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Ottawa refuses probe into link to 1985 Air India bombing
Ottawa, Jun 03: A senior cabinet minister refused to probe what Canada`s spy agency, whose agent had infiltrated a Sikh militant group prior to the Air India bombing in 1985, knew about the tragedy or if they hampered the criminal investigation later.
Ottawa, Jun 03: A senior cabinet minister refused to probe what Canada`s spy agency, whose agent had infiltrated a Sikh militant group prior to the Air India bombing in 1985, knew about the tragedy or if they hampered the criminal investigation later.
Two Sikh separatists are currently on trial in Vancouver for their alleged role in the destruction of Air India flight 182 and the murder of all 329 people on board.
Media reports, citing interrogation files released last week, say that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had planted a mole in the Sikh group and concealed information about his activities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The reports, citing RCMP files, allege that CSIS pulled out their mole -- named as Surjan Singh Gill -- just three days before Air India flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland in June 1985, killing all 329 onboard.
According to a RCMP officer, who was interrogating one of the two defendants at the time, CSIS destroyed some wiretapped phone conversations to cover up its knowledge of the planned bombing.
In the House of Commons, Kevin Sorenson, of the right-wing populist Canadian Alliance, pressed the government to hold an inquiry in to the allegations. But solicitor general Wayne Easter refused, saying, "To suggest that CSIS would pull back from an investigation for any reason...is absolutely absurd."
Easter dismissed the reports as "allegations, rumours and innuendoes."
In addition, he pointed out, "This has been the longest, most costly investigation in Canadian history. I am not, in any way, going to jeopardize this case by comments in the House of Commons." CSIS is responsible primarily for intelligence gathering on matters of national security while the RCMP is the national domestic police force and also has responsibilities for handling domestic security matters.
Svend Robinson, of the left-of-centre New Democrats, said it appeared CSIS was so keen to protect its source that it was "prepared to effectively jeopardize a successful prosecution."
In an interview with a television netwrok, Robinson said, "There are very profound questions about just how deeply involved the CSIS source was. What did he know?"
Bureau Report
Media reports, citing interrogation files released last week, say that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) had planted a mole in the Sikh group and concealed information about his activities from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The reports, citing RCMP files, allege that CSIS pulled out their mole -- named as Surjan Singh Gill -- just three days before Air India flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland in June 1985, killing all 329 onboard.
According to a RCMP officer, who was interrogating one of the two defendants at the time, CSIS destroyed some wiretapped phone conversations to cover up its knowledge of the planned bombing.
In the House of Commons, Kevin Sorenson, of the right-wing populist Canadian Alliance, pressed the government to hold an inquiry in to the allegations. But solicitor general Wayne Easter refused, saying, "To suggest that CSIS would pull back from an investigation for any reason...is absolutely absurd."
Easter dismissed the reports as "allegations, rumours and innuendoes."
In addition, he pointed out, "This has been the longest, most costly investigation in Canadian history. I am not, in any way, going to jeopardize this case by comments in the House of Commons." CSIS is responsible primarily for intelligence gathering on matters of national security while the RCMP is the national domestic police force and also has responsibilities for handling domestic security matters.
Svend Robinson, of the left-of-centre New Democrats, said it appeared CSIS was so keen to protect its source that it was "prepared to effectively jeopardize a successful prosecution."
In an interview with a television netwrok, Robinson said, "There are very profound questions about just how deeply involved the CSIS source was. What did he know?"
Bureau Report