Ottawa Citizen, May 17, 2002

Group condemned actions of Ottawa force during G20

BY DON CAMPBELL

If Ottawa police felt their actions at last October's G20 summit were heavily scrutinized, just wait until they see how the public watches their every move around next month's G8 summit, said a member of a citizen's panel that condemned police actions.

Panel member Dr. Anne Squire, a former moderator of the United Church of Canada, said everyone who intends to participate will be keeping score on whether the police follow their own guidelines and recommendations in the wake of the G20 fallout.

Dr. Squire sat on the Citizens Panel on Policing and the Community, a five-member panel chaired by former Ottawa mayor Marion Dewar, and listened to numerous complaints from protesters who felt police overstepped their powers.

"People will want to see if police will really walk the walk, and not just talk the talk," said Dr. Squire yesterday. "It will be interesting to see if police follow their own recommendations after the G20.

"Granted, it was soon after Sept. 11 and they were on high alert. But they didn't even follow their own guidelines and people participating in protests next month will be watching their actions closely."

Dr. Squire was reacting to concern raised earlier this week by Ottawa police Chief Vince Bevan.

Chief Bevan said that, based on "intelligence information" his service has collected, he is concerned Ottawa protests will overshadow any demonstrations planned for June 26 and 27 at the remote conference site in Kananaskis, Alta.

Activists from Ontario and Quebec are spearheading a campaign titled "Take the Capital" and are calling on all organizations, groups and individuals to join "the mobilizing, organizing and awareness-raising efforts of the days of action in Ottawa"

Organizers' tactics are expected to include demonstrations of all kinds, civil disobedience and direct action "targeting the many manifestations of political and economic power of the national capital."

The panel called for sweeping changes in its report.

Dr. Squire said transparency was a key issue in the report, saying there were police working undercover at the demonstrations.

The panel also called for protesters to have readily identifiable leaders so police can seek them out in case of trouble.

Dr. Squire acknowledged it will be difficult to implement all of the recommendations in time for next month's summit.

"Police made many of the same recommendations we made, and it looked as if they were prepared to try a different approach," said Dr. Squire. "My first impression of their report is that it was more positive about change.

"Now, I realize it may be too early to expect change. But it's clear far too much force was used last October. Innocent people, church-going people who were there to merely be heard, were traumatized by some of what went on. Police were not in their regular uniforms and not wearing their badges.

"We recommended there be observers going along to see what was happening and some even suggested videotaping the actions so it would not become one's word against another."

Dr. Squire said she has never heard of the "Take the Capital" campaign and does not know what the group intends.

"I know nothing of that particular group ... they must be new since November," said Dr. Squire. "I admit it is very difficult to prepare for something when the situation is unknown.

"But, yes, the actions of police will be closely watched."