'War criminals' in Tamil asylum seekers' guise worry Canada
23 Oct 2009, 1158 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

Ottawa, Oct. 23 Following the seizure of a ship carrying 76 Tamil asylum seekers off Canada's Pacific coast, Ottawa is worried that more vessels - even with some LTTE gunrunner and human trafficker aboard - could be headed for Canada after fleeing from Sri Lanka.

Last Friday, "a vessel of unknown origin" entered Canadian waters. All the 76 Sri Lankan Tamils who were aboard are seeking asylum from Canada's tribunals and courts.

And with a with a success rate of more than nine in 10, most of them are likely to join scores of Tamil refugees who find asylum in Canada every month, the Globe and Mail reports.

But at least one passenger, Kartheepan Manickavasagar, 26, is wanted in Sri Lanka for terrorism.

His lawyer, Hadayt Nazami, however, said: "A lot of innocent Tamils are being persecuted by the government and accused of all kinds of things."

Colombo recently issued a warning saying "several" countries are on the hunt for "high-profile LTTE front agents" who run guns and human-smuggling operations.

Rohan Kumar Gunaratna, a counterterrorism expert, said the ship caught by the Mounties had had a reputation for running guns to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Sri Lanka.

"LTTE shipping is intact. It's possible there is at least one more ship. There could be another vessel," he said.

Canada is now faced with a daunting task of figuring out who is a legitimate refugee, and who is a war criminal. But thanks the time-consuming morass for Canadian tribunals, even if the militants are recognized, deporting them may not be very easy, the report points out.

"Just being a member of the Tamil Tigers is not in itself a war crime," Jim Ross of Human Rights Watch in New York pointed out. He said that, by and large, "the Tamil population has genuine grievances against the Sri Lankan government." (ANI)

Related Latest

Winston Churchill's World War II cigar discovered after 60 years Air Canada begins in-flight internet service Pak need not worry about strengthening Indo-US ties: US official Canada assures full cooperation to track down Tahawwur Rana MI6 chiefs to be quizzed in Iraq war probe India, Canada delegation-level talks today India, Canada to talk nuclear deal, FTA Tuesday Canada offering avenues for Indian investors Tamil Nadu seeks to make its firecracker industry globally competitive Indonesia plans to send detained Sri Lankan asylum seekers home

Related Latest

As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, India will not redraw borders: Singh Pakistan has not done enough on the Mumbai terror attacks: Manmohan Singh No apprehension about US viewing India differently: Manmohan Singh Winters leave Ladakh out of bound, make stocking of food material a must Eco-friendly vehicles rally held in Delhi People worship Highway Goddess for safe journey in Chennai Lucknow Zoo authorities treating tiger for cancer Hussey ready to cop criticism, but will let bat do the talking PAC supports idea of making Pak Army's financial records public Pak heading towards 'demographic disaster', warn experts

• Pakistan has not done enough on the Mumbai terror attacks: Manmohan Singh
• As far as Kashmir issue is concerned, India will not redraw borders: Singh
• No apprehension about US viewing India differently: Manmohan Singh
• Winters leave Ladakh out of bound, make stocking of food material a must
• Lucknow Zoo authorities treating tiger for cancer

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights