Media Release

23 January 2000

CANADA KICKS TERRORISM FROM ITS SOIL – COURT RULES TAMIL FUNDRAISER MUST BE DEPORTED

The Canadian Federal Court of Appeal rejected the appeal of Manickavasagam Suresh, a Tamil fundraiser for the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), enabling Canadian immigration authorities to deport him to Sri Lanka. The LTTE, better known
the world over as Tamil Tiger terrorists, is listed as one of the 30 most dangerous international terrorist organisations in the
world.

Suresh, who was granted refugee status in 1991, was later suspected of being sent to Canada by the LTTE to raise funds to
finance weapons' exports to the rebel group. He was arrested and in 1997 ordered to be deported to Sri Lanka after being
declared a threat to Canada's security. Suresh sought to overturn the order by appealing to the Federal Court of Appeal.

But in his 92-page ruling, Judge Joseph Robertson said Canada has a right to protect itself from known or suspected terrorists
and these concerns outweigh the rights of individual suspects. He also said: "Those who freely choose to raise funds to sustain
terrorist organisations bear the same guilt and responsibility as those who actually carry out the terrorist acts."

Suresh was a fundraiser for the World Tamil Movement and the Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils, which are
listed by the United States as "known front organisations" for the LTTE.

In Australia, the “Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations” brazenly supports the LTTE. It is well known that millions of
Australian dollars are channelled to the Tiger terrorists as pay back money by people who were sent here over the years by the
Tigers under the guise of refugees. In their people smuggling operations, the Tigers provide the bogus refugees with transport,
false documentation and legal aid until they succeed in obtaining refugees status. With LTTE being increasingly frowned upon
by the western countries, Australia has become an attractive haven for the Tiger agents. Recently, the immigration department
refused visa to a British based top Tiger agent, Anton Balasingham, who attempted to visit Australia with his Australian wife
Adele to encourage terrorist fund raising. Adele herself was warned that she may have to face consequences of breaching the
Foreign Incursions and Recruitment Act as she had been instrumental in recruiting young Tamil girls as suicide bombers of the
LTTE terrorists.

Sources of Information:

1) Court approves tool to fight terror (National Post in Canada : 20 Jan 2000)
2) LTTE fundraiser to be deported from Canada (Times of India : 22 Jan 2000)
3) LTTE activities in Canada (http://www.spur.asn.au/canada.htm)
4) Deportation of LTTE man from Canada a boost for Lanka (Times of India : 23 Jan 2000)

For more information, please ring 0411 287 434


Yours faithfully,

Asoka Subhawickrama

Public Officer
Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka (SPUR)
Reg No. A 003 0777 M
P.O. Box 4066
Mulgrave, Victoria, VIC 3170, Australia
Phone: 0411 287 434 , +61 2 9682 7864 and +61 3 9548 0276
Fax: +61 3 9548 0276 and +61 2 9682 7864

Emails : Public Officer : asokas@spur.asn.au
Emails : Spokesperson : ranjiths@spur.asn.au

Back to SPUR Main Page