Author:
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 18, 2006
URL: http://www1.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/462715.cms
Toronto: When the Air-India Kanishka flight
from Toronto to Delhi was blown up mid-air in June 1985, killing 329 passengers,
Vancouver Sun journalist Kim Bolan knew whose handiwork it was, because she
was covering the pro-Khalistan violence at that time. Amid death threats,
she investigated the plot.
After the acquittal of two suspects Ajaib
Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Malik last year, she has now come out with Loss
of Faith: How The Air-India Bombers Got Away With Murder. Bolan spoke with
Gurmukh Singh after winning PEN Canada's award for investigative journalism
this week:
Q.: Do you think that the bombers of Air-India
will be nailed one day?
A.: Investigation is on about intimidation of witnesses and the murder of
Punjabi journalist Tara Singh Hayer who was going to be a witness. So I believe
there will be other charges that involve the same people, though maybe not
directly for Air-India.
There is still the perjury trial of Inderjit
Singh Reyat (the only one jailed for making bombs for the plot), who was much
more involved in the plot than he has admitted. Perhaps he will finally tell
the truth.
Q.: Do you think the outcome of the case would
have been different?
A.: I attended the trial every day and felt there was enough evidence to support
two convictions. The judge assessed the credibility of some key witnesses
differently than I did. However, I also had a lot more information about what
was going on than what came out in court.
I think there are too many limitations on
what should be admitted as evidence in Canadian courts. For example, why was
Tara Hayer's statement implicating Bagri not allowed as evidence?
The judge ruled that it would have been prejudicial
because of the violent murder of Hayer. That sends a disturbing message that
killing a witness is a good way to win a case.
Q.: Do you feel the authorities were indifferent
to the case from the very outset, that it was an Indian problem Indian plane,
passengers and separatists?
A.: No. Initially, the then prime minister thought it was an Indian issue,
but law enforcement agencies were already watching the culprits before the
bombing. However, these agencies did not have Punjabi-speaking officers and,
therefore, missed evidence that was available before the bombing.
The probe was also hampered by a rift between
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Canadian Security Intelligence
Service (CSIS).
Q.: What was their biggest blunder?
A.: These agencies failed to get enough Indo-Canadians to testify against
those responsible and stop the plot mastermind, Talwinder Singh Parmar, from
leaving Canada.
