Translated from Dutch.....
Bandidos Divide into 2 Clubs, East & West.
Controversy and bad blood has caused the Bandidos biker club to divide into two sections. The original of North America and the rest of the world.
22. Sep. 2011 kl. 06:00
The worldwide biker club, the Bandidos, have split. The division caused deep disagreements and bad blood between the original American motorcycle club and branches in Europe, Asia and Australia, learns BBC News.
The partition has split the international Bandidos into two clubs. They still use both the name Bandidos. In North America, the Bandidos are now the "Western Hemisphere", while the rest of the world belongs to the "Eastern Hemisphere".
- We have followed this closely in recent months and are in close contact with our international partners when it comes to changes in Bandidos internationally. It is our assessment that the split happened because Bandidos internally have acknowledged that they can not control the world club centrally. Therefore, We made a regional breakdown, says Kim Kliver who as head of the National Police National Investigation Centre (NEC), continually monitors rockers throughout Denmark.
Meaning in Denmark
It's hard to say anything definite about what the international sharing means for the bikers in Denmark and the ongoing gang conflict. But it comes at a critical time: Right now Bandidos and their old rivals the Hells Angels are in a series of clashes in several places in the country - especially in Esbjerg. Until now, the conflict has raged with fists and bats, but the situation is closely monitored because both the bikers and the police fear that the conflict could escalate.
- With the knowledge we have now, we do not believe that this pushes the situation in Denmark. But we follow the course carefully, says Kim Kliver BBC News
Problem for the Danish management
In biker suggests DR News sources, however, that the division has a negative impact on the management of the Bandidos in Denmark. The president, Jim Thindahn is not only head of the Bandidos in this country - but throughout Europe. He greatly enjoyed his legitimacy as leader because he had the original Bandidos in the United States in the back. This backing he is now lost - and thus at a critical time for the Danish biker club.
Physically, you can see the sharing of the Bandidos, because one half of the team has changed rygmærket. To change a rygmærke is unheard of in the biker. Normally, the club's brand is something a Biker will go far to defend - and in some cases are willing to die for. Many bikers have the club's brand tattooed right on his back under the vest, and most deceased members of the Bandidos have tombstones with the old logo. So the change of the Bandidos rygmærket correspond in the biker world closest to change the structure of the Dannebrog.
Specifically, what has happened is that the Americans have changed their Logo. The famous and notorious Mexican bandit with sombrero hat was changed out with a gun, and his features became more detailed. In Denmark, as in the rest of the "Eastern Hemisphere" they retained the old logo.
In time for two months
It may seem preposterous that it is the original club who have changed the logo. But according to DR News sources, because it is a recognition that it would be almost impossible and certainly very bloody to travel all around the world and try to tinker rygmærkerne of the thousands of bikers who are in "Eastern Hemisphere".
At Bandidos in Denmark have not much to add:
- This is an internal Bandidos matter and not something we would comment on, says Michael Rosenvold from club management.