The Tamil Migrants: A tiger by the tail?

Accept refugees or not accept refugees. A recent Angus Reid poll shows 63% of Canadians feel the ship; the Sun Sea should have been turned back before it landed. The consensus of opinion is that the migrants are not fleeing any danger but are trying to somehow "jump the queue" to gain entry to Canada. Surveyed people are wondering why these refugees should not be made to follow the regular path for immigrating to Canada. Is this fair to other refugees who want to come to Canada legitimately?

 

Another important issue is the possibility that some of these people may be members of the terrorist group the Tamil Tigers. So far, authorities have said nothing about this but Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has gotten himself into some hot water with the Canadian Tamil Congress about "jumping to false conclusions". Mr. Toews was quoted as saying the Thai cargo ship was part of a "broader criminal enterprise" and a "test boat" intended to gauge Ottawa’s attitude toward refugees arriving by ship. Only the processing of the migrants and a further investigation of the individuals will clarify their true status.

 

But, are the minister’s conclusions false? Is there more evidence waiting to be found?

 

The Malay Mail, a newspaper in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia is reporting that the captain of the Sun Sea, a Captain Vinod is known to have worked with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) or Tamil Tigers during the 1990’s through to 2009. Professor Rohan Gunaratna, a terrorism expert and professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, identified the commander of the 59-metre Sun Sea as Captain Vinod. According to Professor Gunaratum, Capt. Vinod originally studied at the Malaysian Maritime Academy, subsequently got involved with supporting the Tigers and has now switched to people smuggling. Vinod is known to be partnered with another Tiger supporter, a Captain Kamal, the same Capt. Kamal who skippered another ship, the Ocean Lady which arrived in Canada last October with 76 Tamil refugees.

 

Questions are being raised within the government as to whether Canadian residents helped pay, Mr. Toews said in an interview. Giving money to a known terrorist organization or participating in people smuggling is a criminal offence. There are worries that this voyage was organized by the Tamil Tigers and previously, the RCMP apparently found evidence of substantial fundraising – voluntary and extorted – from legitimate Tamil immigrants to Canada.

 

For the moment, the passengers are being processed. All will have to appear before a tribunal where they will have to show identification and prove they are no risk to Canada before they are released from custody. The Immigration and Refugee Board will be conducting the hearings starting at 1pm, Monday, August 23 in Vancouver.

Click HERE to read more columns by William Belle.

 

 

Angus Reid: Almost Half of Canadians Believe Tamil Migrants Should Be Deported

 

The Malay Mail: Malaysian link to Tigers by Frankie D’Cruz, August 16, 2010

 

Wikipedia: The Malay Mail

 

TamilNet: Canada paints ‘terrorism’ to escape responsibility – August 17, 2010

 

Wikipedia: TamilNet

 

Wikipedia: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

 

Federal Bureau of Investigation: Taming the Tamil Tigers

 

2010-08-19