Protected Air India witnesses say they feel safer

Most of those in the federal witness protection program are satisfied with the security they have received despite the enormous emotional upheaval of losing their identity and life, the Air India inquiry heard Friday.
The first-ever survey of protected witnesses in Canada was entered as an exhibit at the Ottawa inquiry into the June 1985 bombing plot that killed 331.
While most of the 21 people surveyed said they "fear future threats or retaliation," they also said they feel safer being in the RCMP program.
Inquiry lawyer Louis Seveno admitted that the survey may not be representative given that there are about 1,000 people in the witness protection program.
But he said the results provide a glimpse into the difficult lives of people who have been forced to take the dramatic step of changing their identity and community to stay safe.
Seveno told Commissioner John Major that among the respondents is the former B.C. woman who became the star witness at the Air India trial.
During her testimony, the woman, whose identity is protected by court order, described the toll on her from months of death threats, followed by the social isolation of entering the protection program and leaving some family members behind.
Several protected witnesses offered suggestions about improving the program, including a longer period of financial assistance, more help finding employment and speeding up the process of transferring personal documents into the new name.
Most said they got some kind of RCMP allowance for a period of between six and 12 months, which they said should be longer. Some complained it was hard to maintain employment because they had to take time off to return to testify.
One respondent said, "I think the witness protection program is a credit to this country and I appreciate what they did for me and my family."
The respondents also said more could be done to provide information to people considering entering the program.
16/11/07 Kim Bolan/CanWest News Service/Canada.com, Canada

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