Sikhs: Video shown at Greenwood is racist

NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA—The Nova Scotia Sikh community is denouncing as racist a video shown at a dinner at 14 Wing Greenwood more than two years ago and now the subject of a military investigation.

“It’s very unfortunate and disturbing,” Jagbal Singh Tiwana, president of the Maritime Sikh Society, said in an interview Thursday.

The video, aired at a mess dinner in Greenwood more than two years ago, shows a man in heavy brown makeup, a long fake beard and a turban. He’s talking in a thick accent to a fictional female television anchor.

In response to questions about the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, the turbaned character, supposedly the brother of the terrorist leader, responds, “I get the guns, I steal the bullets. I make the bombs. I do everything. All he ever does is take credit.”

Asked what he’s doing living in Vancouver, the fictional character replies, “What do you think I’m doing out here, you silly infidel? I am driving one very nice taxi.”

The video was leaked to CBC News a few weeks ago and posted on its website Thursday.

Although bin Laden was Muslim, the character in the video is unmistakably Sikh, reinforcing the mistaken belief by many that Sikhs are Muslim, said Tiwana.

“Muslims do not wear a turban. Only Sikhs wear turbans,” he said. “It’s very disturbing, portraying Sikhs as followers of bin Laden.”

After the 9-11 terrorist attacks in 2001, many Sikhs were attacked and beaten.

“We are loyal citizens of Canada,” Tiwana said. “We live peacefully and get along well with our neighbours. But here we are portrayed as a follower of bin Laden. It’s ridiculous and reprehensible.”

There are some 140 Sikh families living in Nova Scotia, with a temple in Halifax.

The comment about being a taxi driver in Vancouver also stereotypes Sikhs.

“There are many Sikhs who drive taxis in Vancouver,” Tiwana said. “But we’re also represented in the Canadian Forces and the RCMP.”

He said he looks forward to the results of the military investigation.

“I’m very confident that this is just mischief somebody played and it got leaked out,” he said. “But the government is taking action and they’re investigating it.”

Usha Goel, president of the Indo-Canadian Association of Nova Scotia, is also offended by the video.

“I really did not like it,” she said Thursday after viewing a clip. “They should not be posing like that. It should be investigated.”

A spokesman for the Islamic Association of Nova Scotia could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Military personnel at Greenwood are not discussing the video publicly.

“The base commander is aware of the video,” said base spokesman Capt. John Pulchny. “The investigation has been turned over to the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service and we are unable to provide any comments.”

Pulchny referred all other questions to the Canadian Forces media liaison office in Ottawa.

“There are serious allegations that its content was inappropriate and culturally insensitive,” Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, said in a written statement.

In the video, the bearded man names a female officer working at Greenwood. “Tell her I’ll be giving her a call on my detonator very soon,” he says.

The woman told CBC that when she found out about the video, she received apologies from those involved in its production.

In his statement, Blondin said: “Although I can’t comment on the details of this incident while the CFNIS is conducting its independent investigation, I can reassure all members of the RCAF, members of the Canadian Forces and Canadians as well that we have zero tolerance for acts that do not reflect our Canadian values, especially the respect we owe to other cultures and religions.”