Suspected Tamil Tigers caged

Police checking for links to Tigers, paramilitary, crimes against humanity

(By TOM GODFREY, Toronto Sun)

More than three dozen Tamil migrants have been segregated from 492 others who arrived by boat for questioning by police on suspicion of being linked to the Tamil Tigers, or other inadmissible groups, including war criminals. Those held in “segregation” at Fraser Regional Correctional Centre, in B.C., include the skipper of the MV Sun Sea, Kamalraj Kandasamy, a.k.a “Captain Vinod,” his 24-man crew and about a dozen migrants who arrived Aug. 13 off the coast of B.C. after a 90-day trip from Thailand. Police said the suspects are being interviewed and undergoing extensive background checks by the RCMP, CSIS and Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) on suspicion of alien smuggling, being members of the Tamil Tigers terrorist group, a Sri Lankan paramilitary group or for taking part in crimes against humanity.

Police said several men were moved to a segregation unit because they were “threatening or intimidating” other migrants. RCMP Const. Michael McLaughlin said he couldn’t comment on the investigation. “All I can say is the investigation is still very much active,” McLaughlin said from B.C. He referred calls to the CBSA, whose officials said information is available on their website.

David Poopalapillai, of the Canadian Tamil Congress, said a number of male migrants were moved from the main group. “A few of them were segregated from the main group,” Poopalapillai said on Tuesday. “They will have to respond to further inquiry.” He denied allegations by the Public Safety Minister Vic Toews that members of the Tamil Tigers were among the group, who paid up to $50,000 for the smuggling trip.

“I guess federal officials want to know more about some people,” Poopalapillai said. “There are no terrorists on board the ship.” All the migrants filed refugee claims that will be heard in the months to come. They are being detained as immigration officials confirm their identities. Poopalapillai expects the 63 women and 49 children to be released as early as next week.

Police and intelligence officials allege Vinod, a Tamil Tigers leader, was deputy to a captain who steered a sister ship, Ocean Lady, to Canada last Ocober with 76 migrants on board. The Sun Sea, once earlier known as the Harin Panich 19, was the subject of a maritime police alert last May when it was turned around near Australia as it headed there with 100 migrants on board.

Police allege the ship was earlier engaged in smuggling several thousand tonnes of arms, ammunition and explosives from North Korea to Sri Lanka. Police allege a Tigers cell in Canada organized the Sun Sea smuggling trip.