Letters to the Editor

Monday 19 September 2011

Suspected RCMP plainclothes doing crowd surveillance of anti-shale gas protesters



- video submitted


UPDATE:  We contacted Codiac Regional RCMP this morning to find out why the Mounties were doing surveillance during the Moncton protest on Saturday. 


According to Sgt. Daniel Landry, it's part of operations when the RCMP covers large demonstrations. Along with protecting protesters on the march route with cruisers directing traffic, the RCMP also takes measures that record the goings-on during large demonstrations in case there are problems in the future. 


Sgt. Landry couldn't give any further details on RCMP protest security measures; it's not something the force wants known. 


He said he would have one of his superiors call us back with more information at a later date. We look forward to the response.





24 comments:

  1. Great job Guys/Gal!!

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  2. Surveillance of this nature is nothing new, it's been a practice that CSIS have been doing for years.

    "the RCMP also takes measures that record the goings-on during large demonstrations in case there are problems in the future".

    What this means is they look for are re occurring faces from one Demonstration to another, Once they have determined those faces they then attempt to identify those individuals, Once identified they background to individual to determine whether or not this individual has the potential of being a threat to security.

    It's not the first time that I've seen the hidden camera's, the black cars and the sun glasses .. lol.

    What is becoming scary is the Harper policies in-terms of home land security. Its really just a matter of interpretation to whether one's is a terrorist or not, it's relative to position. Ones freedom fighter is another terrorist.

    The potential danger lies that if you do have an effective activist who has been Identified in several effective demonstration that activist could be arrested with out anyone know about it under the terrorist laws.

    Stephen Harper has placed billions of dollars in the building of new prisons and correction, when according to stats Canada the Crime Rate is going down. The only other explanation is that it is a proactive move in the anticipation of civil disobedience. (Those cells will not be vacant).

    When we look globally we do see many instances of civil unrest being expressed in demonstrations and riots. As our economy collapses and more people are losing their jobs, the likely hood of aggressive demonstrations increases in Canada.

    Currently there are demonstration taking place on Wall Street against the financial institution, Americans are starting to realize the connection between the economy and the financial power elites, common sense tells you that it's just a matter of time that it will be coming to Canada.

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  3. Doesn't surprise me. Protestors were breaking the law and vandals have damaged equipment. The police wouldn't be doing their job if they didn't have officers around. I'm not for or against fracking but If protestors don't like it, they should make it clear that breaking the law won't be tolerated and report those who do. Otherwise what would one expect?

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  4. Great job!!!

    It would be nice if our government also cared about the activities of the shale gas development companies. Fredericton politicians do nothing after being told of fracking vehicles in the Fredericton area. There is a report that they were drawing water from the Saint John River at the boat launch near Waterloo Row, last Sept. 9, 2011 (Friday morning).

    Do they have permission from the Province and the City of Fredericton to draw fresh water for fracking?

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  5. That would be Codiac Regional RCMP, NOT Petitcodiac, I think???

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  6. @Clarence Hungerford MacKay,

    Corrected. Thank you. - ED.

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  7. Andre (09:56 post) hit the nail on the head with what's being done with the pictures they take of us at demonstrations, and the various applications of that information. These days assume everything you do outside the confines of your home is being seen, heard and/or recorded by 'someone'. And it's been that way for a long time, don't kid yourself.

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  8. As far as I'm concerned the gas companies are the ones breaking the law and destroying our environment. The citizens are only trying to make a statement and the government is not listening. People are terrified out of there minds, not only in New Brunswick but all over the states as well.

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  9. Next time we see him I'll just ask him what he wants to know.. hah it would be easier than chasing him away with a video camera all the time.. I've found myself paying less attention to protests lately and more of my time observing the outskirts of crowds for plain-clothes police officers and other shady looking people.

    One thing I still don't understand is why he left when we approach him. Does he think we're going to try to fight him? That would just reflect poorly on the entire protest.. or perhaps he doesn't want us to make a scene out of yelling to everyone that he's a cop, I could appreciate that.

    -Jesse (not a terrorist)

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  10. Well you're wrong 13:25. They're not breaking the law. People blocking roads and vandalizing equipment are. If you want the laws changed talk to your MLA but blaming the police for doing their job is ludicrous.

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  11. you know whats funny these protests are about voicing your opinion so what would happen if somebody was in support of shale gas?? would you chase them around with a camera and blast them. This is way out of hand and somebody needs to take control whether it is for or against it... maybe a comprimise

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  12. No I definitely would not chase pro shale-gas people around with a camera, that's not what this video is about. If that's what you gathered from watching this video then you completely missed the point and I am sorry for your misunderstanding.

    The video is about police officers getting paid (tax dollars) to follow people around in plain-clothes and take pictures of them. And yes I agree, it's way out of hand.

    -J

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  13. I like how you leave the part out J, that some protestors HAVE broken the law before. If the police weren't there, they wouldn't be doing their job. You should be upset at the protestors who have blocked roads, sabotaged equipment or the D'Arcys who single handedly collapsed public opinion by trying to upstage children. All those things have done nothing to help the cause. Getting real information about the issue and not chasing around police officers will. Please try it.

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  14. One question would be, if you are just watching, why the plainclothes? Why try to pretend you are something you are not? If what you are doing is on the up and up, then why not uniformed officers? In fact, that would be more effective to ensure protestors know there is a police presence.

    I don't quite agree with what was said above. Canada has ALWAYS been brutal on our civil liberties. Virtually every 'professional protestor' in Fredericton was eventually run out of town, they don't need NEW police powers. As for prisons, there is another explanation, and that is simple ideology. The old prisons are in bad shape, but the 'tough on crime' legislation that has ALREADY been passed gives mandatory jail time to numerous offenses where judges currently have leaway.

    There are also 'jail time' policies in cases where probabation and halfway houses and house arrest are currently used, but Harper has said he wants to change that. The reality is that politically 'fear sells', and these are about the only policies that separate them from the liberals.

    However, I agree that the world is changing, and not only are citizens looking at the outside world, but so are police. That's one GREAT thing about the NBPower and Shale gas protests. There are a LOT of 'just regular folk' who are at these protests, these are hardly the black bloc anarchists at G20 rallies.

    But its also going to get even scarier as new technology, particularly from google, is making it easier and easier to identify people from photographs (if you have any on facebook or online).

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  15. The R.C.M.P have my vote on arresting all protesters and bloggers

    J.A.G

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  16. You make me laugh J.A.G! Have you ever thought about running for office in Iran?

    -Jesse

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  17. @ J.A.G 06:39 you must be getting a great benefit from the existing system and that a change in the system would change your lower your status.

    ReplyDelete
  18. J.A.G You should be living in a third world country. Maybe you would appreciate Canada more...lol...seriously get a grip!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. mikel said "Virtually every 'professional protestor' in Fredericton was eventually run out of town"

    I can hardly wait for Charles to be...out of this place.

    ReplyDelete
  20. But then who will you complain about if Charlie were gone? Those damn kids on their skateboards?!!?

    ReplyDelete
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