Mystery Surrounding the Break-In and Loss of a Computer at the CTC Office

 I refer to the recent news reports pertaining to the supposed break-in and theft of a computer from the office of the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) in Scarborough which was announced to the media by the CTC’s spokesperson Mr. David Poopalapillai on the 13th of September 2010.  Initially, Mr. Poopalapillai claimed that the stolen computer contained personal data of more than 300 of the illegal Tamil migrants who arrived in BC aboard the cargo ship named the MV Sun Sea.  He further said that the information included the names of relatives of these migrants living in Sri Lanka and Canada as well, and even went on to blame the Government of Sri Lanka for the break-in and theft.  Is this a ruse to get rid of incriminating evidence by manipulating the whole episode?

 The CTC which was formed in the latter part of 2001 soon after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were listed as a terrorist movement per UN Security Council Resolution number 1373 of September 2001 is today the main voice of the Tamil Tigers, as the known front organizations, i.e. World Tamil Movement (WTM) and the umbrella organization named the Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils (FACT) apparently moved their operations underground.  In fact, the CTC was initially housed at 863 Broadview Avenue, Toronto, along with FACT and the Tamil Eelam Society of Canada, but quickly removed the location address from its website to hide its links from the Tamil Tigers before moving to a new location on Progress Avenue.

 I am puzzled by the subsequent announcement made by Mr. Poopalapillai on the 14th of September, 2010, scaling back the computer stored data of migrants to a couple of dozen from the earlier figure of over 300 records.  Another matter that is puzzling is that the Canadian Border Services and RCMP are having difficulties verifying the identities of the illegal migrants who are said to have destroyed their ID papers before reaching Canada.  Also, the cargo ship’s crew have disembarked with the passengers, and they too have yet to be identified due to non-cooperation of the illegal migrants. From all accounts, the illegal migrants appear to have been in contact with the CTC which made arrangements for lawyers, doctors and social workers to assist them on arrival in BC.

No sooner the MV Sun Sea docked in BC, the CTC announced that relatives of the illegal migrants living in Canada were waiting to welcome them after their hazardous journey.  This shows that the CTC had some prior knowledge of the migrants and the human smuggling operation to bring them to Canada.  According to media reports, it is clear that these illegal migrants seeking asylum in Canada are unwilling or hesitant to provide their real identities to the Canadian authorities, although they are asking for refuge and assistance to settle in Canada.

I would like to know the obligations and duties of the Canadian Tamil Congress which is a registered non-profit association of Canada, as regards information it had from the outset and the present data relating to the illegal migrants in respect of over 300 cases in their possession as declared by their spokesperson, in a matter involving human smuggling which is a criminal offence?  Are they as a Canadian entity permitted to evade or avoid disclosure of relevant information connected with a criminal matter to the respective Canadian authorities?

Yours sincerely,

Mahinda Gunasekera