Raising the Alarm on State and Corporate Surveillance
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
- Written by editor
Dear Friend,
In August 2021 I travelled to the Tiny House Warriors Village on a fact-finding mission to better understand the escalating intimidation and surveillance at the hands of the state of Canada and the Trans Mountain (TMX) Crown Corporation.
I wrote about this surveillance in my latest blog. Read it here.
The Tiny House Warriors (THWs) are Secwepemc Land & Water Defenders who oppose the plan to expand the capacity of the TMX pipeline. They have been engaging in political advocacy to block the expansion of the pipeline.
During my visit, it was clear that THW members were under constant surveillance. THW members showed me idling and unmarked vehicles with people filming and monitoring them 24/7. There was also a robotic surveillance tower installed by TMX, as well as surveillance equipment installed in the public areas.
We are concerned with this problematic behaviour. This around-the-clock monitoring... of the THWs is an intimidation tactic by the Canadian state to silence Secwepemc Land & Water Defenders and to continue to disregard the authority, jurisdiction and inherent Title and Rights of Indigenous peoples.
Read what else I learned here.
Your support makes it possible for us to continue our work. We are working in coalition with the THWs and others to call for an immediate suspension of permits and halt of TMX construction until the Secwepemc people give their free, prior and informed consent to the pipeline expansion.
Thank you for being on our side.
Sincerely,
Meghan McDermott (she/her)
Policy Director
