Canada to choke off Tamil diaspora, LTTE financial connections

Ottawa, Aug 16 (ANI): The Canadian Government has indicated financial links between the country's Tamil diaspora and the alleged human traffickers (LTTE) who helped the Tamil illegals in sailing through the waters to enter the country, and would reportedly choke off any such connection if proven guilty.

The Globe and Mail News quoted Public Safety Minister Vic Toews as saying that the organizers of the voyage of the MV Sun Sea, which reached Canadian waters on Friday with 490 men, women and children on board, charged up to 50,000 dollars a passenger, a potential total haul of more than 20-million dollars.

Questions have been raised inside the Harper government as to whether Canadian residents helped pay the amount to the organisers.

Toews said he is worried by reports from his officials that the journey could have been organized by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

"It is a criminal offence to give money to a banned terrorist organization or to participate in human smuggling," Toews added.

On Sunday, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has confirmed that its investigation of the Sun Sea could include human smuggling.

The Harper government has also expressed its satisfaction with the way its officials handled the boat 'MV Sun Sea', and said that the RCMP would be allowed to prosecute any organizers on board. (ANI)