The May 30 arrest and jailing of five members of the Montreal Sikh community on charges of “conspiracy” to procure explosives in order to blow up Air India jet May 31 constitute not only a racist attack by the government and police against Canada’s over 100,000 Sikhs, but also a threat to the civil liberties of all working people.
For over a year, in the name of its struggle against “terrorism,” the Canadian government has in fact been terrorizing the Sikh community. Last year, Vancouver area, Sikhs were also charged with conspiracy in relation to June 23 downing of an Air India jet off the coast of Ireland with the loss of 329 passengers and crew. In that search for the alleged conspirators, the RCMP terrorized B.C-s 90,000-strong Sikh community by raiding hundreds of homes through ‘out the Lower Mainland and elsewhere. Despite the massive raids, the cops were unable to provide proof of the “conspiracy”.
The conspiracy accusation is a vague catch-all charge which can be used to harass and slander any group, organization or individuals ‘who become the political target of the RCMP or the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.
All supporters of civil liberties should come to the defense of the victimized Sikhs and the Sikh community as a whole.
SOCIALIST VOICE.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 18, 1986
