Olympic Resistance Network Response to Police Harassment

The following is a press release from the Olympic Resistance Network on police harassment of anti-Olympic organizers. There is also a corporate media report.

(Community notice and press release linked at: http://olympicresistance.net/)

June 8, 2009

Community Notice: Targeting of Anti-Olympics Movement
Approximately 15 VISU Joint Intelligence Group Visits in 48 hours

Between the afternoon of June 3 till June 5, 2009, approximately 15
anti-Olympics activists were visited by Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security
Unit (VISU) Joint Intelligence Group officers. Surprise visits by
plain-clothes officers included home visits, work place visits, persistent
phone calls, and intimidation of family members and neighbours. The
patterns of visits reveal that VISU has clearly been spying on activists
and making note of daily routines. In one case, an organizer was stopped
on the road near the skytrain he uses daily on his way to work and
followed into the packed station where VISU very publicly identified
themselves and him. In some cases, the officers would not leave when
activists refused to speak with them and demanded that they leave.

None of the activists approached agreed to these one on one "discussions"
with VISU on Olympic security-related issues. Experience shows that such
private meetings are not about dialogue, but are aimed at intimidation,
controlling the visibility of protesters, and gathering intelligence on
community activities.

Since 2007, police & intelligence agencies have targeted anti-2010
Olympics opposition as a ’security threat’ to the Games. This has
included media articles based on reports from CSIS and police
specifically mentioning Indigenous and other social movements in
Vancouver. Police have publicly stated their need to increase
surveillance of anti-2010 resistance. Beginning in 2008, CSIS and police
also began attempts to recruit informants and gather information through
interviews with people organizing anti-2010 resistance, or with people
indirectly associated with our movement.

The Olympic Resistance Network denounces the continued harassment of
activists and is preparing a legal letter to VISU to cease such
intimidating visitations. These latest tactics are further evidence of the
$ 1 billion surveillance and security apparatus, which sociologist David
Lyon has dubbed “the Surveillance Games” with over 13,000 RCMP, military &
other security personnel, as well as joint US-Canada military & North
American Aerospace Defence Command operations.

We note that some of us and our allies are made more vulnerable by
disability, lack of immigration status, prior records, and parenting or
elder care responsibilities, or face greater repression as Indigenous
defenders or criminalization for being poor. Rather than allowing the
state to exploit our vulnerabilities or fears or allow isolation to
overcome us, we strive to protect each other and build greater
solidarities in the face of this ever increasing surveillance and
intimidation.

Finally, we advise anybody contacted by police for an interview about
their concerns regarding the Games that the best response is to just say
“NO.” You are under no legal obligation to talk with either CSIS or the
police (this also applies if you happen to be arrested and they want to
talk to you then). Nor can CSIS or police enter your residence (unless
they have a warrant) or detain you (unless you are under arrest).

Security agencies cast a wide net when collecting intelligence. Often
times it is because someone is active in the particular movement being
targeted, but not always. It includes situations where it is believed that
divisions may be exploited (between individuals/groups), to discourage
people from becoming more active (intimidation), or when a person has a
close relationship with the target of surveillance (including family).
Sometimes, agents have no idea how a person might respond to an interview
request and take a chance they’ll co-operate. Some people think it might
be fun or “interesting” to meet with CSIS or police, to play ‘Spy Vs.
Spy’. This is a bad idea. Intelligence agents are trained in
interrogation techniques and often have large amounts of intelligence at
their disposal based on extensive surveillance. Not only are these
agencies seeking info to certain ‘criminal acts’, they are also gathering
psychological profiles of people. When it comes to dealing with state
intelligence and police agencies, where information provided could target
individuals or groups for repression, this is a dangerous game to play.

For these reasons, it’s a good idea to say NO and contact others and let
them know if you’ve been approached by either police or intelligence
agents. Please contact the Olympic Resistance Network with this
information about details of the incidents, any comments made by the
agent/officer(s), the agents/officers names and contact information (you
can ask for a business card), and if possible, a photo of the
agent/officer(s).

To contact the Olympic Resistance Network please email
olympicresistance@riseup.net. We are happy to meet in person and your
privacy and wishes will be respected.

In solidarity and struggle,
Olympic Resistance Network
Email: olympicresistance@riseup.net

*** For previous ORN communique What to do when the Police and Spies come
knocking: http://web.resist.ca/~orn/blog/?p=32

Rights body upset over 'intimidating' security tactics

Civil liberties association says force has been accosting anti-Olympics
activists

ROD MICKLEBURGH
Globe and Mail, Tuesday, June 09, 2009

The B.C. Civil Liberties Association says it's disturbed at recent tactics by
security police who have been accosting anti-Olympics activists on the street
looking for information on what to expect during the 2010 Winter Games.

"There's a fine line between investigation and intimidation," executive
director David Eby said yesterday, noting that the association has already
received about a dozen complaints over actions of the RCMP-led Integrated
Security Unit responsible for keeping the peace at the Games.

Chris Shaw, author of the book Five Ring Circus and the most prominent
anti-Olympics campaigner, is the latest activist to be targeted.

At one moment last week, Mr. Shaw said, was heading back to work with his
morning coffee in hand. The next moment, he said, he was approached by two ISU
intelligence agents interested in "having a chat."

"I never saw them coming. Just suddenly they were walking beside me," the
respected neuroscientist said.

"It was disconcerting ... sneaking up from behind [is] not a reassuring way of
doing business."

Mr. Shaw said he declined their invitation to go for coffee. He suggested
instead that they hold a public forum to discuss security issues with members
of the small but committed contingent of vocal Olympics protesters.

"Sneaking up on people, visiting their homes or work places, smacks of
harassment," he said. "Sure, they may just want to chat, but many of these
people have very negative experiences with police and will see this in a
decidedly negative way."

Two ISU officers confronted another well-known activist, Garth Mullins, near
the Burrard SkyTrain station. "It seemed to me like an intimidation tactic,"
Mr. Mullins told reporters.

Mr. Eby said police have a right to seek information. "But it's the manner
they're doing it that's causing concern. It's starting to feel like
intimidation when you stop people on the street. And if people feel
intimidated, they're not going to come forward with information."

ISU spokesman Staff-Sergeant Michael Côté said police aren't out to
intimidate anyone.

"Yes, we are talking to people on the street, but that's to show there is
nothing covert or surreptitious about what we are doing. Going up to people at
bus stops or wherever is simply to respect people's privacy. We approach them
because they may have useful information," Staff-Sgt. Côté said. "We are not
tailing or following anyone. This is not surveillance."

He said providing information to police is voluntary. If those approached
refuse, police "just move on. No one is put under arrest. Nobody is
disappearing in a black van never to be seen again."

Mr. Shaw said the two officers who accosted him were "nice as pie. Very formal,
very polite. I was always 'Professor Shaw.' They have been trained well."

Staff-Sgt. Côté agreed that intimidation is not a good tactic. "It just
agitates them even more. ... Our mandate is to secure the Olympics, the
athletes who will participate and the spectators, so we'll talk to absolutely
anybody.

"In fact, our message is that anyone who has any information whatsoever
relating to security to please contact us. ... Our goal here is to ensure we
leave no stone unturned, when it comes to security."