Today is the 20th anniversary of a tragic act of terrorism that claimed the lives of 331 innocent people. On June 23, 1985, two bombs were placed on two separate Air India flights leaving Canada, bound for India. The first flight was early, and its bomb killed two baggage handlers in Japan. The second bomb found its mark, killing all 329 passengers (82 of them children) by falling the jet just off the coast of Ireland. Today, the families of the victims, the members of the small Irish town that was the hub of the rescue/retrieval effort and a few political dignitaries gathered at the memorial of the tragedy near Cork, Ireland.
Most of the victims of this confirmed act of terrorism were Canadian. What has become known as the Air India Bombings remains one of Canada’s largest mass murders and single most destructive act of modern terrorism. Despite these facts, it took over 15 years for charges to be laid in connection with the bombings. Then on March 16, 2005, after a $130 million trial spanning 18 months, the two main suspects walked free. A third suspect, who was already in custody for another crime, pled guilty to manslaughter and received a five year sentence. A fourth man was never tried due to lack of evidence. 331 lives, mostly Canadian, all innocent and yet the only measure of justice was one five year prison term.
Canada has failed these people, plain and simple. That day, these terrorists not only killed those innocent Canadians but they destroyed their descendants and robbed the world of all the great things those people could have accomplished. And yet, 20 years later, no one has really been punished. No memorial exists on Canadian soil. In fact, at the time of the tragedy, the Prime Minister of Canada, Brian Mulroney, called the Indian Prime Minister to offer condolences. Why? Because their national airline lost a plane?
This underlies the reason I feel that it took so long for charges to be laid: these people were seen as Indians and not Canadians. Despite paying taxes, owning homes and building lives in Canada, it took the increasing attention and mockery of the media for their government to take action. Kudos to the members of the media and those with public forums for not letting this tragedy fade away without retribution. I sincerely feel that was it not for their interest, the government would have let this crime go unpunished and barely recognized, save for the occasional rehearsed, solemn commentary by a politician.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
Thank you for this post - perhaps, just perhaps it will penetrate the insularity that is rampant on this island
2 - gypsyman
The Air India bombing remains the worst hour of the newly formed C.S.I.S. Pulled out the ashes of the R.C.M.P. intellagence squads that were disbanded for such overzealous actions as blowing up barns in Quebec and blaming the F.L.Q.
C.S.I.S(Can anyone tell me what those damned initials stand for)was supposed to be a new and responsible alternative. Unfortunetly they didn't know theis assets from a hole in the ground and would take years to find their feet.
Of course the R.C.M.P. probably were not what anyone would call helpful either because they still had their noses out of joint from seeing their powers stripped.
All in all this was a failure of our police forces. Prosecuters and govenerments can only act on evidence that's provided for them. When that evidence is not sufficent to convict anyone there is little or nothing that can be done.
I think that blaming government has become too much of a reflex action for too many people. Look at where the blame really lies.
Also ask yourself this. Do you want the government having direct control over the police and the intellagence service, such that they can dictate how a investigation is carried out. That is a dangerous precedent to start.
C.I.S.I.S. and all other police have a responsibility to governments and the public they serve to provide sufficent evidence to secure convictions. This was not done.
gypsyman