[R-G] Vancouver Island Hippies: Top Security Threat for 2010?

[Anthony Fenton]

February 11, 2009
Top Security Threat for 2010?
Vancouver Island Hippies
http://counterpunch.org/blunt02112009.html
By ZOE BLUNT

According to the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, protestors  
are the number one security threat to the 2010 Games. So maybe that  
explains why officers with the Integrated Security Unit are running  
around Victoria trying to convince hippies to spy on each other.

But the cops may find that peaceniks and bohemians are too street- 
smart to play spy games. Vancouver Island long-hairs know better than  
to give information to police, especially when it's obvious that no  
crime has been committed.

"I said to the officer, there's no way I am going to snitch on my  
friends!" bookstore owner Robert Garfat tells me, a little indignantly.

The long-time Vancouver Island resident was shocked when he was  
approached earlier this month by RCMP constable Mike Smook of the  
Integrated Security Unit. Smook wanted information about Victoria's No  
2010 activists. But it's not snitching, according to Smook – the  
police just want to use his eyes and ears.

Garfat was troubled by the encounter and unsure if he should tell  
others, but then made up his mind that people should know what the  
police are up to.

"My feeling is that we should say something because if they're going  
out into the community trying to intimidate people and to try and co- 
opt people into becoming informants, that's like Big Brother," he says.

A second local activist -- who asked not to be named -- says the  
police have come to his door asking to speak to all the residents, as  
well as taking pictures of everyone who came and left the building.

"None of those questioned had any arrests or previous charges," the  
young man  says. "The cops friggin' bothered us for no good reason  
other than owning literature that is in opposition to the Olympics."

Others in the community have similar stories. According to several  
people who contacted us privately this week, the RCMP has succeeded in  
recruiting at least one informant – a child of 15. She has been  
cooperating with police for months, they said.

Leaving aside questions of whether this is legal or ethical, the  
tactic is troubling. If Victoria social justice advocates are so  
dangerous, isn't it risky to send a child to spy on them?  And if  
they're not dangerous, why spy on them at all?

We should all be aware that the police are not gathering information  
so they can hand out commendations for being great social-justice  
activists and good citizens. They are gathering information that will  
potentially put people in jail — preemptively — to prevent them from  
getting a message to the world about  the social conditions here. Why  
are so many people homeless? Why are so many people in poverty? Why is  
there a lack of decent housing across B.C. on the reserves? Why are we  
still destroying old-growth forests for sports events? These are the  
questions we want to get out to the world, and we believe the police  
are trying to stop this from happening.

Conducting surveillance and recruiting informants in the absence of  
any crime violates the Charter, in my opinion. Domestic spying without  
a clear law enforcement objective does not help national security – it  
just intimidates citizens who have done nothing wrong (besides  
criticizing the government.). Fishing expeditions are not legal. Prior  
restraint on free speech is not legal. Warrantless wiretaps are not  
legal either, or at least they weren't the last time I checked.

In fact, we have the right to associate with whoever we want, even  
with people who criticize the Olympics or take governments to task for  
ignoring poverty, homelessness and the ongoing effects of racism in  
our society.

Police statements in the media about 'consulting with activists' are  
nonsense. Their clumsy and heavy-handed attempts to meet privately  
with individuals are causing controversy, intimidating activists and  
sowing distrust in the community. There are serious concerns that the  
police may resort to coercion and bribes to try and force people to  
inform on their friends.

The BC Civil Liberties Association tried to meet with the ISU for an  
exchange of views and advice, but backed out on finding it was an  
exercise in frustration.

"It hasn't been easy when dealing with the authorities," said Michael  
Byers, UBC professor and BCCLA member. "With respect, we have pretty  
much hit a brick wall."

"In my view, the ISU ... has lost sight of those human rights  
principles and have focused excessively on the search for "perfect  
security."

Alissa Westergard-Thorpe, a member of the Olympic Resistance Network  
(ORN) in Vancouver, was approached by police last month. She says,  
"The ORN is not interested in talking with police about the conditions  
under which we exercise our rights to assembly and expression. They  
can read the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."

And if the RCMP can't be bothered to read the Charter, maybe we should  
read it to them, real slow, so that they understand.

Zoe Blunt can be reached at: zoeblunt at gmail.com