Border security tightens for G-8 Crackdown will restrict access into Alberta

Border security tightens for G-8
Crackdown will restrict access into Alberta
By Mark Reid
Calgary Herald
June 9, 2002
http://www.canada.com/search/site/story.asp?id=9769BEC9-1549-4FD8-A89D-C9196F195CDE

Alberta's southern border will be slammed shut to activists and anarchists
who hope to disrupt the G-8 Summit, the Herald has learned.

The RCMP and Canada Customs are planning a massive security crackdown at the
Alberta-United States border in the days leading up to the June 26 and 27 meeting
of leaders of the G-8 countries about 115 kilometres west of Calgary at Kananaskis
Village.

Anarchists and others caught crossing with "tools of civil disobedience"
will be interrogated and then refused entry into Alberta, says RCMP Cpl. Jamie
Johnston, a G-8 security spokesman.

"When we have (leaders of) eight of the world's most powerful economies
coming together at on
e time and place, it's our duty to provide protection," Johnston said.


"We don't need a reason to deny somebody access to our country. "If
(anarchists are) coming here bringing tools of civil disobedience that will
endanger the security of the G-8 proceedings, it would be irresponsible . .
. to allow them to continue."

Activists call the crackdown a blatant attack on civil liberties.

"Crossing the border right now has become very difficult for activists,"
complained Moj Gone, a spokeswoman for the RUCKUS society protest group of Oakland,
Calif.

"Whether we're going to these (summit) meetings or whether we're just
meeting friends, authorities are cracking down on the free movement of people
at the border," said Gone.

Tools of civil disobedience, according to Johnston, include gas masks, pepper
spray and molotov cocktails as well as seemingly harmless items such as handcuffs,
spray paint and ski masks.

Johnston admitted many of the items are not illegal to possess. That's why
customs officials will interrogate suspicious travellers to determine whether
the items will be used for an "illegal intent." He said civil disobedience
is considered an illegal intent.

Handcuffs have been used at previous summits to form human chains to block
major roadways, and the discovery of gas masks, Johnston added, "would
be a clear indication (the protesters) were here for some other purpose than
the scenery."

Johnston said activists deemed not to be a threat to the G-8 will be allowed
to enter Canada.

Canada Customs spokesman Gordon Luchia said every vehicle crossing the border
in the days leading up to the summit will be inspected.

To enhance the security crackdown, additional customs staff will be on duty,
there will be drug- and bomb-sniffing dogs on call 24 hours a day and RCMP will
increase patrols between crossing points.

"We will be at a more heightened state of alert," Luchia said.

Luchia did not say when the enhanced border security would begin, but warned
all travellers to Canada should expect delays
around the summit.

Scott Crichton of the American Civil Liberties Union in Missoula, Mont., said
he's been contacted by several Montana activists who have been refused entry
into Canada in recent weeks. The activists wanted to scope out Kananaskis before
attending the summit protests.

"The absurdity of it all is we're not talking about people with dynamite
in their shoes. Their dynamite is their ideas," Crichton said.

"It's a shame because Canada is a model to us in the States, especially
in terms of diversity and tolerance. I always thought of Canada as what we ought
to be, so it's a little disheartening hearing that Canadian officials are so
closed about this."

Prime Minister Jean Chretien chose the remote Kananaskis location to host this
year's summit of the leaders of eight of the world's leading industrialized
countries in an effort to prevent a repeat of the violent protests that caused
chaos at last year's G-8 in Genoa, Italy.

Activists have called the decision an act of cowardice.