WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2002

Q&A - CHIEF VINCE BEVAN

Embassy barrier protects everyone

Editor's note: Ottawa Police Chief Vince Bevan recently spoke to the Citizen's editorial board about the anti-globalization protesters expected in town next month, and the continued blocking off of one lane on Sussex Drive beside the United States Embassy. Here's an edited excerpt:

Q: Can you give us some idea of what you are expecting in Ottawa during the G8 summit
(Editor's note: The summit takes place in Alberta, but protests are expected here.)

A: There have been posters on poles throughout the downtown core, particularly in the Glebe, talking about "take the capital" and the fact that there is a "diversity of action" day set for Ottawa. People from the United States, from Montreal and Toronto have already publicly indicated that they are coming. For us, this is a significant challenge because there is no one thing to protect. There is no barricade.

Q: That's right. Because the actual G8 leaders will be in Kananaskis, Alberta, you don't have a meeting site here to establish a perimeter around.

A: I would think that, when the protesters are talking "direct action," they are talking more of the "snake march" kind of thing that we saw in November during the G20 protests, which really challenged us and I am sure will challenge us again.

The difference is it was a little cooler in November for G20. Any police officer who has to wear all that equipment for long period of the day in June is probably going to have to be awfully fit.

Q: To say nothing of nice weather bringing out more protesters

A: Yes. The challenge for us is that we are going to have to move with whatever becomes a target. I am sure that demonstrators are going to want to target institutions or places to make their point ... I am hoping that not every McDonald's is going to be at risk.

As strange as that comment may seem, we have to take into account that it could be anything like that ... all the multinationals. You have all the American institutions that are here. Anything that is linked to globalization runs the risk of being a target.

Q: I take it you would not be in favour of Councillor Alex Cullen's efforts to get the barricades taken down in front of the U.S. Embassy.

A: I am definitely not. Certainly, that threat has not gone away. Canada has an obligation to help protect the U.S. Embassy and any diplomatic missions that it has in Canada. That one is a problem because of its location. It is more difficult to protect.

When you look at what has happened elsewhere around the world and what happens when an explosion is close to a building, that is the reason that those barricades are there.

Q: Shutting off one lane makes that much difference?

A: Actually, we talk in terms of feet, and that does make a huge difference.

The building itself is as bomb-proof, I suppose, as you could make it. If somebody makes an attack on that building and hits that building with something, it is really all the other businesses and the rest of the community that are at significant risk.

What we want to do is take the steps necessary to show them that they are not going to be able to hit the building. It diminishes the possible threat of somebody thinking that they can attack the American embassy and make a difference.

I am sure everybody drives down Sussex or MacKenzie. Sussex is two lanes of traffic, then in front of the embassy it becomes three lanes, and then it goes back to two lanes. So really we are not, by closing a lane, stealing all that much on that side.

It is a bit more of a problem on the other side, on MacKenzie, but there is a line of parking there. Sometimes during the day that is an issue as well.

I am hoping we can make the barrier look better for the length of time that it needs to be there.

We are talking about some options to make it more palatable for the community.

Q: The length of time you talk about having those lanes closed is really permanent, isn't it?

A: I hope it is not going to be permanent. In my view, the decision to put the American embassy there came after the Cold War ended, when many of the threats we had perceived for years had diminished. I am hopeful that in a lot less time, this threat is going to diminish, and we can get back to business as usual.