I attended the small but important gathering in Stanley Park last night to remember the 331 victims of the 1985 Air India bombing plot. It’s understandably a solemn gathering – so much lost and so much frustration over the failed prosecution of the key suspects in Canada’s worst mass murder.
Renee Saklikar, the poet who lost her aunt and uncle in the bombing, said those gathered are kind of like an “extended family.” Most are like her and lost loved ones. But there are others – Gary Bass, the former deputy commissioner of the RCMP, was there with his wife Ruth. He oversaw the investigation leading up to the charges that were laid in 2000. He usually attends the amazing Air India service in Ahakista, Ireland, but couldn’t get there this year. Air India Flight 182 went down off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985. The Irish has been comforting victims’ relatives ever since.
I also heard early yesterday from Anil Hanse, in Australia. His dad was a co-pilot on the ill-fated Air India flight. He has his own little service and remains very close to Amarjit Bhinder, whose husband was Hanse’s co-pilot. The bonds forged over three decades are permanent.
There were no other media at the 2016 service beside the Stanley Park memorial wall listing all the victims’ names. But as long as I’m a reporter, I will continue to go. It’s important to remember those who died. It’s also critical that Canada as a nation learns from the mistakes made before and after the bombing.
With poetry, prayers and calls for justice, the 331 victims of the 1985 Air India terrorist bombings were remembered at a memorial in Stanley Park Thursday night.
Gurdial Sidhu, who lost her sister-in-law Sukhwinder, niece Parminder, and nephew Kuldip in the terrorist attack, said all sense of normalcy in her family’s life also died the day of the bombing.
“We still did not get any justice,” she told about 60 people gathered at the Air India memorial wall. “At the end, I am forced to think there is no justice for this criminal travesty. The terrorists are still alive. They’re free and they enjoy their lives.”
24/06/16 Kim Bolan/Vancouver Sun
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
Renee Saklikar, the poet who lost her aunt and uncle in the bombing, said those gathered are kind of like an “extended family.” Most are like her and lost loved ones. But there are others – Gary Bass, the former deputy commissioner of the RCMP, was there with his wife Ruth. He oversaw the investigation leading up to the charges that were laid in 2000. He usually attends the amazing Air India service in Ahakista, Ireland, but couldn’t get there this year. Air India Flight 182 went down off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985. The Irish has been comforting victims’ relatives ever since.
I also heard early yesterday from Anil Hanse, in Australia. His dad was a co-pilot on the ill-fated Air India flight. He has his own little service and remains very close to Amarjit Bhinder, whose husband was Hanse’s co-pilot. The bonds forged over three decades are permanent.
There were no other media at the 2016 service beside the Stanley Park memorial wall listing all the victims’ names. But as long as I’m a reporter, I will continue to go. It’s important to remember those who died. It’s also critical that Canada as a nation learns from the mistakes made before and after the bombing.
With poetry, prayers and calls for justice, the 331 victims of the 1985 Air India terrorist bombings were remembered at a memorial in Stanley Park Thursday night.
Gurdial Sidhu, who lost her sister-in-law Sukhwinder, niece Parminder, and nephew Kuldip in the terrorist attack, said all sense of normalcy in her family’s life also died the day of the bombing.
“We still did not get any justice,” she told about 60 people gathered at the Air India memorial wall. “At the end, I am forced to think there is no justice for this criminal travesty. The terrorists are still alive. They’re free and they enjoy their lives.”
24/06/16 Kim Bolan/Vancouver Sun
