Tigers cannot try tricks in Canada
National Post Editorial warns not to allow fleeing
Tamil Tigers to seek sanctuary among Canadian Tamil expatriates:
Walter JAYAWARDHANA
As the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam poses an indirect security
risk for Canada the Canadian government must guard against fleeing Tiger
leaders seeking sanctuary among the country’s large Ontario based
community of expatriate Tamils said in a strongly worded editorial in
the National Post.
“We don’t need such brutal people spreading their hate in Canada, and
leaning on Tamil-Canadians to provide shelter or cash. Mr. Harper
already has done the right thing by declaring the LTTE a terrorist
organisation. As the group’s leaders flee their failing insurrection,
the Prime Minister should make certain that Kilinochchi’s erstwhile
governors do not end up in Toronto, Scarborough or Markham” the
editorial said in no uncertain terms.
Sri Lankan army has gained credit the world over for its
professionalism. Picture by Rukmal Gamage |
The editorial warned since it is harder for them to operate in Sri
Lanka the next logical step of them would be to start operating from
Canada.
The following is the full text of the editorial:
“On Friday, Sri Lanka’s Army captured Kilinochchi, the de facto
capital of the Tamil Tigers. This marks a crippling blow for the Tigers,
a rebel militia and terrorist group that first took up arms more than a
quarter-century ago. It also poses an indirect security risk for Canada:
As the Tigers are routed from the battlefield, Ottawa must guard against
fleeing Tiger leaders seeking sanctuary among this country’s large
Ontario-based community of expatriate Tamils.
“The Tigers — more formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE) — have been on the defensive for several years now. In the
Northern part of the country, the Sri Lankan army has taken a number of
Tiger-held towns and outposts. In the eastern part of the country, the
LTTE military apparatus has disintegrated completely, thanks largely to
defections and infighting.
“Western governments, too, have played a role. In the wake of 9/11,
which brought increased attention to all manner of terrorist groups, our
law enforcement agencies largely succeeded in shutting off the
international money pipelines that funnelled cash to the LTTE.
“Here in Canada, much of the Tigers’ “donations” came through the
extortion of small Tamil-Canadian businesses in the Toronto suburbs. In
this regard, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government deserves some of
the credit for Sri Lanka’s success against the Tigers. Prime Minister
Harper did what neither Paul Martin nor Jean Chretien had the courage to
do: explicitly declare the Tigers a terrorist organisation, thereby
rendering their fund-raisers criminals.
“The capture of Kilinochchi marks a decisive turning point in Sri
Lanka’s civil war. The LTTE captured the northern city a decade ago, and
have turned it into their administrative centre, establishing Government
offices, Courts, a clinic and even a Tiger bank.
“The LTTE governed ruthlessly, making a mockery of its claim to be a
group of honourable freedom fighters seeking justice for the island
nation’s Tamil minority.
To raise funds, the Tigers diverted relief cash earmarked for victims
of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, and captured relief supplies for resale
on the black market.
They swept through refugee camps press-ganging orphans as young as 10
into frontline combat against the Sri Lankan Army. Expat Tamils’
relatives still living in Sri Lanka were threatened with death until
their relatives in Canada, Britain and Australia agreed to pay a “war
tax” for their release. Tamils seeking to work for a democratic and
peaceful solution to their people’s grievances were murdered by the LTTE.
“All this has been done under the orders of LTTE supreme leader
Velupillai Prabhakaran, pictured, who has transformed the Tigers into a
death cult. Sri Lanka — its Tamil minority and Sinhalese majority alike
— will be better off when the Tigers are no more.
“As it becomes harder for the Tigers to operate in Sri Lanka, their
next logical move is to seek refuge abroad — especially in Canada.
“There is certainly plenty of support for the Tigers among many of
the Tamils living in Ontario’s urban centers. It would come as no
surprise if defeated LTTE leaders tried to set up base here until they
can regroup in Sri Lanka. In the past, Tiger lieutenants have come to
Canada as refugee claimants. No doubt, they will try that trick again.
“We don’t need such brutal people spreading their hate in Canada, and
leaning on Tamil-Canadians to provide shelter or cash. Mr. Harper
already has done the right thing by declaring the LTTE a terrorist
organisation.
“As the group’s leaders flee their failing insurrection, the Prime
Minister should make certain that Kilinochchi’s erstwhile governors do
not end up in Toronto, Scarborough or Markham.” |