Several of a group of 76 Sri Lankan asylum seekers picked up off the Canadian coast last month have ties to the Tamil Tiger rebels and could pose a security risk, officials said in Vancouver.
The Canadian government told an immigration hearing that the “Ocean Lady” freighter used to transport the migrants has been linked to the LTTE, panel spokeswoman Paula Faber told AFP.
The vessel had “possibly been used for arms shipments” and the men should continue to be detained “on national security grounds,” government officials told the hearing, according to Faber.
Tests showed two of the men detained had explosive residue on their clothes, the officials said.
One of the would-be immigrants was released last week by the Immigration and Refugee Board. Hearings to determine the fate of the others continue. All 76 have indicated they plan to seek asylum in Canada. |
