Ethnic groups turn to the authorities for help in fighting racism in Canada

At the best of times race relations between the white majority and coloured minorities have been far from normal in some parts of Canada. But when an incident like the firebombing of the residence of an East Indian takes place, as happened recently in a Vancouver suburb, the feelings of hostility become exacerbated.

Following the firebombing tragedy, hundreds of people from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh held demonstrations in front of the house, carrying placards with slogans such as "Self Defence Is The Only Way Out" and "Unite In Action Against Racist and Fascist Violence". The mood of the demonstrators was one of anguish and anger. Some of them accused the local police of being passive in apprehending the criminals, while others advocated forming vigilante groups.

The incident triggered off a wave of protests, particularly because it came at a time when the members of the infamous Ku Klux Klan have been actively engaged in a mass recruitment drive in British Columbia. Although the Klan did not directly or indirectly claim any responsibility for the firebombing - neither did they deny it - some of the recent pronouncements by Klan officials have been distressing.

"The Ku Klux Klan is preparing for an unavoidable race war in the Vancouver area and members are arming themselves with rifles, handguns and survival equipment," said the group's chief provincial organiser, Dave Cook, 40, a fisherman. He said that he was "not afraid to admit it". Added Cook: "We're preparing ourselves for an attack. We don't intend to do the attacking, but when the race war comes, we want to be able to defend ourselves." He pointed to recent race riots in the United States and increasing racial tensions in Canada as proof that war is imminent.

Nervousness:Cook recommends that the estimated 200 Klan members in the Vancouver area buy guns and learn how to use them. Elsewhere in Canada, particularly Nova Scotia, the Klan's organisers have been parroting the same theme, making the coloured citizens increasingly nervous. In turn the ethnic groups are not only turning to the authorities for help in fighting racism but also planning direct action, should the situation get out of control.

When questioned about the strength of Klan members in the Vancouver area, police authorities discount the claims of organisers like Cook. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Staff Sergeant Paul Starek of Burnaby has been watching the activities of the racist organisations since a recent attack on a Nigerian student at the British Columbia Institute of Technology in the area.