Tamil Ship Stopped In Bangkok

[JusMe]

Tamil ship stopped in BangkokBy TOM GODFREY, QMI Agency

TORONTO — Information from Canadian authorities helped Thai police round up 155 Tamil migrants who were days away from boarding a second smuggling ship destined to B.C., Canadian government officials said.

Many of the migrants arrived in Bangkok as tourists and were awaiting a ship that was being readied to leave this week with more than 200 Tamils on board, officials said, adding there was a rush to get to Canadian waters before winter storms and freezing weather set in.

Intelligence gleaned from the cellphone calls of trip organizers uncovered the scheme and areas in Thailand where the migrants were staying.

Text messages revealed a number of Tamil Tigers were among those awaiting the vessel, police said.

Heavily armed police and members of a commando unit raided 17 Bangkok apartments on Sunday arresting the Tamils, many who did not have valid visas or travel documents.

Police said money earned from last August's smuggling trip of the MV Sun Sea with 492 migrants off the coast of B.C. helped fund a second trip.

Canada is looking at ways to make it more difficult for migrants to be smuggled into the country as refugees.

The RCMP and public safety ministry refused to comment on the case on Tuesday.

Lisa Monette, a spokesman for foreign affairs department in Ottawa, said Canada and other countries have banded together to fight human smuggling.

"Canada is engaged with a number of countries in the region on issues regarding migrant smuggling, including pursuing cooperation with source and transit countries," Monette said in a statement.

Members the Canadian Tamil Congress said they're concerned about the fate of those arrested.

"We are very disturbed by the arrests as it includes genuine refugees seeking international protection," said Congress spokesman David Poopalapillai. "If returned to their country of origin, the refugees may be persecuted."

He said if the Tamils are returned to Sri Lanka, it would be in violation of Canada's obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

"Canada cannot negate its international obligations and have countries such as Thailand do its dirty work," The congress said in a statement.

The refugees are due to appear in a Thai court on Wednesday where they can face fines, jail time or deportation to Sri Lanka for overstaying their visas.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2010/10/12/15665796.html

[random]

I heard this on Thai radio when i was just driving home so it is in the press here, not sure about the papers though