Informers and Infiltrators in Planet Vegan

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Informers and Infiltrators

 

Be aware that in any group whose mission and purpose supports

views outside the norms of society will be monitored by informers,

infiltrators and those who wish to subvert the purpose and mission

of the group.

 

Information about an organization or individual can also be

obtained by placing an informer or infiltrator. This person may be

a police officer, employee of a federal agency, someone who has

been charged or convicted of criminal activity and has agreed to

" help " instead of serve time, or anyone from the public.

 

Once someone joins an organization for the purposes of gathering

information, the line between data gathering and participation

blurs. Two types of infiltrators result -- someone who is under

" deep cover " and adapts to the lifestyle of the people they are

infiltrating. These people may maintain their cover for many

years, and an organization may never know whom these people

are. Agents " provocateur " are more visible, because they will

deliberately attempt to disrupt or lead the group into illegal

activities. They often become involved just as an event or crisis is

occurring, and leave town or drop out after the organizing slows

down.

 

An agent may:

 

*** Volunteer for tasks which provide access to important

meetings and papers such as financial records, membership lists,

minutes and confidential files.

 

*** Not follow through or complete tasks, or else does them

poorly despite an obvious ability to do good work.

 

*** Cause problems for a group such as committing it to

activities or expenses without following proper channels; urge a

group to plan activities that divide group unity.

 

*** Seem to create or be in the middle of personal or political

difference that slow the work of the group.

 

*** Seek the public spotlight, in the name of your group, and

then make comments or present an image different from the rest

of the group.

 

*** Urge the use of violence or breaking the law, an dprovide

information and resources to enable such ventures.

 

*** Have no obvious source of income over a period of time, or

have more money available than his or her job should pay.

 

*** Charge other people with being agents, (a process called

snitch-jackets), thereby diverting attention from him or herself,

and draining the group's energy from other work.

 

These are not the only signs, nor is a person who fits

several of these categories necessarily an agent. Be

extremely cautions and do not call another person an

agent without having substantial evidence.

 

Courts have consistently found that an individual who provides

information, even if it is incriminating, to an informer has not had

his or her Constitutional rights violated. this includes the use of

tape recorders or electronic transmitters as well.

 

Lawsuits in Los Angeles, Chicago and elsewhere, alleging

infiltration of lawful political groups have resulted in court orders

limiting the use of police informers an infiltrators. However, this

does not affect activities of federal agencies.

 

Listen to their words. Judge them by who benefits from their

suggestions.

 

from: What To Do About Political Spying

 

by Linda Lotz, American Friends Service Committee

 

http://www.publiceye.org/liberty/Whatbugs.html