The tactics employed by G-8 protesters will depend on the circumstances, says a well-known Canadian activist, who refused to condemn the use of violence.
"If a building is burning down and there's a small child inside, it's acceptable to break a window and take out that child," said Jaggi Singh, one of the organizers of Take the Capital!, a G-8 summit protest to be held June 26 and 27 in Ottawa.
"Depending on the situation, there's a variety of tactics that are acceptable and appropriate and effective," Singh said.
He was speaking from Ottawa on Global TV's Global Sunday public affairs program. The panel debated whether "radical protesters" are a help or a hindrance to democracy.
One panellist asked Singh for his opinion on violent protest.
"Do you support what's called a diversity of tactics, which is the euphemism for all kinds of violence in the streets?" asked Brian Kappler, editorials editor for the Montreal Gazette.
"I'm fundamentally opposed to violence," Singh replied. "That's why I oppose the G-8."
Singh's answers seemed to frustrate the other panellists and moderator Charles Adler, who repeatedly asked Singh for more specific answers. "You talk about direct action, but you won't give me a direct answer," said Adler.
Kappler said Singh's "ranting" is the equivalent of "riots on the street."
The true violence associated with the summit will be caused by participants, not protesters, said Singh. "There will be violent people coming . . . this June," he said. "They're going to be organized and motivated and they're the leaders of the G-8 countries." The real violence is the "daily violence" of conditions such as poverty and the "so-called war on terrorism" that result from decisions of G-8 countries, Singh said.
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