Canada is watching out for a ship reported to be carrying illegal Tamil migrants after the media warned the vessel could be headed for British Columbia, CBC News said.
Previous reports said a Thai Cargo ship — the MV Sun Sea — was sailing for Canada with 200 migrants on board, including suspected LTTE members.
According to CBC News, foreign affairs spokesman Alain Cacchione said today that the government was aware of reports suggesting the ship has left South East Asian waters and may be headed for Canada.
Other reports said the ship, previously known as the Harin Panich 19, was originally headed for Australia.
According to CBC News, it was also reported earlier that the vessel was last spotted in May in the Gulf of Thailand where its captain, a Tiger leader named Vinod, warned that several illegal migrants would "throw themselves overboard if anyone tried to board his ship".
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 after the war.
But there are concerns that some of the migrants may have links to the Tamil Tigers, which Canada has banned as a terrorist organisation.
According to CBC News, the Canadian Tamil Congress said the migrants may have embarked on their risky ocean journey because Tamils "are still persecuted and it's nearly impossible for them to come to Canada legally".
Source: Sunday Times Online