Friday, September 18, 2009

The sins of the Son

Most Canadians have never traveled through Kamloops International Airport. That's understandable. Kamloops is off the beaten air track (also known as the 32,000 foot brown smudge).

There are a couple of things about Kamloops airport that you should know.

First, Kamloops International Airport (YKA in travel agent lingo) is actually Fulton Field. It's named after Wing Commander John Fulton, ("Moose" to his friends and enemies), who commanded the first Royal Canadian Air Force bomber squadron to enter service with 3 Wing of Bomber Command during the 2nd World War. Moose, highly decorated during the war himself, had the honour of commanding 419 Squadron during which one of two Victoria Crosses was awarded to the RCAF... for the whole war. In this case it was to Pilot Officer Andrew Mynarski who died after trying to save his fellow air-gunner.

But, I digress.

The second thing that is relevant to Kamloops airport is that, if you ever pass through it, you will note that the security is tighter than an elephant's hide at full drought. It's almost embarrassing.

Ottawa: What's that?
Moi: Camera bag, complete with camera.
Ottawa: OK. Hey! Diana! Did you hear about....

Kamloops: What's that?
Moi: Camera bag, complete with camera.
Kamloops: Step back, Sir. (And they ripped it apart. Everything!)

Why would a little hole-in-the-wall airport which services a resource industrial hub and the Austrian Olympic ski team have such a weird level of security? Well, actually, it's very simple.

Air India flight 182. The worst terrorist attack to be hatched on Canadian soil and, until the World Trade Center attack in 2001, the most heinous terrorist act to have been planned and originated in developed North America. One of those originally accused of having perpetrated this act is alive, well and acquitted of all wrong-doing, and living in Kamloops.

His alleged accomplice at the time was Ripudaman Singh Malik, who was also acquitted.

His son ain't so lucky.
The lawyer son of an acquitted Air India suspect has been cited for professional misconduct for allegedly misleading the court during his father's legal aid hearing.
Allegedly?! I think not. The law society is one thing, but, in fact, the court in which he was testifying said he was lying. (Emphasis mine)

The allegations of misconduct stem from a hearing concerning whether his father was eligible for legal aid at the Air India bombing trial.

The younger Malik gave evidence about the family's finances.

In the decision rejecting the funding application, the judge found Malik misled the court.

That's not an allegation; that's a finding by a high court justice. Malik provided false evidence. That it has gone though both the court and the law society internal disciplinary process and the next act is to instruct remedy, Malik, the younger, is guilty. The allegation has been proven.

So, what other lies need to be uncovered?


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