CANADA: Anti-WTO protests under attack

BY EVA CHENG

On July 28, 350 people who took part in a protest against the World Trade Organisation's "mini-ministerial" meeting in Montreal were arrested and most were detained for at least 14 hours. Most of them were handcuffed for four hours.

More rough treatment ensued. Yves Engler reported on the Centre for Media Alternatives web site that 20 women "were crammed into a cell that should handle four people. While the men were able to get blankets after creating a hassle, the women were refused them until late."

On July 27, nearly 2000 people participated in a march in Montreal in solidarity with indigenous people's and immigrants' rights. Early the next day, about 700 protesters joined the "snake march" to coincide with the start of the July 28-30 WTO meeting. When they arrived near the Sheraton Hotel, where the meeting was being held, the protesters were met by hundreds of well-armed riot cops.

The mass arrests took place in a "green/peaceful zone" 10 blocks away from the hotel while protesters were resting and listening to speeches.

During the earlier marches, a smaller number of individuals broke the windows of a number of buildings including those of the Gap, Burger King, Bank of Montreal and the Canadian army recruitment centre. Witnesses said black-clad individuals trashed a Porsche.

Not all participants approved such tactics. Many expressed suspicions that Canadian police undercover agents were behind the incidents. Police admitted after a recent protest that at least 31 plain-clothed agents from various related departments had infiltrated the ranks of the protesters

Despite police intimidation, protesters staged two more marches on July 29 — one in the morning and another in the afternoon — which were each attended by 500 people.

From Green Left Weekly, August 6, 2003.

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From GLW issue 548