Insight By Sunil Kumar

October 19th 2012

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ There is no denying that the TNA are categorically a group which once supported the Tamil Tigers who now attempt to deny their involvement and at times even today through some of their actions indicate that they do appear toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have a policy and agenda whichƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ through their demands to the Government of Sri Lanka seem to be surreptitiously following a path which could resurrect the now dead harbingers of terror namely the LTTE.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ For instance their demands for autonomy, involvement in Policing and requests to be the sole representatives of the Tamil communities in the North and East of Sri Lanka seems to carry dangerous undertones of a hidden agenda that could involve other sources sympathetic with the LTTE much of them from Tamil Nadu and the global diaspora of Tamils and there should be no concessions granted to their demands unless they come clean, take an oath of allegiance to which they could be held accountable for, that they will never attempt to resurrect the LTTE even inadvertently and also rescind their image of being Tamil Nationalists before they are permitted to even participate in Sri Lankan politics.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan Politics should be an engine available to all citizens where their group should only be identifiable by an identity symbol relative to politics towards parliamentary representation rather than an ethnicityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as otherwise it could lead to a fomentation of ethnic confrontation as history has proved. The name Tamil National Alliance alone suggests a group of Tamils looking for a national identityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ which might or might not fall short of secession but the implication quite recognizable to the more discerning at least.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It isn’tƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ that far off from (WTM)ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ World Tamil Movement singled out in CanadaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  albeit hypothetically at leastƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ it may haveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ sounded harmless enough until investigated and disbanded by the RCMP ~Royal Canadian Mounted Police!

Perhaps the election laws should be altered toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ correct this aberrationƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ where no ethnic titles of a suggestive natureƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  towards objectives non beneficial to the Nation and its unityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ would be permitted when presentingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ nominations.Particularly in Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The following is an attestation to the effect that a country like CanadaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of great global stature sees it fit to deal with every aspect of terrorism within Canada with no exception and Sri Lanka in all probabilities should adopt the same stance to any organization with a past track record of sympathising with the LTTE and even today given the opportinity could easily utilise any freedoms granted them towards resurrecting the LTTE where the TNA has no right to demand any concessions before they come clean, admit their past and present intentions or try their antics in Tamil Nadu perhaps!

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Canada seeks terror-related deportation order for Sri Lankan refugee allegedly linked to TamilƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tigers ~

Stewart Bell for National Post

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚  TORONTO ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬‚ Canadian immigration officials are trying to deport an alleged member of the World Tamil Movement, which the RCMP has labeled a ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-front organizationƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ for Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s Tamil Tigers rebels.

The Canada Border Services Agency said it had asked the Immigration and Refugee Board to issue a terrorism-related deportation order against the Sri Lankan refugee, who has lived in Canada for the past 15 years.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-I can confirm that the CBSA has requested an admissibility hearing for a person they believe is inadmissible to Canada, as there are reasonable grounds to believe the individual was or is a member of the World Tamil Movement, and as a member engaged in fundraising for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ said Faith St. John, a CBSA spokeswoman.
Details of the case were recently posted on the Refugee Board website. The manƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s name has not been publicly released but he has lived in Canada since 1997 and was accepted as a convention refugee in 1998.
The case is being heard in Vancouver, where the WTM had an office that was raided by the RCMP counter-terrorism unit in 2005. The police search warrant named seven suspects who were alleged to have financed terrorism, but it is not clear whether the man now facing possible deportation was one of them.
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-As you are aware, the CBSA cannot provide information on cases related to convention refugees. As a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention, Canada has an obligation to protect genuine refugees. We take our responsibilities in this area very seriously,ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ Ms. St. John said.
Notorious for suicide bombings, assassinations and the conscription of children, the Tamil Tigers fought a lengthy civil war for independence until they were crushed by Sri Lankan forces three years ago in a controversial offensive that killed an untold number of civilians.
Formed in Ontario in 1986, the WTM was accused of using pressure tactics to squeeze contributions from ethnic Tamils in Canada and using the money to advance the rebel cause. Former WTM leader Manickavasagam Suresh was arrested in 1995 but fought his deportation to the Supreme Court.
A 2006 RCMP raid of the WTM offices in Toronto and Montreal turned up requests from the rebels for money and lists of weapons. The RCMP called the WTM ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-part of the LTTE strategy to raise funds for rearmament.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ The group denied being a rebel front.
The WTM has since been dismantled. In 2008, the government banned it for terrorism, and last year the Federal Court seized its assets. A former WTM member, Prapaharan Thambaithurai, pleaded guilty to fundraising for the rebels in Vancouver in 2010.
The unnamed man facing deportation had argued he should not have to testify at his hearing. But IRB Member Michael McPhalen ruled he was ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-a compellable witness.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ The hearing is being held behind closed doors. The man is not being detained.
National Post
World Tamil Movement (WTM)
ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-The World Tamil Movement was created in 1986 and became a known and leading front organization for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Canada. The leadership of the WTM acts at the direction of the LTTE and has been instrumental in fundraising in Canada on behalf of the LTTE. WTM representatives canvas for donations amongst the Canadian Tamil population, and have been involved in acts of intimidation and extortion to secure funds.ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚