Share this
Mister Wong
Digg
Del.icio.us
Slashdot
Furl
Yahoo
Technorati
Newsvine
Googlize this
Blinklist
Facebook
Wikio
Export PDF
Print
E-mail
Tags
Canadian Union Demands Inquiry into SPP Police Provocateurs
by C. L. Cook
One of Canada's largest labour unions, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) yesterday demanded a public inquiry be launched into an incident recorded on video of what they claim to be evidence of an attempt by police to incite a riot at a peaceable protest of the Security and Prosperity Partnership meetings held in Canada last week.
by C. L. Cook
One of Canada's largest labour unions, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) yesterday demanded a public inquiry be launched into an incident recorded on video of what they claim to be evidence of an attempt by police to incite a riot at a peaceable protest of the Security and Prosperity Partnership meetings held in Canada last week. Past the denial stage of Quebec's provincial Surete's infiltration of protests during the SPP meetings in Montebello, Quebec, Canada's federal Public Safety minister, Stockwell Day admitted the three rock-toting "protesters" cornered by demonstrators Monday were indeed policemen, as union officials and legitimate protesters originally charged.
The admission comes after days of embarrassing
contradictions to flurries of official refutations of union claims.
Day was quick to add, the policemen dressed as 'Black Bloc' anarchists, replete with face-shielding bandanas, were made conspicuous by their passivity in the heart of the violence exploding about them. This despite the fact, made clear through the now famous video of the event, the three are depicted trying to disrupt a group of "grandparent" unionists, marching in support of open debate on the SPP process; a process so far held entirely behind closed doors.
That at
least one of the policemen is seen in the video holding a large rock
was too explained away by Day; the stone was, in Stockwell Day's version of
events, placed in his palm by a protester intent on attacking heavily
armed and armored Surete riot police. The day before, a thrown stone
was claimed as justification for the police opening fire on protesters
with "plastic bullets," tear gas, and pepper spray.
Day was quick to add, the policemen dressed as 'Black Bloc' anarchists, replete with face-shielding bandanas, were made conspicuous by their passivity in the heart of the violence exploding about them. This despite the fact, made clear through the now famous video of the event, the three are depicted trying to disrupt a group of "grandparent" unionists, marching in support of open debate on the SPP process; a process so far held entirely behind closed doors.
That at
least one of the policemen is seen in the video holding a large rock
was too explained away by Day; the stone was, in Stockwell Day's version of
events, placed in his palm by a protester intent on attacking heavily
armed and armored Surete riot police. The day before, a thrown stone
was claimed as justification for the police opening fire on protesters
with "plastic bullets," tear gas, and pepper spray.CUPE is explicit in its demands, saying;
"The SQ tried at first to deny its agents were involved, and now denies they committed criminal acts, despite evidence raising serious doubt. A YouTube video ("Stop SPP Protest - Union Leader stops provocateurs"), as well as pictures taken by CUPE and available on its website, shows clearly that at least one of the agents carried a rock the size of his fist and refused to drop it. He also insulted and brutally shoved Dave Coles, CEP president. Witnesses appear to say the three policemen incited them to riot."
Adding;
"Now serious questions arise: why is the SQ trying to cover up this possibly criminal behaviour? What orders were these three agents following? Was this a provocation mission, part of the operational plan for the summit? Who knew what?"
Questions
too remain as to the exact nature of the SPP agreement, and why they
are surrounded in secrecy. The leaders of Canada, Mexico, and the U.S.
all deny there is anything more behind it than tedious regulatory
wrangling, yet still refuse to go into the details and personalities
behind these extra-parliamentary agreements, or disclose what effects
they may have on current legislation in myriad areas.
In 1997, Canadian prime minister, Jean Chretien was excoriated in the press for his glib reaction to news of a heavy-handed Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) response to a Vancouver protest against then-dictator of Indonesia Suharto's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. In that instance, an RCMP sergeant was video taped indiscriminantly hosing down protesters with pepper spray.
In 1997, Canadian prime minister, Jean Chretien was excoriated in the press for his glib reaction to news of a heavy-handed Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) response to a Vancouver protest against then-dictator of Indonesia Suharto's attendance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. In that instance, an RCMP sergeant was video taped indiscriminantly hosing down protesters with pepper spray.
For now, the government and minister Day are sticking with the latest version of their story of events, while the Council of Canadians videographer Paul Manley says he's put out a call to all those photographing the days of protest to look through their footage for pictures of rock-throwing "Black Bloc" members in an effort to discover who incited the Sunday "riots" where police opened fire on the demonstration.
Click here to see the
video of the unmasking. And, links to IMC coverage.
Official denials are here.
Set as favorite
Bookmark
Email This
Comments (0)
Subscribe to this comment's feedWrite comment
