Migrant ship that could be carrying Tamil Tigers nears Canada, will be intercepted
By Rob Gillies, APWednesday, August 11, 2010
Tamil migrant ship nears Canada
TORONTO — Canadian authorities said Wednesday that they will intercept a ship of asylum seekers from Sri Lanka before it reaches the coast because the passengers may include people Canada considers terrorists.
The ship is reported to be within 200 miles (322 kilometers) of Canada’s Pacific coast province of British Columbia, said Chris McCluskey, a spokesman for Public Safety Minister Vic Toews.
He said the ship would be intercepted.
The Thai cargo ship MV Sun Sea is expected to reach the Strait of Juan de Fuca off Vancouver island late Thursday or early Friday. Between 400 and 500 people are believed to be on board.
McCluskey says every one will be scrutinized.
Toews had said Monday there was reason to believe members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, are on board. Canada has labeled the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist group since 2006.
