD has re focused on the Islamic Fundamentalist threat to Dutch society. But that is not their only focus, they are expert in “counterintelligence” and “espionage”. So when the AVID issue a warning the threat is real. That is the case recently when it warned of Chinese spies infiltrating their country and engaging in various act of industrial and economic espionage.
The Dutch intelligence and security service AIVD warned in an annual report released on Thursday that the Netherlands is an easy target for espionage.
Part of the problem, the AIVD says “foreign intelligence services are likely to be successful in the Netherlands, because there is little awareness of the danger of espionage within the economic sector.”
CHINESE TARGETING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
It says, among other things that Chinese spies operate freely in the Netherlands, providing information on innovative technology companies and on Uighurs – a minority group in China – to the Chinese authorities.
“The Dutch government runs various programs which attract well-educated and talented Chinese. If they spy for the Chinese authorities, they can expect financial rewards and exceptional privileges upon return,” reports the AIVD.
The Chinese authorities have also “infiltrated” the Uighur community in the Netherlands via a network of spies and operatives.
The Uighurs are ethnically Turkic “Muslims”, who make up about “45 percent of the population of the north western Xinjiang region”, reports the AVID. There has been tight security in parts of Xinjiang since July 2009 when ethnic violence erupted in the regional capital Urumqi, leaving some 200 people – mostly Han Chinese – dead.
In the Netherlands, the Uighurs – who are calling for more autonomy in Xinjiang – hold regular demonstrations against the Chinese authorities, organize and hold meetings and post anti-government films on internet.
China regards their activities as “a external threat to the unity of the country”.
BLACKMAIL OPTION
It tries to crush resistance by blackmailing relatives of the Dutch Uighurs back in China.
If the Muslim Uighurs in the Netherlands do not bow to threats from China, their relatives at home are denied “basic medical care and education”. In some cases these Uighurs have no choice but to do what the Chinese intelligence demands of them. The same tactic is being used by the Chinese against Chinese born immigrants in the United States, although the FBI is less familiar with the exact means that blackmail is being used against the immigrant community, as well against Chinese nationals attending colleges and universities in the US.
It was noted that at the beginning of April, China’s police agency published a list of terrorism suspects and named six ethnic Uighurs, who authorities alleged, were core members of a terrorist group.
The ministry said the named suspects belonged to the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, designated by the US and the UN as a terror group. Besides ethnic Turks and others, Holland has a growing Islamic community, being supported in some cases by Wahabists from Saudi Arabia who seek to exercise control of Islam via financial pressure and control over the two key holy sites in Islam, Mecca and Medina (see: Urdu News Report: Islam Ahmadiyya Jalsa Salana Holland 2011, 8-10 Julyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lyY5Oclkqw
RESTRICTING DUAL CITIZENSHIP
One of the ways the Dutch have sought to address this threat is restricting those with dual nationalities from citizenship. A move that has been much criticized by some within the government (see: Minister Spies discusses why she proposes a law restricting dual citizenship in the Netherlandshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RPZByze5fw
Some claim the Netherlands is pursuing a far right wing agenda (see: Dutch-Muslims worried about new government far-right coalition http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctSxitHGzrA
DUTCH MONITORING SOCIAL NETWORKS
The Dutch also monitor social networking sites for intelligence information. According to one report the National Police Agency has purchased a system to report suspicious information from public sources to gather.
The Twente region goes first get to work.
CYBER HUMAN INTELLIGENCE GATHERING
The CY-Humint system (Cyber Human Intelligence) is provided by Athena GS3 Security Implementations Ltd. Industrial Zone in Holon in Israel. Athena is part of the main supplier of infrastructure and transport Mer Group, present in the Netherlands with Cellular Infrastructure Ltd. Questions from Macworld are from Israel via email answered by Omer Laviv, CEO of Athena.
Public sources(see also: Holland, Social Media And Mossad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lyY5Oclkqw