Canada intercepts ship

13 August 2010 12:35 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Canadian authorities have intercepted the ship carrying 490 Tamils including suspected human smugglers and terrorists and are escorting it to CFB Esquimalt, just east of Victoria, the Canadian Globe and Mail website reported.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews announced that HMCS Winnipeg took action after the ship carrying Tamils altered course towards Port Alberni, B.C. The town lies at the end of a long inlet on the west side of Vancouver Island.

“This afternoon, a vessel carrying 490 individuals claiming refugee status – including suspected human smugglers and terrorists – has entered our waters and the Canadian Government is taking action,” Mr. Toews said Thursday afternoon.

The HMCS Winnipeg intercepted the motor vessel Sun Sea after it deviated course toward Port Alberni.

“The Winnipeg attempted to hail the Sun Sea several times, and after establishing communications the vessel declared that it had refugees on board.”

Transport Canada confirmed Thursday the ship will be taken to Esquimalt harbour at CFB Esquimalt and that air traffic will be restricted from above the vessel as it travels and while it is docked.

A crew member on a neighbouring fishing vessel had been listening in on radio transmissions and told The Canadian Press the people on the MV Sun Sea were peppered with questions from the coast guard.

“Just asking 10,000 questions, about how many sick, how many dead, how many women, how many children — many, many, many questions,” Rory Smith, the chief mate on a fishing vessel that was positioned several kilometres from the ship early Thursday afternoon, said in an interview over satellite phone.

“It was 490 people on board, then it was 480, then it was 450. No dead, they had one that was probably sick,” he said, recalling the answers to those questions.

The ship was expected to sail through the Juan de Fuca Strait before landing in the Victoria region, and preparations appeared underway at nearby Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt and at a nearby naval refuelling station, where massive tents had been erected.

Two Vancouver-area jails have been told to make room for a flood of new inmates this week and a news helicopter has broadcast footage of tents and portable toilets set up at CFB Esquimalt.

Health officials in Victoria have been told to prepare for the possible delivery of humanitarian health care, although there is no word on the condition of the migrants, the Globe and Mail reported. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 12

ajith Friday, 13 August 2010 03:00 AM

Canada has welcome them.

Thusi Friday, 13 August 2010 03:59 AM

Canada will soon learn the consequence of accepting these Terrorists......Already it has become haven for terrorists....

devildancer Friday, 13 August 2010 04:03 AM

I hope and pray that Canda will take care of these people and let them live like any other human being,which they don't get in Sri Lanka. If any one is from a war zone please record the eye witness statement to shed light on war crimes committed by Sri Lanka

ramana Friday, 13 August 2010 05:06 AM

100% agreed with devildancer.

Lanke Banda Friday, 13 August 2010 05:45 AM

Please do not return the Dead Cargo as S.L.can do without.

James Keeth Anderso Friday, 13 August 2010 05:52 AM

PLEASE SEND THEM BACK ON A CARGO PLANE

MagodisThuma Friday, 13 August 2010 06:04 AM

Yes Canada Should open the gate for all the Tamils !. Them they can make their EELAM there !.

MagodisThuma Magodis Friday, 13 August 2010 06:06 AM

Canada...we'll send more & more !. We want peace in Sri Lanka !.

MK Friday, 13 August 2010 07:50 AM

Eelam terrorist are migrating to their new Eelam. I hope innocent tamil people dont get caught in this trap...

Rajitha Friday, 13 August 2010 10:11 AM

now they can set their dream Elam in Canada

Maruwa Friday, 13 August 2010 11:26 AM

Canada is real democratic country and they know how to identify the innocent civilians and terrorist.

human Saturday, 14 August 2010 01:07 PM

then you can rob all what is left in wanni

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Canada intercepts ship

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