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RCMP using intimidation to silence Olympic protest

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VANCOUVER — The 2010 Olympic security unit says it's looking into claims that some of its officers crossed a line in their pursuit of information on activists' plans for the Winter Games.

Twelve opponents of the Games have sent a letter to the RCMP-led Integrated Security Unit demanding it stop what the group says are harassing and intimidating attempts to gather information.

The unit has been made aware of several incidents over the past few months, but the letter was the first time a formal complaint had been lodged, said Corp. Bert Paquet, spokesman for the unit.

"What the public needs to know is that we're trying to gather intelligence and information about groups that might disrupt the Games," he said.

"But when we do so, we always do so considering Canadian laws and values and respecting people's right to privacy and the right not to talk to us if they don't want to talk to us."

When Cara Fisher said she didn't want to talk to police, they kept trying, the social activist said at a news conference Wednesday.

Fisher said she received a phone call a few weeks ago from the police asking for a meeting, and she declined.

Plainclothes officers then visited her neighbours, her house and a local diner, asking how to find her, she said.

They allegedly told diner owners she was needed to give information as a witness to an accident.

"This diner they visited, I don't even frequent very often, I've never worked there," she said.

"I find the fact they would go into a local establishment looking for me very unusual."

Paquet said he couldn't comment on Fisher's case or any of the other direct allegations.

"As an organization, we are continually reassessing the way we do things, the way we plan security," he said.

"If we find that we've done something wrong then we'll have to address that, but at this time it's too early to say we've done anything wrong."

Paquet said the letter hasn't stopped the unit from carrying out its information-gathering activities in the lead-up to the Games.

Fisher said she's not opposed to meeting with police, but would only do so in a public forum or at the very least with a lawyer present.

"Depending on the situation, that is the purpose of retaining a lawyer so that they know that is the only avenue by which they can contact us," she said.

So far, there has been no contact, said Jason Gratl, the lawyer working with the group.

He said if the police don't change their tactics, there's room for the group to launch a lawsuit.

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Asking for someones whereabouts to collect information isn't intimidation.

3 burly RCMPer's standing at her, one at each side and one in front. With one cracking his knuckles as he says to her "Stop doing this shit or it'll get nasty..." then letting her go is intimidation.
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The Art of War
"Excessive law is no law." - Cicero

reply to Robrr

reply to Mashiki
If the allegations are true then I would say the tactics are somewhat heavy handed:

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They allegedly told diner owners she was needed to give information as a witness to an accident.

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I read that, and saw "allegedly." This sounds like ridiculous drama over a small issue that this woman blew out of proportion.

reply to Robrr
What is she protesting over anyways, was this her?

reply to Robrr

reply to Robrr

reply to Robrr
If you consider this heavy handed tactics then I wonder under what category the handling of the Iranian protests will come under?

There will be a lot of protests in Vancouver, during the Winter Olympics, ranging from the plight of the homeless to the heartbreak of psoriasis. Some of them, I have personally witnessed, can be quite intimidating. There are websites inciting people with any "axe to grind" to disrupt the celebrations by any means.

I really have no sympathy for professional troublemakers. Peaceful protests is a right but I really doubt, from what I have seen, that they will be peaceful.
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We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.

reply to Robrr
edit.