Witness intimidation a serious problem, Air India inquiry hears

The inability of police to solve violent crimes against witnesses like the 1998 assassination of Tara Singh Hayer instils fear in whole communities, the Air India inquiry heard Monday.
Two security experts told inquiry Commissioner John Major that law enforcement agencies have not taken threats levelled against potential witnesses seriously enough.
Former police officer Mark Lalonde, a senior manager of Canpro Pacific Services, said the lack of conviction for the murder of Hayer and the 1985 beating of Liberal MP Ujjal Dosanjh, who was then an outspoken Sikh moderate, illustrate the problem police face.
"The perpetrators are known within the community. I don't think either of those cases may ever come to trial and one of the reasons - it's not because of a lack of effort by the police - it's the fear and suspicion from the community of retaliation. They have to live in this community and there is a price for coming forward," Lalonde told the Ottawa inquiry into the June 1985 bombing that killed 329 people.
Hayer had agreed to be a witness in the Air India case when he was gunned down in his Surrey garage. A special RCMP task force continues to investigate the file.
Both Lalonde and criminologist Yvon Dandurand testified that police need to prosecute lesser threats made against witnesses to build public confidence - particularly in ethnic communities.
CanWest News Service recently revealed that several witnesses in the Air India case faced threats, attacks on their homes and intimidation, but none of the cases was ever prosecuted.
Dandurand, who teaches at University College of the Fraser Valley, said it is often difficult to lay charges in threatening cases because there is no independent proof besides the statement of the witness to police.
Both Dandurand and Lalonde said the witness protection program - the final option for security of witnesses in high-profile cases - needs an overhaul and may not be the most effective tool in getting witnesses in terrorism.
And they testified that Canada should consider setting up a separate agency - independent of the police - to administer the program.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Gary Bass earlier told CanWest News Service the hearings are an important tool in the ongoing Air India probe.
But Dandurand said the measure "could add to the already existing feelings of vulnerability and insecurity of members of vulnerable groups."
Also Monday, Major ruled on a series of applications by the World Sikh Organization to expand its intervener standing at the inquiry, have several witnesses called and be able to cross-examine some of those testifying.
29/10/07 Kim Bolan/CanWest News Service/Vancouver Sun/Canada.com, Canada

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Categories: Air India - International Oct 2007, Foreign Oct 2007, Safety Oct 2007