VANCOUVER - Olympic Resistance Network members are accusing the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit of spying and intimidation.
Chris Shaw, author of the Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games, said RCMP Cpl. Jeff Francis and Vancouver Police Det. Doug Fell of the Joint Intelligence Group found him near Tony's Coffee Shop on West Broadway during the noon hour Wednesday.
Shaw was taking a break from his ophthalmology laboratory on the Vancouver General Hospital campus. He said he declined a private meeting with the cops to discuss his opposition to the Games, but challenged them to "hold public forums, invite the press."
"They know who we are, they're watching us," Shaw said. "They're trying to get activists to talk to them."
Veteran anti-globalization protester Garth Mullins said he had a similar encounter near his workplace last Wednesday around 3 p.m. Two other JIG members suddenly appeared beside him near the Burrard SkyTrain station.
"It seemed to me like an intimidation tactic," Mullins said.
He said at least a dozen other anti-Games activists were visited by police last week.
In an e-mailed statement, RCMP Cpl. Jen Allan said police have the right to ask questions and gather information and will respect citizens' constitutional rights.
"V2010 ISU seeks to either confirm or disregard individuals as potential threats to the safety and security of Canadians and visitors to Canada," she said. "V2010 ISU will not confirm the nature of our discussions with the individuals you have identified."
Bob Mackin reports for Vancouver 24 hours.
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morechatter
2 years ago
Turn on your lights
And leave the Olympics in the dark, as its an event that many, many British Colombians find their focus of discontent.
As its what I am hearing out of the mouths of many, and that is I can't stand the Olympics. BC Hydro wants citizens to be mindfully and minimize their hydro usage for the Olympics and I say lets turn on the Lights and leave them on for the 10 day event to brighter your day.
And it makes you wonder why events such as this even exist especially when global warming is a ever present danger. As the earth's heart beat is weakened as we need to march to a slower beat. Over 500,000 tonnes of carbon waste dumped into the environment for a ten day affair while some countries waste is not even equivalent.
And the police, someone should be keeping an eye on them as I often get them mixed up with the criminals as its hard to tell the difference. Except they have the law on their side.
VivianLea Doubt
2 years ago
What?!!
Surely this could not be - not in THE BEST PLACE ON EARTH.
Sounds like some poor, benighted, undemocratic place at the ends of the earth...
southdeltawalker
2 years ago
"thought police"
Not surprised at all. We had Chris Shaw here to speak in Feb. He detailed some of the harassment he and others had experienced
.
Whistler journalist Pina Belperio has a blog on rabble "word on the rings' which has been detailing what is really going on there.
http://www.rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/word-rings/2009/05/thought-police-working-overtime-whistler
-blog titled "thought police..."
Pina details security in whistler including getting neighbours to spy on each other.
Luke Skywalker
2 years ago
The Nutty Loonatic Fringe...
Chris Shaw and Garth Mullins are classified by most people as part of the nutty loonatic fringe.
Most people would classify 'em as trouble-makers. Don't feel sorry for 'em at all.
freebear
2 years ago
Surprised?
Really no surprise!
Remember the Quebec Police impersonating demonstraters/protestors and providing 'reasons' for cops intervention.
You watch the lid they try and keep on protests leading up to and during the Owe limp dics!
kl
2 years ago
Luke
Because someone raises questions as to how their tax dollars are being spent vis a vis the Olympics that means they are a troublemaker? Pretty lame definition of a troublemaker if you ask me, one I don't think most people would agree with.
Van Isle
2 years ago
I, too am not surprised, and
I, too am not surprised, and dollars to donuts I wouldn't be surprised if there were 1 or 2 'plants' in the protest group. Pay attention to the people who are really radical and want to do really stupid things like causing a riot or throw rocks during a demonstration.
Rod Smelser
2 years ago
What if something happened during the Olympics?
Security is paramount. What if something violent happened during the Olympics? Suppose that spectators, or participants, or dignataries/VIPs were injured or even killed. Then what? The long-term injury to Canada's reputation would be significant.
At the Atlanta Olympics a bomb killed several people as I recall and it was a major blow to the host city.
If the security types think they need to interview leaders of anti-Olympics groups who are planning protests, that cannot come as a big surprise. Even if one grants that there is surely a presumption that people who have been publicly identified as opponents of the Games are hardly likely to be personally involved in planning anything illegal because they are too visible, there is still a need to interview them and find out what they may know about other players who are more out there, on the fringe and beyond.
However, why approach these individuals in a spooky, unnerving manner, at a transit station for example? Why not phone them at home or knock on their door? Why not invite them to come to the station for an interview about security during the Games with their lawyers or other witness present? That would seem to me to be a confidence building measure that would actually enhance security preparedness.
Van Isle
2 years ago
Rod, people who want to do
Rod, people who want to do real harm don't advertise their intentions. Yes I do agree that police/security have to do due delegence but don't focus on the people who do protests.
Rod Smelser
2 years ago
VanIsle: Sort of agree, sort of don't
I think the security people have to interview known, visible "opponents" to see what they may know about the people on or past the fringe. I agree they are unlikely to do anything stupid themselves.
But it can be rather like policing the anti-abortion movement. A visible leader or protester, a cleric or known activist is unlikely to be the one who actually murdered an abortion provider. However, there's a more than zero probability that they know the person or persons who did, even if they don't specifically know for a fact which particular one pulled the trigger on that occasion.
morechatter
2 years ago
Here is one for the police
I had a vision, its to do the Olympics and its a mass explosion and its so bright with flames and smoke you can see little else. I was just talking to someone who said they had this crazy dream, and it was weird because it was the Olympics as they spoke of the ski hills as they go on to say there was these big explosions, one right after they other and the sky eas aflame. So security look for someone carrying a great deal of explosives because my intution tells me she could be very well right. As its an event that most wish never happened so what are they going to do, question the lost of us? And I do believe spectators would get more of a trill of watching the Olympic demise than the event? Up in flames, I would even take the time out to watch the event.
morechatter
2 years ago
I believe it too!
And its sad in so many ways as this is an event paid by British Colombians in more ways the one. Just wait as the economy continues to tank and government debt and spending zooms ahead. The Olympics will take the brunt of the anger and frustration as many continue to lose their jobs, homes and business.
The entire event has been the center of controversy and spending since it was voted in Vancouver, despite the whole of BC picking up the bill.
Yes explosives, it must be because the flames are enormous as the avalanches are triggered and everything becomes a wash in snow. And nobodies hurt but the rich as they had the most to win while British Colombians had the most to lose as Olympics takes over the province.
It will not make a difference to British Colombians as they were never going to see any real profits from the event anyways thats reserved for the greedy.
And if but a dream, which I don't think so its a just one, no doubt. So call it a physic tip RCMP as its the hills have eyes II. Now I may have gotten the election wrong, but thats speculation this is a vision that no media news room can undo.