Foreign nationals continue to harass and threaten Canadians, RCMP say – National
Foreign governments continue to harass and intimidate Canadians but proving that in court is a challenge, the RCMP said in a statement clarifying the commissioner’s controversial comments.
“What we can say is that the RCMP is aware of complaints of intimidation and harassment from certain communities across Canada,” the RCMP told Global News in a statement.
“The RCMP, as well as the broader Canadian government, is also aware that foreign countries are conducting such activities in Canada,” police said in response to questions.
The statement was released after Global News asked the RCMP to explain comments made by Commissioner Mike Duheme two weeks ago about the crackdown on Indian lands.
In a May 19 radio broadcast, Duheme told CTV “We have people who threaten people, torture people, but who connect the dots with a foreign organization, regardless of the country, we don’t have that.”
The comments, the latest in a series of seemingly anti-government statements about Indian activities in Canada, drew criticism from critics.
The Canadian Sikh Association said the commissioner left the impression that the RCMP is backing down on its allegations about India’s illegal targeting of Canada’s South Asian community.
But in its follow-up statement, the RCMP said the difficulty was linking certain incidents against Canadians to foreign countries, and evidence that could be presented in criminal courts.
“The investigation is ongoing,” RCMP said. “However, based on the criminal intelligence currently held by the RCMP related to international repression, establishing a direct link with a foreign organization with information that cannot be disclosed at trial is a complex process.”
The former head of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service said the statement was revealing and pointed to the long-standing difficulties in using intelligence information to prosecute cases.
“The commissioner acknowledges the lack of credible evidence of foreign crimes and international repression in Canada. That is not the same as a lack of information,” said Dan Stanton.
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“CSIS may hold intelligence relevant to current operations, but it is under no legal obligation to disclose that intelligence to the RCMP,” added Stanton, author of a forthcoming book on foreign interference.
“The service will share some intelligence if their investigation crosses the threshold of a crime and the RCMP believes it will further the gathering of evidence.”
A particularly challenging aspect of foreign intervention, foreign repression occurs when overseas governments, or those who represent them, use harassment, threats and violence to silence critics abroad.
The RCMP statement did not name specific countries, but CSIS identified China, India, Russia and Iran as the main regions that conduct espionage and foreign interference in Canada.
Asked about the commissioner’s comments, CSIS said “international repression and foreign intervention remain threats to Canada.”
“CSIS’s investigation of the biggest perpetrators of foreign interference and espionage in Canada remains unchanged.”
National security agencies believe that the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has engaged in election meddling, perjury and foreign interference in Canada.
India is targeting the Khalistan movement that seeks independence in the Sikh-majority state of Punjab, calling the activists terrorists and demanding their prosecution or repatriation.
In 2023, India allegedly expanded its tactics when it contracted Lawrence Bishnoi’s gang to kill key members of the Khalistan movement, starting with BC Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In October 2024, the RCMP went ahead, accusing the Indian government of planning a wave of violence in Canada. Six Indian politicians were expelled for their alleged involvement.
“As reported on October 14, 2024, the RCMP has observed organized crime being used in international repression,” the RCMP said in its latest statement.
“The extensive investigation surrounding these findings is still ongoing. For reasons of operational integrity and safety, no further details can be provided until charges are filed and the matter is public,” it said.
“The RCMP is committed to combating foreign interference at all costs and will not tolerate intimidation, harassment, or targeting of foreign communities or Canadians.”
India denies these allegations, despite evidence that it also tried to kill one of Nijjar’s friends. The FBI foiled the plot, which the US says was carried out by India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing.
Critics have accused Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government of ignoring India’s actions as it seeks a trade deal with the Modi government to offset the impact of the US trade war.
On the eve of Carney’s official visit to India, one of his officials told reporters that India no longer targets Canadians, causing a backlash among Liberal officials.
After the RCMP commissioner’s remarks to CTV, the president of the World Sikh Organization, Danish Singh, accused the government of “playing word games to protect the Indian government.”
“Sikh Canadians continue to face intimidation, surveillance and threats linked to Indian state actors and their proxies,” she said.
“We are aware of many recent incidents, including incidents where Sikh activists have received ‘warning duties’ from Canadian law enforcement. We know that there are people being watched and threatened.”
Stewart.Bell@globalnews.ca
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