Pubdate: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Peak Publishing Ltd. Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1998 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734 Author: Isabelle Southcott ISLAND ANGRY OVER RAIDS Lasqueti Islanders voice concerns similar to Texada Islanders' the week before Lasqueti Island made news headlines last week after residents complained of being harassed and intimidated by military-style drug raids. More than 100 people, just under one third of the island's population, attended a town hall meeting on August 25 to talk about the raids. Rose Willow, Powell River Regional District director for Lasqueti Island, said headlines such as one in a press release issued by the RCMP that refer to the island as a "marijuana mecca" rip small communities apart. RCMP using Canadian Forces helicopters flew over the island searching for marijuana grow ops. Islanders said police raids upset children and terrorized livestock. "We're not denying that stuff goes on there and it goes on all over the province," said Willow at last week's regional board meeting. "We know that police have to do their job but it's how they do their job. They're breaking the law to enforce the law." Testimony was given at the Lasqueti Island meeting about how the RCMP destroyed personal property and infringed on private property in their search for marijuana, she said. "They can't just treat the whole island like everyone is a criminal. "They ripped up waterlines and they didn't use any discretion. I think the RCMP need to be accountable to small communities. I think this was an invasion of privacy." One week earlier RCMP conducted a search on Texada Island looking for marijuana plants. The operation was referred to as a belligerent assault on the community by Dave Murphy, Powell River Regional District director for Texada Island. A town hall meeting to deal with the fallout of the raid on Texada Island is set for Thursday, September 2 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Van Anda. It will coincide with the island's regular community policing meeting. "What happened on Lasqueti Island and on Texada Island-I don't think you would see that happen in Chilliwack or Abbotsford or Cloverdale," said Murphy. "It's an area where they [the RCMP] can exercise and strut their stuff and show their might." Murphy said the two RCMP officers on Texada Island have told him that they have never received as many complaints over one issue as they have over the way in which the marijuana search was conducted. Colin Palmer, chairman of the Powell River Regional District, said Willow and Murphy could write a strong letter to the RCMP staff sergeant, the commissioner, the attorney general, the solicitor general and the commissioner for complaints in Ottawa to voice their concerns. "And say on behalf of the regional board this is not acceptable in the regional board of Powell River and it is not acceptable anywhere else. We support crime prevention, we support the arresting and dealing with criminals, but we don't support our constituents being harassed. Entering people's homes without permission is totally unacceptable." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh