Ship docks in Canada

13 August 2010 02:53 pm - 17 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board a cargo ship arrived at a naval base in western Canada today, escorted by a Canadian naval frigate and police helicopters.

The MV Sun Sea, which Canada and the United States had tracked for days, was brought into the Esquimalt naval base on Vancouver Island where Canadian authorities stood on deck wearing facial masks.

Buses with blacked-out windows stood ready to transport the migrants to holding jails. Officials said a quarantined ward was prepared in a hospital for any sick travelers.

Canada's public safety minister Vic Toews said Thursday there were 490 people aboard the ship, possibly including members of the banned Tamil Tiger rebels.

The ship had reportedly been on sea for 90 days and was deterred by Australia before heading to Canada, which has some of the most welcoming asylum policies and a politically active Tamil community.

Canadian Tamils have urged their adopted country to accept the asylum seekers, saying that the minority group faces continued difficulties in Sinhalese-majority Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka last year ended decades of civil war by crushing the Tamil Tiger rebels in a bloody finale in which the United Nations says that at least 7,000 civilians were killed.

Despite concerns about Sri Lanka's human rights record, Western nations ban the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization. The group was known for its suicide bombings and use of child soldiers during its nearly four-decade fight for a separate Tamil homeland. (AFP)

Hundreds of Sri Lankan asylum seekers on board a cargo ship arrived at a naval base in western Canada on Friday. AFP

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Comments - 17

Geronimo Saturday, 14 August 2010 04:05 AM

YES, WELCOME TO THE LAND OF THE FUTURE EELAM!!!!

Bird Eye Sunday, 15 August 2010 03:36 AM

It's Canada's pay back time for keeping a blind eye on LTTE.

Bird Eye Sunday, 15 August 2010 03:34 AM

Live peacefully? That’s what most of them are not so good at.

Bird Eye Sunday, 15 August 2010 03:31 AM

It's a Good point, Opportunist troublemakers.

deen Saturday, 14 August 2010 08:26 AM

approximately 2.5 million per passenger, good for the traffickers. These are economic migrants who are supported by some relative in Canada.

seenisambol Saturday, 14 August 2010 06:00 AM

I beg your pardon! You are obviously not one of them!

.maru Saturday, 14 August 2010 05:50 AM

They would have obviously paid a big ransom for their 'release' to your 'heros'. By the way KP is in a 5 * hotel in Lanka you see buddy. What about that?

jay Saturday, 14 August 2010 05:49 AM

Hope this people will settle down there and live peacefully rest of their life.

Geronimo Saturday, 14 August 2010 04:08 AM

How come their flag says We are Sri Lankans when it should have read We are 'Eelamists'?

ram Friday, 13 August 2010 04:20 PM

WELCOME TO CANADA. we are accepting all the thugs, bunch of thieves and of course TERRORISTS

Bird Eye Saturday, 14 August 2010 03:45 AM

Why they did not land in TamilNadu??????
The chief minister is weeping there. He wants his brothers & Sisters there.

Kegalle Boy Saturday, 14 August 2010 02:38 AM

sorry buddy, Rajapakse fmily is still in sri lanka abd they may take a flight once sri lankans realise their choice is wrong

Tony Fernandez Saturday, 14 August 2010 02:27 AM

I can only say that these are fleeing terrorists as the tamils live in peace, harmony and freedom in Sri Lanka

longus Saturday, 14 August 2010 02:27 AM

Canada will taste their own medicine when these thugs start violence. Maybe Canada can give their Eelam in Toronto!

Sriram Friday, 13 August 2010 06:01 PM

It will be interesting to see how many Sinhalese and Muslims are on it!

Rifai Friday, 13 August 2010 05:14 PM

It is up to Canada to decide whether to take them or send them back!

Ray Friday, 13 August 2010 04:31 PM

Canada, Please send the ship back, the next consignment is waiting patiently.

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Ship docks in Canada

Comments - 17

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