Air India victims’ families felt second-class citizens

Kim Bolan (Vancouver Sun) – The overwhelming despair of Air India victims’ families was compounded by a sense that Canada treated them like second-class citizens, inquiry commissioner John Major said in an interim report released Tuesday.”A question that lingers among the families and other Canadians is: ‘If Air India Flight 182 had been an Air Canada flight with all fair-skinned Canadians, would the government response have been different?’ There is no way to answer that. As a country, we would hope not,” Major says in his report, called The Families Remember.

Most of those who died when the plane was brought down off the coast of Ireland by a B.C.-made bomb were Canadians of Indian origin.

“It was a common comment that ‘nobody from the government ever called us,’ ” the retired Supreme Court of Canada justice said.

Major also said it’s clear Ottawa wasn’t equipped to deal with a devastating terrorist attack like the June 23, 1985 Air India bombing that claimed 329 lives.

“It was obvious that in 1985 Canada did not have a response team that could react to such a massive and unexpected attack,” said his report, released while the inquiry into the terrorist bombing and subsequent investigation continues.

Major said he didn’t want to wait until his full report is completed in the spring to summarize the gut-wrenching testimony he’s heard since the inquiry began in the fall of 2006.

“The families of the victims of the Air India tragedy have already waited much too long for their stories to be told,” he said.

The report said that while families have been quoted in the media for years, “what was different this time was that the families were invited by this commission, mandated by the Government of Canada to express their feelings in a formal hearing before a government-appointed commissioner.”

Major said Canadian officials sent to Ireland to help victims’ families after the bombing were “unprepared and ill-equipped for what was expected of them.”

“Their numbers and resources were inadequate for what was needed to respond to a terrorist attack of the magnitude of the Air India bombing,” he said.

The 211-page report also pays tribute to Irish and English rescue crews who also testified about their ordeal of pulling smashed bodies from the Irish Sea as they desperately searched for survivors. Several described suffering post-traumatic stress syndrome and being without counselling or support.

The document contains no recommendations. Suggested legislative and policy changes are expected in the final report next

spring.

Jacques Shore, a lawyer representing most of the families, called the report “very powerful and a critical backdrop to the commission’s work.”

“It sets the context well from which the commissioner can begin his final report and recommendations and is a tribute to the families.”

Major paid tribute to victims, many of whom were making valuable professional contributions to Canada when they lost their lives prematurely. Of the dozens of young people aboard the flight, many were in Canadian universities and schools, dreaming of fulfilling careers.

A legacy to the victims is the fact that many of their relatives have focused their grief on charity work, Major said.

“Out of the ruins of the Air India tragedy, family members sought mechanisms to cope with their losses,” he said. “Faced with the reality that loved ones were gone, many found the strength and determination to pursue a path of good works and charities.”

He mentioned Dr. Chandra Sankurathri, who left his comfortable Ottawa job after losing his wife and children in the bombing.

Dr. Chandra, as he is known, established a school and eye hospital in India for those living in poverty, in the memory of his family.

“This is an inspiring story of how a man dealt with grief by rebuilding his life to help so many people overcome illiteracy and eye disease,” Major said. “Somehow, Dr. Chandra Sankurathri’s foundation is able to deliver both its educational and medical services to everyone on a modest budget of $500,000 annually.”

The report praised those who have been vocal advocates for the families all these years including Mississauga, Ont., resident Lata Pada, a classical Indian dancer who lost her husband and two daughters, as well as Dr. Bal Gupta, an Ontario engineer who lost his wife Ramwati.

“Despite many setbacks and disappointments, Lata Pada continues to advocate on behalf of the families of the victims,” Major said.

He described Gupta as “the driving force behind the Air India Victims Families Association which represents about 80 families covering 180 victims of the bombing.”

“He remained patient against all odds as he fought to keep the memories alive and to press authorities at various levels for a criminal investigation and a public inquiry.”

Some relatives have established scholarships in the memory of loved ones. Others have chosen careers in fields like law enforcement because of their link to a terrorist act, Major noted.

He also thanked the Air India families again for the difficult testimony, which was given “with great sacrifice emotionally and physically.”

“Their participation I think contributed to the knowledge of the Canadian people as to the immense nature of the tragedy,” Major said.

“The commission is, of course, aware that while we now have a better understanding, only those persons who lived and continue to live the tragedy and its aftermath can truly feel the impact of this act of terrorism.”