[Transcriptions of the documents can be found underneath the document image on the page]
1. July 18th, 1997 - Memo from the Ambassador to Indonesia, Gary Smith
Anti-Soeharto "wanted" posters put up in various Canadian cities become a topic of intense diplomatic discussion at the highest level.
"Alatas said ...if it caused concern to Canadian government because agitation of these groups could not be controlled and dignity of President [Soeharto] was sullied, the President would rather not come to Canada." "The minister [Axworthy] said he apologised for the poster campaign. It was outrageous and excessive and not the way Canadians behaved."
3. August 11th, 1997 - Draft Comments for Letter from Lloyd Axworthy
"With respect to security arrangements for the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting...you have my assurance that the interests/concerns of the Indonesian government will be given the utmost consideration....Security measures...will not permit demonstrators on any sidewalks immediately adjacent to the Hotel Vancouver or on any access route into the Hotel."
*4. August 27, 1997 - Notes of RCMP Supt. Wayne May
"Walk through of sites and meeting with PMO - Jean Carle [Director of Operations], Peter Vanderloo [Executive Director of ACCO]... Security perimeter will need to be adjusted at UBC re: Protestors. PM specific wish that this is a retreat and leaders should not be distracted by demos, etc."
5. August 27th, 1997 - Email from RCMP Insp. Bill Dingwall to Supt. May
"Jean Carle does not want the demonstrators close at all!"
6. September 3rd - Lloyd Axworthy's letter to Minister Ali Alatas
"I have conveyed the security concerns of President Soeharto to Prime Minister Chretien. I can assure you that [demonstrators] will not be permitted in close proximity to the President."
7. September 4th - Email from Insp. Bill Dingwall to Cpl. Peter Koleyak
"Jean Carle (PMO Director of Operations) and Robert's (Vanderloo) request to have demonstrators pushed back a bit further than originally planned... In addition, Robert is considering placing plants/trees at the foot of Gate 4 so that when the leaders depart they will be surrounded by trees, etc. (aesthetically pleasing.) This also helps with the sight lines."
8. September 12th - Email from Dingwall to Cst. Don Merkel Re: coverings to block sight lines
9. September 12th - Re: Delivery of Axworthy's Letter on AELM security measures
"address both the physical security and "proximity" concerns"
*10-11. September 19th - Memorandum for the Prime Minister and Talking Points
"Ambassador Parwoto [Indonesia's Ambassador to Canada] is apparently sceptical about the degree to which Canada is prepared to take action to avoid embarrassment to President Soeharto. Your [Chretien's] meeting with him will serve as an important opportunity to underline the importance Canada attaches, at the highest levels, to President Soeharto's attendance at the AELM, and seriousness with which it intends to address his physical security in Vancouver."
"Please convey to the President my [Chretien's] intention to telephone him personally in the coming days to discuss his participation in the Vancouver APEC Leaders' Meeting."
"Canada will be taking particular care to ensure the President's stay is a pleasant and rewarding one. His personal security is assured, and steps will be taken to preserve his comfort."
12. October 1st - Memorandum for the PM Re: Invitation Letters to APEC Leaders
"Your letter to Indonesia's President Soeharto contains additional language acknowledging his personal concerns and stressing your determination that all arrangements will be taken to ensure an uneventful stay in Vancouver."
"Your letter to Chinese Taipei's President Lee has..."
*13. October 2nd - Fax from Cpl. Koleyak to S/Stg. Peter Montague
"They are very worried about any embarrassing incident, such as a demonstration or somebody calling him [Soeharto] a name or throwing an object at the motorcade.... I assured them that if there was a demonstration on a major motorcade route, we would take an alternate route to avoid potential embarrassment.... They asked us to control what the media publishes respecting the President and they were told that that would be impossible."
"Ambassador Parwoto asked us what would happen to one of their FSO's [Foreign Service Officer] if he pulled his gun and shot someone during the Visit. They were told uncategorically that such a situation would not be tolerated and to keep their guns out of sight."
14.October 3rd - Letter from Jean Chretien to Soeharto
"I understand you have had discussions with my Minister of Foreign Affairs on the arrangements for the Vancouver meetings. I have directed my officials to spare no effort to ensure that appropriate security and other arrangements are made for your stay in Canada as our guest."
15. October 9th - Ambassador Smith Re: Delivery of PM's letter by Len Edwards
"The President therefore has decided to attend. Step one has been achieved. Now we have to turn our attention to ensuring that he gets back without too much difficulty."
*16. October 21st - Memo from Koleyak to S/Sgt. Peter Montague [Security Liaison to Indonesia]
"The ambassador...wanted me to assure him that he could tell his President that things were under control and there would be no reason for concern regarding embarrassing incidents and that the President would not see any major demonstrations...I gave him my assurance that all procedures are in place to address his concerns...He then informed me that Prime Minister Chretien had advised him that he could personally contact the Prime Minister if he had any concerns with the security arrangements and the Prime Minister had assured him that he would personally see to it that his concerns were addressed."
17 November 9th - Email from Supt. Wayne May to Insp. Dingwall
"A bigger issue here is that any demo area will have to be endorsed by ACCO and approved by PMO."
18. Post-APEC - RCMP Q&A`s for media
"The Prime Minister`s Office was not involved in RCMP security arrangements"
RCMP media relations officer John Buis also repeatedly insists to media that PMO had no involvement in security arrangements.
19. November 11th - Email from Supt. May to Supt. Thompsett re: Sound Test - UBC
RCMP conducts sound test to ensure that demonstrators will not be heard. During the protest on Nov. 25th, everyone with a megaphone was either arrested, or had their megaphone confiscated.
*20. November 14th - Email from Insp. Dingwall to Supt. May
"If they hang banners towards the MoA [Museum of Anthropology - the site of the Leaders' Summit], are they going to be visible through the trees? Could we erect some sort of draping to cut off the view? Secondly, they are only leasing the building and I suppose that we could make the argument that the exterior of the building is not being rented and the University, as landlord, could remove them...We could wait until game day and remove them ourselves ... Common sense tells us we do not want banners nor would the PMO's office. Having said that, banners are not a security issue. They are a political issue. Who is looking after that? If they are not going to be permitted, what is the authority for removing them and who is going to do it?"
21 November 20th - Email from Insp. Dingwall to Supt. May
"Supt. Thompsett advised that tent city will probably be moving down from current location to [MoA].Robert Vanderloo advised who in turn advised PMO - who are very concerned. Tomorrow #1 had planned to tour several sites and this may be affectedWe will also need to examine options of limiting media coverage should the decision be made to remove them...(during the quiet hours, moving in buses, moving media back, etc.)"
*22-24 November 21st - Various RCMP notes (P.L. Edwards, Thompsett, Dingwall)
The PM directs the RCMP to arrest members of APEC Alert who are peacefully camped out at the site of the Leaders' Summit. Various "economies" are scheduled to tour the site in the next few days. The PM himself is scheduled to visit the site on the 21st. Various other documents show that the APEC Threat Assessment Group (TAG) and RCMP do not believe that the students pose any threat to the site.
"PM "wants the tentors out.""
"PM says leave them until 6pm"
"PM wanted everyone removed."
25 November 21st - Memo from Chris Brown (APEC-UBC Liaison) to UBC President Piper
The Federal Government threatens the University that they will take over the Summit site prior to the agreed date in order to arrest the students camping there. On the 20th, the PM cancelled a signing ceremony at UBC with the Australian PM in order to put pressure on the University.
The University capitulates, and hands the site over to the Government. Six students are arrested on the 22nd and 23rd and charged with mischief. They are not released from jail until they sign a set of conditions which include "I will not participate or be found in attendance at any public demonstration or rally that has gathered together for the sole purpose of demonstrating against the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or against any nation participating in the so named conference."
26 December 3rd - Rick Anderson to Supt. Thompsett Re: APEC Debriefing
The night before the Leader's Summit, the tent city located at the University of British Columbia includes over 80 tents, withat 100-200 people sleeping inside the occupied Student Union Building. On November 25th, the day of the Leader's Retreat, approximately 3000 people rally outside the Goddess of Democracy statue and then march to the Summit. During the various protests, students are arrested for being protest organizers, "saying foolish things," holding signs, walkie-talkies or megaphones. Students involved in civil-disobedience are pepper-sprayed rather than being arrested, and students blocking one of the three motorcade exits are pepper-sprayed out of the way without warning. Almost all the woman arrested are strip-searched and some have "cavity searches". In all, 78 APEC related arrests are made at UBC in the weeks surrounding the Summit.
"my recommendation is to never hold an APEC event at a University."
* Documents marked with a star are most excellent
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