If EU can impose restrictions on Tamil Tigers – why not in Canada?

Canada has a golden opportunity today to join the Western nations’ anti-terrorism league by imposing severe restrictions on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka. In a statement the European Union condemned the continuing use of violence and terrorism by the LTTE which has very strong ties to the Tamil Canadian diaspora and continues to engage in fund raising activities for terrorism in another country – Sri Lanka.

The EU representing 25 nations added that it is actively considering the formal Listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. In the meantime, the EU has agreed that with immediate effect, delegations from the LTTE will no longer be received in any of the EU Member States until further notice. It will take additional national measures to check and curb illegal or undesirable activities including issues of funding and propaganda of the LTTE, its related organisations (like TRO) and known individual supporters. A stark contrast to what Canada has done to claim that they are with the EU and US in ending global terrorism.

Perhaps what caught the eye of the EU was the blatant continuing recruitment and retention of child soldier cadres by the LTTE and reminded LTTE that there can be no excuse whatsoever for this abhorrent practice to continue.

While all these have become so apparent to the EU to impel them to act, Canada continues to show brazen disregard for LTTE’s political and civilian murders, child-soldier recruitment, and intimidation and extortion within the Tamil Canadian community. Sadly in Canada, the LTTE’s has political patronage with the Liberal and the NDP because the strength of the voting power in Toronto, and for this reason alone are they saying to the world - never mind what you do we are fine with the LTTE atrocities.

If the EU is convinced why is Canada lagging, what is so special about our ability dissect further this terror group before making a similar decision? Didn’t we ban the Japanese terrorists Aum Shinri Kyo? The Liberal government may think they are hoodwinking the rest of the world in exchange for receiving tacit support from LTTE activist at election time, but Canada’s inaction is only casting grave doubts about our ability to lead any anti-terror measures.

So it seems only a new Canadian government that truly believes in anti-terrorism can provide the leadership to put an end to fundraising for terrorism in Canada and child-soldier recruitment in Sri Lanka.