September 7, 2007...10:51 pm
1,500 APEC reporters have to list every address occupied in past 10 years
Security at the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation forum seemed designed to foil terrorists by sheer bafflement, judging by the experience of two reporters, reported The Sydney Morning Herald (29/8/2007, p.3).
Nine-page questionnaire: In July they had to fill in a nine-page questionnaire, including every address they had occupied in the last 10 years (with the dates when they had moved in and out). They were told that to obtain a photo identity card they had to appear in person with photo identification. At the Sydney Convention Centre they were confronted by a wall of police and security guards. “You can’t enter without your APEC photo ID passes,” a guard said, barring the way. “But that’s what we have come to collect,” the reporters pleaded, waving emails advising that their passes had been approved. The security officers went into a huddle before ruling the reporters could enter this time.
Not just journos: They collected their photo passes and headed for the exit, where they were stopped again and told to hang their ID cards around their necks. When one reporter explained they only wanted to leave, he was told: “ID passes have to be worn inside the building at all times.” To leave the centre they had to swipe their new cards over an electronic scanner. The 1,500 journalists expected to arrive in Sydney for the summit have all had to register and receive their identification cards. Many people who work and live in the APEC security areas have also had to register and undergo a security check.
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