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Sikh body pays tribute to
Kanishka victims
WSN Network
OTTAWA: Often
under pressure to underline its distance from any group even
remotely involved with the Kanishka bombing, Canada’s Sikh community
seems to be going all out to state its position of solidarity with
the dominant Canadian feeling of rage and anger at the tragedy. The
World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has this year paid tribute
to all victims of the Air India airplane tragedy that claimed 329
innocent lives and caused pain and hardship to many more. This year
marks the 24th anniversary of the downing of Flight 182,
off the coast of Ireland. “The loss of 329 lives is a loss for all
of society, and not just a loss for the victims’ families,” said Ram
Raghbir Singh Chahal, President of the World Sikh Organization.
“Amongst the victims were accomplished humanitarians, scientists,
artists and community activists, from many different faiths: Sikh,
Hindu, Muslim, and Christian. The incomprehensible criminal act that
resulted in the loss of their lives is an affront to all right
thinking Canadians.”
Speaking about
the political aftermath of the Air India tragedy, Gian Singh Sandhu,
Senior Policy Advisor for the World Sikh Organization, stated,
“Tragically, the Sikh community has been doubly victimized from this
tragedy. Not only were there significant numbers of Sikhs amongst
the victims, but the Sikh community of
Canada
has lived under a cloud of suspicion ever since. Sikhs routinely
faced interrogation, harassment and intimidation, by Canadian
authorities in the first decade following the Air India tragedy.
While the harassment has dissipated over time, the wounds left in
its wake have not. Sikhs continue to face widespread public
hostility, and are still largely misunderstood due to the very
successful anti-Sikh media campaign launched against them throughout
the 1980’s and 1990’s.” “For well over two decades, the WSO had been
calling for an Inquiry into the botched RCMP and CSIS investigation,
which left the victims, their families, and the Sikh community, with
no closure or redress. Twenty-four years later, we continue to wait
with the Air India Inquiry Report still pending; but with no real
hope that the Inquiry will be able to ever redress the wrong that
has been done to so many innocent victims, and the Canadian Sikh
community,” said Sandhu.
24
June 2009
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