Other People's Wars - Caledonia Wake Up Call

Other Peoples’ Wars -- Chapter Twoconflict in the Punjab. Although heavy-handed Indian security has lessened in the past decade,the potential for further terrorist acts with a Canadian connection still exists, as the flow ofterrorists into this country continues.In May 1995, a DK member convicted of hijacking an Air India flight entered Canada using afalse name and claimed refugee status. He subsequently became the subject of a CSISinvestigation, and eventually a deportation order was issued for him. 31 A Babbar Khalsaterrorist was ordered deported from Canada in 1998. He admitted he was present whenkillings were planned while he was still in India and that he acted as a courier for theorganization. 32 In February of 1999 a refugee claimant admitted to a Canadian immigrationofficer that he was a member of the BK, and that he would assist the organization with noncombatrelated activities here in Canada (e.g. fund raising). Once deportation proceedingsbegan, he changed his story, claiming that he hoped that the admission would strengthen hisrefugee claim, and that in reality he was not a member. A Federal Court justice upheld theoriginal deportation order back to India. 33 As recently as December 19, 2000 another activemember of the Babbar Khalsa entered Canada without documentation and upon questioningadmitted to his participation with the terrorist organization. He then became the subject ofimmigration proceedings. 34In the struggle against Sikh terrorism in Canada, the greatest credit belongs to Canadian Sikhsthemselves – many of who have withstood intimidation and violence by the militants in order tocounter their attempts to wrest control of temple funds or indoctrinate their children. Men andwomen such as the late Tara Singh Hayer, the publisher of the Indo-Canadian Times whobecame a paraplegic after a 1988 attack and was murdered in 1998 for his stand against theterrorists, deserve our highest approbation.Sri Lankan TamilsSri Lanka is an island state located in the Indian Ocean off the southern tip of India, with apopulation of over 19 million people. The majority are Sinhalese, who are largely Buddhist, andcomprise approximately 75% of the population. The next largest community is the Tamils,whose ancestors arrived in the island before the Colonial era; they represent approximately13% of the population. They trace their ancestry to the Dravidians of southern India and, likethe majority of Indians, are Hindus. Between 5 to 6% of the population are Indian Tamilsdescended from laborers brought to the island under British colonial rule to work on the teaplantations. The Northern and Eastern provinces are primarily Tamil speaking. For centuries,the island has also been home to a Muslim population, descendants of traders, who had been31 Federal Court of Canada, Tejinder Singh Pal v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, December 22,1997.32 Reflex, issue 108, February 3, 1999.33 Federal Court of Canada, Davinder Pal Bhalru v. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, January 12,2000.34 Federal Court of Canada, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration v. Harjinder Singh Patwal, June 3,2001.40