Air India hearings could reopen with new anti-terrorism legislation

Vancouver: The federal government has re-introduced anti-terrorism legislation that could lead to the resumption of special investigative hearings into the Air India bombing.
Those hearings were derailed in March 2007 when earlier legislation allowing the special judicial hearings expired.
The RCMP's Air India Task Force had been preparing to go forward at the time with hearings to advance the mass murder probe that left 331 dead on June 23, 1985.
On Friday, Justice Minister Rob Nicholson introduced the "Combating Terrorism Act," which he said will provide more tools for police and prosecutors to prevent and investigate terrorist activities.
"These provisions are necessary to protect our country from the threat of terrorism," Nicholson said.
The investigative-hearing provisions of the bill would amend the Criminal Code to allow the courts to compel a witness who may have information regarding a terrorism offence to appear in court and provide information, he said.
Nicholson said the proposed legislation would add safeguards to those already included in the original legislation to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals who may be subject to these provisions.
"The first duty of every government is to protect the safety and security of its citizens, while also ensuring the protection of their fundamental rights," added Daniel Petit, Nicholson's parliamentary secretary.
23/04/10 Kim Bolan/Vancouver Sun

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Categories: Air India - International Apr 2010, Foreign Apr 2010, NACIL Apr 2010, Safety Apr 2010