The Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) has called for justice in the killing of Vancouver journalist Tara Singh Hayer, who was murdered 10 years ago. On November 18, 1998, the then 62-year-old publisher of the Indo-Canadian Times was shot to death at his Surrey, British Columbia home. His murder remains unsolved.
CJFE's Executive Director Annie Game said in a statement, "The murder of Hayer was the greatest test, and, indeed, the greatest failure of press freedom in Canada". Despite repeated warnings, threats, and a previous attempt on his life, police were unable to protect him. With each passing year that his murder goes unpunished, it appears that these killers, on Canadian soil, have gotten away with murder.
Hayer was almost certainly targeted for his investigative work on the Air India case. The 1985 bombing of an Air India flight (Kanishka), plotted and initiated in Vancouver, was the deadliest incident of aviation terrorism in Canadian history. Prior to the high-profile trial, Hayer had made statements to police that would incriminate members of a militant Sikh separatist group. He was also on the list of potential witnesses to be heard at the trial.
Nor was this the first time Hayer had been attacked. A previous attempt on his life ten years before had left him confined to a wheelchair.
CJFE called upon the authorities to ensure that justice is done in this case. "The courage of this brave journalist deserves a more fitting legacy than a place in the unsolved pile of murders," said Game. "This is a burden of shame for all Canadians. We need closure on this case."
When Hayer died, Canada lost an irreplaceable voice for the Indo-Canadian community—a devastatingly high price to pay in the name of free expression. In 1999, CJFE named its press freedom award given to Canadian journalists who have shown great courage in the course of doing their work after Tara Singh Hayer.
