In a development sure to make waves in the growing Petition Campaign to End Slavery and Sweatshops in the Fields, a new article published in Sunday's Ft. Myers News Press details a concerted campaign to infiltrate the Student/Farmworker Alliance, the national student and youth organization and key CIW ally, by a corporate "security and investigative firm that advertises its ability to place 'operatives' in the ranks of target groups."

Check out the CIW site,  http://www.ciw-online.org/ for all the latest news, including a link to the article and to the Democracy Now radio story that ran this morning on the breaking news.

The article also uncovers a widespread bogus blogger operation traced directly to Burger King headquarters. The fake blogger spread libelous, anonymous attacks on the CIW in readers forums and video comment sections across the internet. The attacks -- which stopped cold following inquiries to top BK executives about the anonymous blogger -- were remarkably similar to those that BK spokespeople had long ago employed openly before being obliged to retract them by the press. The article reports that the anonymous email address posting the comments can be traced directly back to Burger King corporation.

The corporate "security" firm, Diplomatic Tactical Services, is out of Hollywood, Florida. You can find more about their work at the firm's website, www.diplomatictacticalservicesinc.com. Here's an excerpt from their site:

"Diplomatic Tactical Services Inc. Labor relations include:

Covert Surveillance: Surveillance of areas identified as probable locations of illegal activity is a necessary part of dealing with a work stoppage. Knowing what to document and what to avoid is the key to not crossing into an illegal surveillance of union activity.

Undercover Operations: Placing of an operative in the ranks is dangerous if not handled with the greatest care. We have properly trained operatives that can document illegal activity without creating liability."

See all the details of this remarkably seedy story by visiting the CIW site,  http://www.ciw-online.org, and stay tuned as the story continues to develop. There is definitely more to come...