Who’s targeting our diplomats? Don’t ask Global Affairs Canada

In his 2004 biography, On Six Continents, former Canadian ambassador James Bartleman describes some of the harassment he and his staff endured from the Cubans while posted to Havana in the early 1980s. At one point, for instance, there were nuisance phone calls; on another occasion, a dead rat was nailed to someone’s door. Eventually he discovered his dog had been poisoned (along with the pets of other diplomats). At this point, Bartleman writes, he raced to the foreign ministry and told Cuban officials: “Call off your goons!” His memoir also alludes to other, darker plots.

Now, skip forward to 2017, and to recent reports of bizarre “sonic” attacks on diplomats in Havana — specifically Americans and Canadians, and their families. We know diplomats are sometimes targeted, in Cuba and elsewhere. But what to make of these acoustic assaults, which conjure up early sci-fi and bad 1960s’ Bond movies?

Global Affairs Canada is basically mute about the incidents; this week it regurgitated the same vague statement it was doling out back in August. The main foreign service union, PAFSO, is also reluctant to comment other than to say it is “very concerned” and “following the situation closely.”

Fortunately the U.S. government is not quite this cloakand-dagger with its citizens. In Washington, officials suggest the “attacks,” if that’s what they are, may date back to late 2016. As of last week, there were 21 confirmed American victims — diplomats and families — and some have had to return home for medical treatment. They’ve described symptoms such as hearing loss, nausea, headaches, ear ringing, difficulty concentrating and speech problems. At least five Canadian families based in Cuba are reported to have also experienced symptoms. What caused them? No one knows. U.S. reports say some victims have felt sudden vibrations or heard noises, chirping or sudden loud ringing — sometimes only in specific parts of a home or building. U.S. investigators are stumped.

Is it an electromagnetic weapon or a spy system gone awry? Security experts in Ottawa say they’re reminded of 1980s-era Soviet technology aimed at trying to intercept messages on early computers or teletype machines. In other words, someone may be trying to steal information rather than harm diplomats. People getting ill? That might be just collateral damage.

In a Cold War world, of course Cubans would harass Americans, and vice versa. Today, though, that seems less likely: The two countries only re-established relations in 2015 and Cuba doesn’t want to jeopardize this nascent diplomacy. (Indeed, it vociferously denies being behind what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson refers to as “health attacks.”) France, meanwhile, has been testing its diplomats in Havana for symptoms too.

And what about the reported Canadian victims? Here are some of the questions our federal government declines to answer:

How many Canadian government employees in Cuba have experienced health symptoms thought to be linked to this mystery phenomenon? Are any children affected? Has anyone been brought back to Canada (or the U.S.) for treatment? Is the problem still ongoing or has it stopped? Does Global Affairs Canada believe this is occurring only in Cuba, or could there be a wider threat, including on Canadian soil?

In its typical foot-shuffling way, the government says only it is “aware of unusual symptoms” affecting Canadians and their families. It’s working with the Americans and Cubans to figure out the cause. It doesn’t think tourists or other visitors are affected. The Communications Security Establishment adds it’s “providing support” to investigators. The RCMP is involved.

All of this leaves the door open to all sorts of speculation, both informed and less so. Surely Canadians can be told if the problem is ongoing, how serious the symptoms are and whether there is any danger of similar phenomena elsewhere.

And what of the families affected? Most diplomats are willing to take on personal risk, but risk their children? Their spouses?

NDP foreign affairs critic Hélène Laverdière thinks the government should be “more forthcoming” with information. Good idea. Or will we have to wait until other diplomats write their memoirs?