Some at vigil for Air India bombings have found peace, others haven’t found closure
Posted June 24, 2015 1:02 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Dozens of people gathered at the Air India bombings memorial in Stanley Park 30 years after the tragedy happened to pay respect to those who’ve died because of the acts of terror. The vigil brought out people with personal connections to what happened, some who remembered the low point in Canada’s history, as well as others who weren’t even alive at the time but wanted to learn more about it.
Parviz Madon placed a bouquet of flowers next to her husband’s name “Sam Madon” which was engraved on a stone wall among other names. She says every anniversary is hard but she’s no longer angry and has found peace.
“I think it’s important for me after 30 years to find my own closure. Justice has not been served for us, the victims’ families, and so I need to let go of that because it’s not healthy for me to now keep fighting.”
Martine Donohue also laid flowers on the memorial for victims. The 88 year old was a witness in the trial. Back then she was a CP Air employee and sold the tickets to the culprit, something that she’ll never forget and still has a tough time coping with.
“It was very hard being in contact with the families of the victims. It was such a tragedy. The fact that they never, nobody was punished for it was the worst thing for them,” she says.
Other people affected by what happened say there’s no closure since the case remains active.
Two separate bombs went off on June 23, 1985. The first went off of at Japan’s Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers. The second exploded mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean, killing all 329 on board.
Only one man has spent any jail time in connection with the bombings.
