Other People's Wars: A Review of Overseas Terrorism in ... - Edocr

Other Peoples’ Wars -- Chapter Two
conflict 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 of
terrorists into this country continues.
In May 1995, a DK member convicted of hijacking an Air India flight entered Canada using a
false name and claimed refugee status. He subsequently became the subject of a CSIS
investigation, and eventually a deportation order was issued for him. 31 A Babbar Khalsa
terrorist was ordered deported from Canada in 1998. He admitted he was present when
killings were planned while he was still in India and that he acted as a courier for the
organization. 32 In February of 1999 a refugee claimant admitted to a Canadian immigration
officer that he was a member of the BK, and that he would assist the organization with noncombat
related activities here in Canada (e.g. fund raising). Once deportation proceedings
began, he changed his story, claiming that he hoped that the admission would strengthen his
refugee claim, and that in reality he was not a member. A Federal Court justice upheld the
original deportation order back to India. 33 As recently as December 19, 2000 another active
member of the Babbar Khalsa entered Canada without documentation and upon questioning
admitted to his participation with the terrorist organization. He then became the subject of
immigration proceedings. 34
In the struggle against Sikh terrorism in Canada, the greatest credit belongs to Canadian Sikhs
themselves – many of who have withstood intimidation and violence by the militants in order to
counter their attempts to wrest control of temple funds or indoctrinate their children. Men and
women such as the late Tara Singh Hayer, the publisher of the Indo-Canadian Times who
became a paraplegic after a 1988 attack and was murdered in 1998 for his stand against the
terrorists, deserve our highest approbation.
Sri Lankan Tamils
Sri Lanka is an island state located in the Indian Ocean off the southern tip of India, with a
population of over 19 million people. The majority are Sinhalese, who are largely Buddhist, and
comprise approximately 75% of the population. The next largest community is the Tamils,
whose ancestors arrived in the island before the Colonial era; they represent approximately
13% of the population. They trace their ancestry to the Dravidians of southern India and, like
the majority of Indians, are Hindus. Between 5 to 6% of the population are Indian Tamils
descended from laborers brought to the island under British colonial rule to work on the tea
plantations. 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 been
31
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