Community groups should be freed from spies

Community groups need to freed from the oppressive influence of private paid informants in their midst says the Green Party, in light of revelations today that further attempts have been made recently by private investigators to infiltrate the Save Happy Valley Coalition.

“Community groups have been a big part of achieving things that really matter for our country - campaigns like saving the last of the West Coast forests and getting decent wages and conditions for workers were led by community groups. People have a right to get involved in community groups without being spied on by private investigators using paid informants,” says Dr. Russel Norman Green Co-leader.

“It’s time to free community groups from private paid informants by looking at a prohibition on such activities.

“The reported actions of Thompson and Clark Investigations, in attempting to again place paid informants in a community group, fundamentally threaten the democratic right to disagree with the powers-that-be, whether those powers be governments or corporations.

“We will be writing to the Minister of State Owned Enterprises seeking an independent inquiry into Solid Energy to find out exactly what they knew, and could reasonably be expected to have known, about the activities of Thompson and Clark Investigations. Solid Energy claims to be unaware of the recent reported spying so they should have nothing to fear from an independent inquiry.

“We will also be seeking information as to which other SOEs are using the services of Thompson and Clark Investigations.

“This kind of activity is particularly galling if a state owned enterprise is involved, but it is repressive and anti-democratic whether it is a state owned corporation or a private corporation. People have a right to form groups to campaign for the things they care about, and to protest.

ENDS

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