THOUSANDS PROTEST AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME

Wounded writer leads call for tougher laws

A Montreal crime reporter who survived five shots in a murder attempt
last month was among thousands marching Saturday in a call for
stricter laws to fight criminal biker gangs.

"Canadian criminals shouldn't have it as easy as they do right now,"
Michel Auger said in a telephone interview later.

"Our criminals avoid the United States because the laws there are
truly effective -- in everything from money laundering to drug
trafficking and criminal association."

Auger, considered the dean of Montreal crime reporters, was shot five
times in the back as he arrived for work in the parking lot of Le
Journal de Montreal on Sept. 13. He was released from hospital two
weeks later.

Auger has written extensively about the biker war for control of
Quebec's drug trade in which 150 people have been killed since 1994.

Police suspect the attempt on his life was linked to the battle
between the Hells Angels and Rock Machine gangs.

Despite reports that the gangs have recently called a truce, Auger
said authorities must continue fighting organized crime.

"Instead of making nice press conferences and making grand
declarations, we must wage an effective war on crime," Auger said.

Saturday's march was to protest the killing last week of a Terrebonne
bar manager who repeatedly expelled drug dealers thought to have links
with the bikers.

"This is a protest of the silent majority of citizens who are fed up
with the inaction of authorities," said Auger, who pegged the crowd at
5,000.

"This is a serious problem."

About 2,500 people -- many of them journalists -- marched in Montreal
to protest biker violence two days after Auger was shot.

"People marched (in September) because they were concerned and wanted
to tell the government that there's a problem when people are being
shot for doing their job," Auger said.

"Today people are marching to show that organized crime has no place
in our society."

Francis Laforest, 29-year-old manager of the McTavish bar in
Terrebonne, east of Montreal, was killed for his principles, Auger
said.

"He was murdered for standing up to criminal organizations and that's
completely unacceptable in a democratic society."

The attempt on Auger's life prompted Quebec politicians and
law-enforcement officials to call for stricter laws to fight the gangs.

Some have also asked Ottawa to suspend constitutional guarantees of
free association by invoking the notwithstanding clause and arresting
gang members.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe received a standing ovation from
party members Saturday when he promised to promote a "muscled
approach" to organized crime during the coming election campaign.

Police are still investigating whether Auger's assailant was biker
Yanick Girard, 26, whose murdered body was discovered days after the
shooting.