Tamil migrant ship nears Canada

Canadian authorities said Wednesday that they will intercept a ship of Tamil 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.

Canada is home to about 300,000 Tamils, one of the largest such populations outside Sri Lanka and India. And while Canada has the reputation of being receptive to refugees, it has become more vigilant against unwanted immigrants, including criminals and extremists.

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.

"A vessel is approaching the shores of British Columbia, and is within the 200 mile limit. We will ensure that everyone on board is appropriately scrutinized to protect the safety and security of Canadians," McCluskey said in a statement e-mailed to The Associated Press.

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.

Toews said the Tamil Tigers have used suicide bombings against civilians in Sri Lanka, as well as extortion and intimidation to raise funds within Canada's Tamil community.

The Tigers fought a civil war for a quarter of a century in Sri Lanka seeking a state independent of the ruling Sinhalese majority. The Sri Lankan conflict ended in May 2009 after a massive government operation against the Tigers.

Last October, a ship carrying 76 Sri Lankan migrants was intercepted in Canadian waters after crossing the Pacific from Sri Lanka. The group on board the Ocean Lady claimed to be fleeing persecution.

But there were concerns some had links to the Tamil Tigers. The 76 Sri Lankan migrans from that ship have since been released and their refugee claims will be being processed over the next two years.

The MV Sun Sea reportedly approached Australia a few months ago but was turned away or feared it wouldn't be allowed to dock and turned toward Canada.

Canada is concerned it is becoming target for human smuggling.

"Human smuggling and human trafficking are despicable crimes. They are both illegal and dangerous," McCluskey said. "While our government believes in offering protection to genuine refugees, it is imperative that we prevent supporters and members of a criminal or terrorist organization from abusing Canada's refugee system."

Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Dan McLeod said he's been asked by legal aid to act as duty counsel for some of the migrants to guide them through the initial stages of the process if they make refugee claims.

McLeod, who represents one of the Tamil who arrived in British Columbia last year, said Canada has little choice but to allow the ship to land and examine any refugee claims that are made.

McLeod said the case will first be handled by the Canada Border Services Agency, which will confirm the migrants' identities and determine whether any are indmissible.

The cases will then be handed over to the Immigration and Refugee Board, which will decide whether to release any of the migrants or detain them. For any who are held in custody, detention hearings will be held at regular intervals.

McLeod said none of the 76 Tamils from the previous boat have been linked to the Tamil Tigers.

Canadian Tamil Congress Spokeswoman Manjula Selvarajah said it's important refugee officials don't prejudge the migrants simply because they are Tamils. "There has been a lot of innuendo about people being on there that are a threat to Canadian security," Selvarajah said.

Representatives for the Canadian Tamil Congress are on their way to Vancouver to assist the Tamils with translation services, lawyer referrals or any other help they require.

Chitranganee Wagiswara, Sri Lanka's high commissioner to Canada, said Canada should not accept their claims for refugee status.

"This is definitely not a humanitarian exercise, it is a human smuggling operation linked to the Tamil Tigers," Wagiswara said.