The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has routinely intimidated journalists and restricted the access of the press from covering the protests of The Rainforest Flying Squad. The protest began against logging of an old-growth forest in the region last year, and have been successful in blocking the action since. This, however, has not stopped violations of civil liberties as armed forces carry out arbitrary arrests and bully journalists covering the proceedings.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) temporarily restricted press access to the headwaters of Fairy Creek, the last unlogged old-growth valley on southern Vancouver Island. The press was present to cover the protests of The Rainforest Flying Squad, who have been protesting and successfully blocking logging of an old-growth forest in the region since last year. CFWIJ is alarmed by the RCMP’s restrictions on the press and we call on the authorities to allow journalists the necessary access to report on the events.