[asia-apec 669] apec "expert" witnesses needed

[Jaggi Singh]

hello everyone -- in a few weeks, the royal canadian mounted police (rcmp)
public complaints commission will begin public hearings into the conduct 
of rcmp officers at the apec summit in vancouver last november.

as a complainant to the commission, i have standing. that means, i have
the right to call witnesses. therefore, i'm writing to request suggestions
for "expert" witnesses from a critical perspective on the following
incomplete list of topics: 

apec
the broader context of apec (corporate globalization, imperialism, etc)
apec conferences and police repression
apec and the repression of dissenting voices
indonesia, suharto, prabowo, indonesian security forces, etc.
rcmp involvment in the repression of political dissent
rcmp complicity in indigenous genocide
police/intelligence service surveillance techniques
police/intelligence service surveillance and repression of activists
police media manipulation and control
"crowd control" and the police
the use and misuse of pepper spray
and other related topics ...

an "expert" witness just means someone who has knowledge on a given topic,
not necessarily a professor or professional. for example, the commission
is calling cops as "experts" on pepper spray. some of us complainants are
hoping to call other "experts" from american copwatch groups that can
offer another perspective on the (mis)use of pepper spray. 

keep in mind that funding for travel to testify as a witness is possible. 
moreover, if you can get to vancouver yourself (or live here), there
really is nothing preventing me (and other complainants and lawyers) from
calling you as a witness. 

the rcmp public complaints commission is a profoundly flawed process. 
however, those of us who are reluctantly participating hope to bring 
forward some dissenting points of view. we need your help to make this 
succeed. please get in touch with your suggestions. thanks. peace.

-- jaggi singh

please send your suggestions to both <jaggi at vcn.bc.ca> or phone
604-255-1509.