09:00CDT - 22 Apr 2001 Summary of EmergencyNet News "Real-Time" Reports Concerning Protests at the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, Canada: 07 Apr to 23 Apr 2001
23 Apr 2001
CANADA:
Summit Of The Americas Comes To An End
Normally quiet Quebec City will now join the list of venues exposed to violent anti-free trade demonstrations. With more than 400 people arrested and dozens injured at the Summit of the Americas which closed on Sunday, Quebec City can now try to return to normal every day life. After Seattle, Prague and Washington, the capital city of the province of Quebec was the scene of confrontations between security forces and demonstrators which have accompanied major world trade talks since the failed World Trade Organization summit in Seattle in December 1999.
Police said Sunday 430 protesters had been arrested. Some 200 people were injured, including 46 police officers, although most of the injuries were minor. Protesters threw stones, hockey pucks, golf balls and separated pieces of concrete blocks in the clashes.
The biggest demonstration drew 30,000 marchers to the streets on Saturday and passed without incident, with demonstrators anxious to avoid being linked to more violent elements. Police successfully thwarted some efforts by protesters to tear down parts of the security fence blocking their access to the summit venues, but small sections were breached in some areas before being replaced.
INSTANT
09:00CDT - 22 Apr 2001
CANADA:
At Least 50 More Arrested During Overnight Clashes In Quebec City
Quebec City, Canada (EmergencyNet News) -- A police spokesman said that after clashing with anti-globalization protesters overnight, authorities arrested at least 50 more people early Sunday ahead of the Summit of the Americas' final day. Around 400 youths linked to more radical factions battled police around Quebec City. Police managed to contain the situation, as anarchists set fires and smashed windows of businesses, mainly in the Saint- Roch district of the city.
Tear gas was used to disperse the mobs. At least 80 people, including 34 police officers, have been injured in violent clashes since the summit began Friday. Officers fired rubber bullets, water cannons and tear gas canisters at protesters. None of the injuries ware believed to be serious.
Police successfully thwarted efforts by protesters to
tear down parts of the ten-foot security fence blocking their access to
the summit venues. A line of police in riot gear used tear gas as they
advanced toward a few of the 100 or so protesters who tried to use some
sort of "rope and pulley" mechanism to bring down part of the
wire fence. The arrests early Sunday brought the total to around 200 being
detained.
Anti-globalization demonstrators and masked anarchists, who relish a fight with police, have overshadowed the summit -- as they did similar events in recent years in Seattle, Washington, London, and Prague. Tens of thousands of anti-globalization demonstrators crowded into the French-Canadian city to protest peacefully and about 6,000 others constantly challenged police at a perimeter fence erected to protect some of the world's most powerful men.
In related news, EmergencyNet News has learned that, even as the tear gas starts to settle in Quebec City, that anti-capitalist/anti-globalist protestors are already planning major follow-on demonstrations to be held in several places on 01 May 2001 (May Day). ERRI computer security analysts also say they have become aware of threats to undertake computer attacks concurrently with May Day (physical) demonstrations, although details about the threats are presently not clear. Click here to see a previous story on May Day (2000) protests in several cities.
INSTANT
18:00CDT - 21 Apr 2001
Second Day of Clashes; Police Appear to Maintain Upper Hand
Quebec City, Canada (EmergencyNet News) -- A second day of clashes has broken out in Quebec City, Canada as protestors again tried to breach a outer perimeter fence designed to protect the meeting of 34 leaders of nations in North and South America.
Black-bloc protestors reportedly threw cans, bottles filled with sand, and even Molotov cocktails at police. Police officers again responded with tear gas and today also used water cannons to beat the protestors back. According to eyewitness reports from the scene, clashes erupted erratically and violently, as protesters repeatedly tried to find a means of access into the strictly controlled inner perimeter. On at least two occasions, the activists attempted to pull sections of the fence down, only to be met with clouds of tear gas, pepper spray, and streams of water.
According to the Reuters news service, 34 officers and 45 civilians have been injured, and five of the officers were seriously hurt. Demonstrators also reportedly smashed bank machines and broke windows of shores and cars, but police described the damage as "relatively modest." No dollar estimate was immediately available in regard to the damage caused by the demonstrations. At least 150 people have been arrested since the demonstrations began.
09:00CDT - 21 Apr 2001
CANADA:
Violence Erupts At Quebec City Trade Summit
About 150 police officers faced off against more than 1,000 protesters in the first confrontation of a series of clashes that continued late into the night. Angry protesters threw bricks and hockey pucks at riot police on Friday and roamed streets late into the night to "demonstrate" against a trade summit that began amid thick clouds of tear gas. The rioting delayed the opening ceremony of the Summit of the Americas for more than an hour. Police arrested 25 people, and five police officers were injured in afternoon battles a few blocks from the convention center where the summit was being held and the hotel where POTUS was staying.
Running battles broke out between police and demonstrators, who tore down a perimeter fence that had been erected to keep them away from the summit venue and hurled Molotov cocktails and stones. Unofficial estimates suggest that at least 100 people were arrested yesterday and last night. Further larger demonstrations are planned for later on Saturday.
The leaders attending the summit remained in the hotels, delaying the start of the summit for an hour, until the police gained the upper hand. Observers described the event as being "under siege." Summit organizers are bracing for a mass demonstration on Saturday which is expected to attract thousands from Canada, Latin America and the United States.
Opening the summit, Canada's Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, blamed the violence on what he called a small group of extremists. He said: "I welcome those who have come to Quebec City to make known their views on how best to advance the social and economic interests of our fellow citizens, but violence and provocation is unacceptable in a democracy."
Protests are also planned far from Quebec City, with marches or blockades threatened in other Canadian and US cities. Cyberprotests could also occur. EmergencyNet News is monitoring events in Quebec City closely and will provide additional updates as the circumstances there warrant...
16:00CDT - 20 Apr 2001
Clashes Break Out At Summit of Americas...
Quebec City, Canada
(EmergencyNet
News) -- According to reports from Quebec, the official opening of "The
Summit of The America's" (called A-20 by protestors) has been delayed by
clashes between protestors and a large contingent of Canadian
police.
Tear gas has been fired in an attempt to push back protestors who have reportedly breached a perimeter fence that encircles the entire Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) conference site area. Activists have also reportedly been pelting authorities with rocks and bottles. Officially unconfirmed reports suggest that at least two firebombs were also thrown at police. Officers have responded with tear gas canisters.
The situation is described as "fluid" with several skirmishes taking place along the perimeter. Several arrests have occurred, although the number presently is not clear. Some minor injuries have also been reported., including five police officers.
19 Apr 2001
CANADA:
Activists Arrested Ahead Of Summit
Quebec officials said that six Canadians alleged to be heading for the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City carrying flares, tear gas canisters, baseball bats, and an assortment of other gear, were arrested on Wednesday after a long undercover operation. The suspects included one person serving in the Canadian military and one former soldier. Police said the men had been planning to disrupt the 34-nation summit, which starts on Friday.
Officials said the six people had been seized with low-level explosives and military-style equipment, including four tear gas bombs and military flares and thunder flashes (flash-bangs), which explode with a loud noise. Canada has already turned back at least 60 people trying to cross the border from the United States to protest against trade talks at the upcoming Summit of the Americas. Border officials expect that number to rise as thousands of activists from labor, environmental, political, social and student groups are expected to converge on Quebec City, to protest against the free trade zone.
13 Apr 2001
CANADA:
Quebec Police Brace For Protests
Organizers of the Quebec City Summit of the Americas conference are putting security at the forefront when trade ministers meet later this month. Officials from 34 countries are expected to be confronted by thousands of anti-globalization protestors. Demonstrators say they object to an item at the top of the trade officials' agenda - the formation of a trade area that encompasses the entirety of the Western Hemisphere, from the frozen Arctic in the north to Tier Del Fuego at the Americas southern tip. Once completed in 2005, the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), will be the largest free-trade area in the world and link nearly 800 million people.
As part of the security measures for the Summit of the Americas, authorities have begun construction of a four-mile long 12-feet high concrete wall that will protect summit sites in the heart of the city. Officials say that the fence will assist in keeping delegates safe as they enter and exit the meeting site. Thousands of police officers will also form a wall of their own to help ensure the safety of the delegates.
More than 3,000 members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police along with 2,000 Quebec provincial police and hundreds of local officers will deal with an estimated 25,000 protestors. Professional protesters have already begun showed up at pre-meeting demonstrations in Toronto and Ottawa, where police arrested 87 protestors amid preliminary protests.
10 Apr 2001
Canada Public Announcement:
Summit of the Americas
The Summit of the Americas, a meeting of the heads of state of the countries of the Western Hemisphere, will be held in Quebec City from April 20-22. Local authorities estimate that as many as twenty thousand demonstrators may be present before and during the summit, and that some demonstrators may attempt to disrupt the meeting. As at past international meetings, there is a potential that some of the demonstrations may become disorderly or violent.
Local officials are working to minimize the potential for disruption. A security perimeter has been established in Quebec City that includes many well-known tourist sites. Entry into this area will be closed off from April 19-22 to individuals not participating in the meeting. American citizens should take commonsense precautions and avoid areas where demonstrations or protests are taking place. Other areas of the Quebec Province are not expected to be affected; however, travelers may experience delays at border crossings.
For further general information on travel to Canada and the province of Quebec, please consult the Department of State's latest Consular Information Sheet for Canada, available at the Bureau of Consular Affairs website: http://travel.state.gov.
This Public Announcement expires on May 1, 2001.
See http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html for State Department Travel Warnings
07 Apr 2001
CANADA:
Police Say Terrorist Attacks Possible At Upcoming Summit
Police in Quebec said on Friday that terrorist attacks at the Summit of the Americas are a possibility with some protesters posing a "real threat."
Florent Gagne, head of Quebec provincial police, said there are reports that between 10,000 and 20,000 protesters will go to Quebec City for the April 20-22 summit. Gagne said: "There's a real threat against the Quebec summit. "There are groups that are prepared. There are groups that are planning very specific action from what we know. We hope we're wrong. The best thing that could happen is that our information is wrong. But I think we have to be realistic and look at what has happened in other cities." Gagne didn't go into specific details about protesters or groups that police are concerned about or what action could be taken against them.
Pierre Lange, deputy commissioner of the RCMP, said police also are bracing for possible terrorist attacks and are doing the necessary investigative work. Organizers of protests in Seattle in 1999 and members of anarchist fringe groups are expected to be among the thousands of demonstrators who will head to the summit, where leaders of 34 countries will work toward a free-trade deal. About 6,000 officers from the RCMP, Quebec provincial police and two municipal forces will be on hand for the summit.
ARGENTINA:
Violence At Americas Trade Meet In Buenos Aires
As Argentine President Fernando de la Rua and Western hemisphere trade ministers were meeting with business leaders, anti-free trade protesters attacked police with Molotov cocktails and rocks on Friday outside a hotel in Buenos Aires. Police fired rubber bullets and used tear gas to disperse a crowd of several hundred protesters gathered at a major street intersection near the hotel. Opponents of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) pact also smashed bank windows and spray-painted anti-trade slogans on buildings at an earlier thousands-strong march through Buenos Aires.
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