les espions a montreal

Hey bande policiers moustachu qui se cache sur les toits de la banque royale ils crois bien qu'ils sont les maitres de l'univers ! Hey non détromper vous ..rendez-vous au sommet, ca va etre leur fête !

that guy on the roof isn't holding a camera.
Use adobe and sharpen the image yourself if you don't believe me. My bet would be he's some interested bank employee who's never seen a rally up close before.

what's that thing on the tripod next to him/her then?

Photoshop did sharpen the man up quite a bit.

It appears his left hand is in his pocket, and his right hand is down around his belt. No camera is visible, but he does seem to be carrying either worker's tools or some kind of cop equipment. There are two dark patches on the left side of his chest that **might** be a speaker/mike and a coiled cord leading down to a walkie-talkie on his belt (not visible).

It would help if I could tell what he was wearing. He sure has something on. Could be worker's overalls. Could also be a flak jacket. Might even just be a down vest. I don't know.

Doesn't look like a photographer though. I suspect either some kind of police crowd control observer, or just an employee.

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fuck em! let em take all the pictures they want, there's nothing we can do about it so thats why i wear a mask and you should too!

The device on the tripod is problematic.

There's a dark shape about where someone would hang a battery for a 16mm film camera. The dark shape up on top is ambiguous... yes, most likely some kind of camera, and a pretty good one. The cops around here use Handycams. Nice to see them go first class in Montreal. :-)

The device to our right, his left, of the shiny camera tripod is most definitely a heavy duty directional microphone on a stand. I believe that these are still made by Electro-Voice. If you've ever watched a presidential press conference you'll see them using two of these. They're swiveled around, machine gun style, and pointed at the speaker to pick up his voice from much farther away than microphones usually work. It looks like an anti-personnel weapon. Fearsome looking thing. But it's a mike.

Once again, pretty decent gear for cops, but then maybe it's taxes at work. I'll tell you one thing. Whoever's using this gear wants decent footage at a distance.

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Nice work, MARCONI. Good to see some impartial & intelligent analyss going on. I wonder if it's posible to find out what type of equipment that particular police force uses.

Is there a higher resolution version of this image available? I'd like to try to identify the agency the man in the photo is with, but Photoshop can only do so much with a 72 dpi photo.

I like masks, too. Here in Chicago, in Michigan, and elsewhere, though, it is illegal to wear a mask to a political protest, thanks to legislation originally aimed against the Klan.

See http://www.aclumich.org/briefs/antimask%20law.htm for a court challenge to the MI law.

Thanks for all this *great* coverage! ... and the photos!!
The IMC is truly growing better and better!

gaia

um, if that's a tripod, it's as tall as the man.
and it's that's a boom mike, it's as big as his head.
that's kinda big for a mike eh?

good point. I know that roof pretty well, considering I used to work in the building.. it looks like plumbing and vent equipment. however, it's not exactly a part of building rules to let some yob on his coffee break up there, now is it? I haven't blown up the picture, but he's probably RCMP or some derivative thereof, and he's probably observing (and doning a crowd estimate)

Fyi:
montreal cops also ues handycams and those sexy Cannon Dv units. they seem to be in posession of nome kind of weird antipersonnel weapon (beanbag gun?) that has it's own targeting system (laser?) and is battey powered. The MUC police also seem to love nonleathal weapons, because, er.. well if they hit you with one and you fall down it's about as effective as other methods and not as "publicly Unacceptable",

Yes, that's about how big it is. Picture about a 12" optical telescope, only made for sound. There's a pipe around 3.5 feet long. I think it's supposed to focus sound at the ball end. The ball really isn't that much smaller than a human head. The result is an ultra-directional microphone for sounds hundreds of feet away. The whole assembly is a dark green color, and sits on a stand. It's a fearsome looking thing.

I don't know if they make them any more, and I don't know anything else about them. Seems like now they just mount a more normal size mike on a plastic parabola about the size of a DirecTV dish.

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1. I inverted the coloring on the picture...there is a slightly darker layer on the human figure that cant be seen when the colors are dark. The darker layer is in the form of some kind of vest in a shape LIKE that of a bullet proof vest. It could be something else of course.
2. In analyzing the "equipment" on the corner of the building, there seems to be 4 objects in a row that people may think are cameras, mics, etc. The first, a small block that is closest to the man in question. Most of you probably already figured out that it is most likely some kind of support structure for the building directly behind the man. The second is not easily identifiable. It seems very similar to the object to the far right. I can say with certainty that that 4th object`s silhouette is consistant with that of any common microphone/listening device. Microphones that big and are quite common for news reporter and anyone that wants to hear sound with detail. The second object might also be a microphone. If so they seem to be pointing one (on the left) to hear the protesters and (on the right) to hear the police. The 3rd object may be an transmitter/antenna or something, I cant tell.
4. The person in the picture has both hands in his pockets.
If you invert the colors on the pic you can see that there is also a dark area in the groin area and light patchs on the pocket areas. This tells me there are buldges in the pockets because of the hands. The dark area is a shadow where the buldge obscures it from higher intensity light.
His head seems to be tilted down toward the right of the picture. I assume this is where the crowd is as there is nothing else but more cops behind the line of riot police. Because of this I can tell his concern is out in the crowd of protesters. If he was looking at the cops his head would be tilted down at a greater angle. Due to the event that is transpiring I would say that no one other than "authorized" persons would be given access to a roof-top so close to this activity. I, however would not assume its a "secret agent" of any kind. Chances are the person is there for two reasons. To record audio for analysis and to hear anyone that may be trying to rally the crowd to riot or anything like that. Also, to serve as a scout to view events from above to give the police a better idea of the whole situation. Thats my opinion. Sorry for the length of the comments here but I feel it was neccessary, thankyou.
Crazy Horse of Underground America

It maybe be a webcam that someone(the cit or the peple that own the building)has had up there for a while and that guy is just someone that is being nosey

In the picture provided there is no actual proof of the "Telescopic Camera" being allegedley used. And until I see a better picture I am going to file this under "Paranoi'd". So if anyone has a better picture of the so called spys I'd like to see it. The person in this picture could be anyone really, a citizen, a protester that snuck in, a cop, some homeless guy that was sleeping in a dumpster when the cops took control of the area, anyone really.

However I would like to give my personal "thumbs up" to everyone involved in the protest. Keep kicking ass, and let the world know that we will not stand for this undemocratic secretive bullshit. FIGHT THE POWER, tear down the wall, open your eyes, open your mouth, raise your hand and MAKE A FIST!

To the person who took it, I think you could help reduce the speculation a lot by telling us what you saw in broad daylight through your own lenses. How was the person behaving? What made you take the picture? Did you only notice it when you got it back from the photo shop? etc

In regards to this statement's phrasing:

If your rethoric simply up holds hate, that's not very revolutionary at all. I want to hear some original ideas from us youngins. Hate is age old. and we are just so much smarter than those in power, so lets not follow in their footsteps of meaningless rhetoric (take W. for example)

If it doesn't matter that their is an American agent tracking us, then it doesn't matter if I should put arsenic on my bagel today rather than cream cheese. I'll just wear a mask over my face!


Shelly in Los Angeles, San Diego Border Marcher 4/21

the above message "well" is a response to the "fuck the police" message way up above on this page.

It's not all that paranoid to think that The Gov watches big protests. This happens. I remember noticing it in the US, at the largest San Francisco action following us declaring war on Iraq in 1991.

I was there. I looked through the binoculars and saw 'em, a number of people in uniforms, with tripods, cameras, etcetera) scanning the crowd from on top of buildings surrounding the plaza. I can't remember whether it was Civic or some UN place. They also had binoculars and I think one telescope-like thing (at first we thought it was a GUN and were all freaked out).

1) A mic that size is unusual. If it is a mic, it can probably pick up a pin drop across the other side of the street and probably cost a _lot_ of money. Being long and straight, it is probably not too directional, by which I mean it may be focused on one group (i.e. the protestors), but not a specific group within (i.e. a suspected "leader"), so it's probably for general observation and recording, rather than pinpointing or pre-emptive spying. These assumptions comes from a few years experience in the radio/recording industry. I could be wrong.

2) At S11 in Melbourne last year, the police walked straight up to the barricades with Beta video recorders (the ones you mount on your shoulder, like large TV cameras) and calmly scanned the entire crowds, recording the faces of everyone present very swiftly. This happened at every barricade I was at over the three days. S11 was much smaller and more peaceful (unless you read the corporate newspapers) than A20, so I have no doubt the police in Quebec have a much larger budget.

3) I choose not to wear a mask, even though I am a Black Bloc demonstrator. However, I understand the desire for others to do so. Solidarity in anominity.

Peace, love, anarchy. Wish I was there.
DK.
Australia.

police spies watching you from a distance....yeah they probably are, but they are also standing next to you...the first thing a spy does is grow a beard and long hair...some of you people are REALLY naive....

Someone go to the corner, take another picture, and compare the two. If the equipment is still there, you have your answer. At least partially...

It probably isn't that improbable that the government would be watching us. The advance of technology has made it easier to communicate, but also to monitor communication. I read somewhere once about how there's really no such thing as a secure connection; if you lock and seal a room, ask yourself how well do you trust the janitorial staff, who else has a key to that room, and who could find out what's in there? It wouldn't surprise me much if the government keeps tabs on certain people. But so what? I don't think they can stop us. We should fight for what we feel is right, regardless of the odds. They can't hold power forever.

so what if that guy in that particular picture is or isn't taking pictures? Obviously, ther WILL be SOMEONE from the state /corporate forces taking poictures, building files on protesters, etc. This is nothing new, let's face it!

Of course, new and ever more ingeniously com[plex WAYS of doing this, are constantly being invented. WONDER WHERE THE REAL PHOTOGRAPHER IS?
QUIT WASTING TIME!

ok, you guys are stupid. its just some guy on the roof. jesus christ.

Although I will never put it past a federal officer or a local pig to spy on protestors or any organizations of the left, I don't think this guy is a spy. Don't you think that
if he was indeed a spy he would set up his camera and other
shit in a less identifiable position? It just seems strange that if he was a spy, he would be stupid enough to disclose his efforts to the public by setting up in such a viewable area. Oh well, Fuck the FTAA! I wish I could be in Quebec right now protesting their regime. Power to the People!
!YA BASTA!

As others have pointed out, it is not new or improbable that the police or other "law enforcement" agents would be documenting protesters. I think w/the rise of awesome grass-roots indy media that the polic have felt a need to document actions as well. This past Saturday I was in Blaine, WA at the border and all the cops, RCMP, State Troopers, Blaine PD, had cameras. They were on top of the customs bldgs, on the ground in the hands of officers, and I even met a fellow (who gave me a ride home; thanks D!) who said he say a row of cops w/cameras in a bldg that overlooked the border cross area. Anyway, we should all be aware and prepared for increasing police servalence techniques at these sort of actions.

Thanks to those who post photos, etc. Thanks for being in the shit. And thanks to those who chimed in w/the technical know-how.

naive, -in a Vancouver university, students protested the set up of CSIS job booth at a job fair. you may know why.
CSIS statement n the news article was: universities are hotbeds for 'radicals'.
so basicly watch what you say, you don't know who's listening and monitoring on the other end.
like the tv show 'Mole'- for something to do, play the game and try to pick he or she out.

Why would you where a mask if what you are doing isn't illegal? You shouldn't wear a mask. Wearing a mask just proves that your hidding something, and don't want to be caught.

The whole purpose of them actually being there (which no doubt they are... look what they did to comrade Jaggi Singh), is to create an air of paranoia from within the movement to break it apart. Fuck em, wear a mask, and don't trip out unless you see the gestapo in action. If they do try and kidnap someone, maul their asses. That shit is far from scary, so don't stress out about a couple of guys who think they're James Bond. If they want to come down into the crowd looking like one of us, they're severely outnumbered, and I'd advocate smashing their fucking faces in. Fuck the gestapo.

Solidarity and anarchy,

Dastahn Zendeghi

not so sure about that. a pig with a bashed in face might not only be bad publicity for a demonstration, but probably warrant harsher protest-response from police.

Der is an old Swahili saying:
"Unity among the cattle makes the lion lie down hungry."

Maybe the tripod just appears bigger because of the perspective. The man, whether a spy or some schmuck standing on the roof to get a good view appears(to me) to be standing well behind the tripod structure. It wouldn't have to be a mic the size of a human head.

give me a break already. OF COURSE any protest will be filmed by those responsible for keeping the peace. Everyone is capable of spin: you, me, everyone. If the mounties or cops or any peace officer gets dragged into court for any one of the myriad reasons that officers get dragged into court for, they're going to NEED their own footage to combat the plaintiffs. Even if other motives exist, why bother whining about being on film. You film them, don't you?

Of course you should mask up at ANY protest. We should all advocate any action against the state,Black Bloc, Hell Yeah!, non violent direct action, Hell Yeah! What we should NOT allow is dissent in the ranks. We are all pissed for the same reasons. People need to act on that anger in different ways. You need to smash a window? DO IT! You need to let a cop bash you in the face on national T.V? DO IT!

The problem is, some people need to feel that there way is the one and only way. For some reason some "non violent protesters" need to make everyone behave themselves, act like they do. That is fucking SICK! When I was arrested in Seattle in 99, the ACLU Lawyers stated that they were not going to defend any "Anarchists". I had wandered from the Bloc to get a pizza and was picked up. Dont ever wander. But that statment, fuck, that statment pissed me man! Where would King have been without X and the Panthers? Where would Gandhi have been without the Seeks? The States chose the easier routes because they were scared of the others.

Dont trust ANYONE claiming to be doing it "the right way". THERE IS NO RIGHT WAY! Trust no one who is "working within the system in order to change it". Come on man, you ARE the system! Dont trust anyone attempting to "lead" a protest. Do what you feel is right. Let others do the same. Stick together. Support all forms of protest. THINK FOR YOURSELF!

The Afgani monster started off in the tabloids next to bigfoot, aliens, 100-year-old has triplets, the missing link seen dancing down the street, and the design of doomsday prediction lore of the ex-pats released from London usually, considering the grocery store tabloids.

Monaco, casinos, cosa nostra activities, Brighton Beach, and so forth, with guns and whatever going via the tabloids over the years, as Princess Diana made so perfectly clear.

The Shah in exile in Rome, the former king of Afgani peoples wanting his turf back, his kid on Prime Time boards, Seybold conferences, etc., the Atom cracks and hacks, UCLA physics and DOD contractors, and so forth, Westside House on W. 101st St., vs. PPAS alumni, Compaq, and PC-USA and so forth. The crowd, the family, the interfaith participation with clergy coming around hounding about some fetus not belonging to the parents to be subject to family planning, and that extreme pain and powerlessness, leaving so deep scars.

All intelligence depending on the DEA on the Shah's side of the family, as far as the Norwich trusts, etc., and the Shah in Rome exiled from Afganistan wanting to be king and his turf back. "All roads lead to" what the Shah and family members want, with ppas alumni participation and such, Rep. Ed Sullivan of NYS and the hospital conglomeration gig, the Shah's kids in Columbia Presbyterian to encourage donations, on and on. So why a monster in Afganistan? For one, Afganistan was the place of robinhoods in old folklore in the former Soviet republics, and there were games with those cutting holes in the sheets to beget, among other things, as IBCs ignore national borders and countries, since everything global for a long time.

Why on earth Afganistan, way over there? One reason, I guess is that a rebel leader featured in the news for a couple of decades now, is screaming about the betrayal of trust, "worms of the earth" have become "snakes" per se, and calling for people's heads, but certainly not alone nor the worst by far in that respect. I wish there would be efforts of international law and diplomacy, without manufacture and sales of weapons of mass destruction which wind up on nearly every side in this chaotic world.

I guess a concensus of what people want monsters to be?