Ship carrying Tamil migrants docked

By

VICTORIA (NEWS1130) – The MV Sun Sea has arrived at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in Victoria, carrying hundreds of Sri Lankans seeking refugee status. Canadian authorities say there are women and children on the ship, and their health is being assessed right now.

Ottawa has been tracking the MV Sun Sea for three months and says it’s also carrying human smugglers and terrorists. They will be taken into custody and processed, but digging up a criminal history on anyone who hasn’t set foot in Canada will be difficult.

Security and terrorism expert David Harris says it will be a lengthy and expensive process to figure out who is a legitimate refugee claimant and who is not.  “It could take years of struggle and, without the least exaggeration, millions of our taxpayer’s dollars to even get near the question. Once people do set foot, they’re generally entitled to tax-paid lawyers and proceedings.”

He says the Sri Lankan government may not be cooperative. “Some of the research may involve dealings with the Sri Lankan government which was, of course, an adversary of the Tamil Tigers. Inevitably, some of the lawyers for Tamil Tiger suspects will claim that the intelligence is biased.”

Some of the newly arrived migrants have been sent to hospital, and the Navy isn’t saying what conditions were like on board. Naval officers will only say when they got on board the MV Sun Sea, it was mechanically sound.

As for the health of the 490 migrants on board, Rob Johnston with Canada Border Services says it doesn’t sound like there are many health problems. “I’m being advised that for the vessel itself, not a large medical need is being displayed. All the individuals are going to undergo an examination following the initial health check. But for the individuals that do need ambulatory care, that’s being provided and on-going care, medical checks, doctors, nurses, all that type of stuff, is available.”

Johnston says it could take several days to check the identities and backgrounds of the passengers.

Meanwhile, Canada’s public safety minister says the federal government is looking for ways to crack down on human smuggling to stop more migrant ships from arriving on our shores.

Vic Toews says some of the passengers are members of the Tamil Tigers, which Ottawa considers a terrorist group. He says the government believes the ship’s arrival is part of a larger human smuggling ring. “We believe that there are others who are watching this particular situation to determine the reaction of Canadian authorities, and they will be making decisions based on the reaction of Canadian authorities. I don’t view this as an isolated, independent act.”

Toews says anyone who endangers national security or is involved in crime will be prosecuted fully.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today