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Remember the Komagata Maru -- and our leaders' recent apologies.
In 1914, Sikh passengers of Komagata Maru were turned away from Vancouver.
The Butterfly Garden, home to child victims of Sri Lanka’s civil war, reaches out to Canadian friends.
Among a war's roots, and recruits, in Sri Lanka.
They're coming.
Another 200 Tamil boat-people are reportedly headed for British Columbia, on the Thai-registered MV Sun Sea.
The trickle that began last October, when 76 undocumented Tamils arrived of the coast of Vancouver Island, might be turning into a flood -- creating a dilemma for Stephen Harper's government.
The defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam last May has caused an exodus of asylum-seekers from Sri Lanka. Most are probably genuine refugees. Of the 414 Tamils processed in Australia since the LTTE defeat, 329 were accorded refugee status. This notwithstanding the fact that many of them had at least a passing acquaintance with the LTTE, who for years controlled a portion of Sri Lanka's northern, Tamil-populated territory.
The LTTE, which invented the suicide belt and assassinated both a Sri Lankan president and a former Indian prime minister, has been listed as a terrorist organization by Canada, the United States and European Union. Australia never listed the LTTE because the organization restricted its violence to Sri Lanka and the adjacent southern Indian province of Tamil Nadu.
Human rights vs. terrorism
Sadly, for many Tamil asylum seekers, it is their past, often unavoidable, associations with the LTTE that create a risk of persecution at the hands of the Sri Lanka state.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has compiled reports that Tamils with LTTE links have been arbitrarily arrested, tortured and even disappeared.
Which concern should trump? The fact that many of these people are genuinely at risk; or their associations with a rebel force that engaged in deplorable acts?
Of the 76 Tamils who arrive in B.C. last October, 25 were detained for months after the Canada Border Services Agency said it had "reasonable grounds" to believe they were terrorists. All were later released when the CBSA admitted that it had no evidence of terrorist connections. They remain in Canada while their refugee claims are being processed and, according to the CBSA, all are accounted for and respecting the conditions of their release -- including, in some cases, curfews.
Just the beginning
Australia, the destination of choice for most Tamil asylum seekers, is now closing the door on them.
Ships carrying asylum seekers are interdicted on the high seas and their passengers taken to Christmas Island, a far-flung fragment of Australia that has been deemed by the government to fall outside its territory for the purposes of refugee law. But Christmas Island is filling up, prompting Prime Minister Julia Gillard to push for a new refugee processing centre in the neighboring developing country of East Timor. Such actions will probably succeed in diverting at least part of the exodus elsewhere.
Coincidentally, the Harper government has recently moved to simplify and speed up Canada's refugee determination process. The new Balanced Refugee Reform Act enables the fast-tracking of claims from so-called "designated countries of origin," defined as countries that do not normally produce refugees, have a robust human rights record, and offer strong state protection.
Sri Lanka could not credibly be put on such a list, especially since UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, earlier this month, appointed a panel of experts to advise him on allegations that war crimes were committed by the Sri Lanka military against Tamils last year.
As a result, any Tamil arriving here still has a very good chance of obtaining asylum.
In the circumstances, it's easy to imagine Stephen Harper being concerned about the optics of accepting boatload upon boatload of Tamils. People who might be perceived as queue-jumpers. People whom the government has already painted with the terrorism brush.
What is to be done?
According to reporting by Stewart Bell of the National Post, federal lawyers have advised that ships carrying asylum seekers cannot be turned away before they reach Canada's 12-mile territorial sea (at which point they acquire a right to a refugee determination process under international law). If this report is correct, the prime minister might be advised to engage new lawyers.
For if a ship is flagged by a friendly country like Thailand, Canada can simply ask for permission to stop the vessel on the high seas. Furthermore, permission is not required if the vessel is unregistered or proceeding under false pretenses, such as flying the flag of a country where it is not registered, or using a fake name.
In 2002, the United States adopted a policy of intercepting Haitian migrants on small boats and rafts and returning them directly from the high seas to Haiti. The Canadian government at first questioned whether the new policy was consistent with international refugee law, but later sent a frigate to assist the Americans. France, Greece, Italy and Spain all engage in high-seas interdictions of asylum seekers.
In addition, coastal states have rights to a "contiguous zone," between 12 and 24 nautical miles off shore, within which they can act to prevent any violations of customs and immigration laws that are about to occur.
In Canada, such actions are facilitated by the Marine Transportation Security Act which requires ships to give 96 hours notice before entering territorial waters. If a ship hasn't provided notice, or has been told not to enter the territorial sea but is sailing resolutely toward it, there is no question -- we can stop it.
Awkward precedents
After intercepting the vessel, Canada could send it back to Sri Lanka, knowing that the passengers would -- by virtue of having drawn international attention to the human rights situation there -- be at even greater risk than before.
But if that sounds familiar, it's because we -- as a country -- have been here before.
In 1914, the Japanese-registered Komagata Maru arrived in Vancouver carrying 376 passengers from Punjab. The ship was forced back to India without disembarking; on its return to Calcutta, at least 19 of the passengers were shot by police. In 2008, Stephen Harper apologized on behalf of all Canadians for the Komagata Maru incident.
In 1939, the German-registered SS St. Louis arrived in Halifax harbor with more than 900 Jewish asylum-seekers on board, having already been refused landing in both Cuba and the United States. The Canadian government likewise refused entry, forcing the ship to return to Belgium. More than 200 of the passengers were later murdered by the Nazis. Jason Kenney, the minister for citizenship, immigration and multiculturalism, frequently refers to the SS St. Louis as an example of how racist attitudes colored the policies of previous Canadian governments.
Harper and Kenney's statements on these two historical precedents now place them in a quandary. Their contrition with respect to the Komagata Maru and SS St. Louis might be rooted in genuine humanitarianism, or be part of a cynical effort to attract Sikh and Jewish votes.
Either way, it ties their hands with respect to Tamil boat people. The law allows for options; the principle of consistency does not. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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one
2 years ago
Good, unbiased reporting or socialist opinion?
"Michael Byers holds the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia"
[OFFENSIVE COMMENT DIRECTED AT THE WRITER REMOVED. -MODERATOR.]
snert
2 years ago
There's no delima
Send them back and they can apply like anyone else.
Bharathier
2 years ago
Great unbiased reporting!!!
The bloody,murderous,corrupted rajapaksa brothers and company rule in Sri Lanka which is supported by the majority of the racist sinhala people will soon come to an end because of the mainly 99% sinhala armed forces supported by the Harper government murdered tens of thousands of innocent men, women,and children in cold blood in the name of fighting terrorism will be punished for war crimes. They can run but hiding??? The truth will always come out and haunt you!!!
DJT
2 years ago
Turn the boat around
We don't even look after our own people properly. Why should I have to pay to keep these people on welfare? They should be turned right around and sent back. We have become a country of politically correct bleeding hearts
Ramona777
2 years ago
We Are a Country of Immigrants
I bet some of those who want to turn the boat around are white and middle class, the same sort who in 1914 and 1939 said no to people in need of sanctuary.
Are they afraid of a country where they will be outnumbered by non-whites?
We're a gigantic country with lots of wealth. The problem is, some don't know how to share.
dorothy
2 years ago
yippeeeeh!
"We're a gigantic country with lots of wealth."
(OK, I'll get out my binoculars and see if I can catch sight of it...)
"The problem is, some don't know how to share."
Some who? How do they not want to share, and with exactly whom? You are spewing broad generalizations without any real information on how you fancy the logistics can be worked out. All you have to do is get in contact with the immigration folks and tell them you'll be happy to sponsor a Tamil. What business of yours is it how your neighbor feels and acts??
Talk is cheap. And outnumbering is not the issue; that amounts to slander of those who are not willing to jump in with both feet. What some people might object to is the bullying tactics. Some of the folks here of all colors came by the front door and knocked nicely and waited to be let in. Have you thought through what we put ourselves in line for, if we uncritically let everybody in, whom it pleases to throw themselves on our doorstep? Some people who think ahead do not much like attempts at moral blackmail. And Harpo can stick his excuses somewhere out of my sights. The people of the Komagata Maru were attempting to circumvent rules they well knew, and knew the intent of, and so they lost that gamble, color be damned. A country is within its rights to sort who it lets in, and on what conditions. The other ideology is simply aiding corporatism in doing its thing. Too bad it's so hard foe 'some' to understand.
sdgreen
2 years ago
Not Warranted
I do not subscribe to the notion that those fleeing from a defeat in a way they initiated should be classified as refugees. The Tamils initiated and prosecuted a war in the attempt of creating their own little slice of Sri Lanka. They lost.
Tamils or anyone arriving on a boat or any other means should never be allowed into Canada. Send them back.
Van Isle
2 years ago
Isn't it amazing; mention
Isn't it amazing; mention the word Tamil and all of a sudden they're classified as 'Terrorist'. I have read up on the short and brutal history of Sri Lanka and came to the conclussion that the Government of that tiny country should be classified as a terrorist organization too.
kasi_visvanath
2 years ago
bigotry lives on
i am constantly amazed by the comments appearing on internet news sites in reference to contentious issues, like this Tamil refugee story...
i appears that Xenophobia and bigotry are definitely alive and well in British Columbia...from what i read in the story, these people are refugees from the atrocious government of Sri Lanka and are likely in danger of their lives being cut short if deported TO Lanka...whether they were LTTE or not, that battle is over, and even if they are the "losers", still they have a right to refugeed status, unless they personally committed war crimes against humanity.
you can't just blanket accuse whole nations of people of terrorism, when many were not involved, and when many who were in involved may have been seriously coerced to join in....and even if they were enthusiastic members of the army but didn't commit war crimes themselves, still they deserve refugee status, because if returned to Sri Lanka, under the rapacious, murderous rule of the Rajapaksa brothers, they definitely face the threat of death, torture, disfigurement, imprisonment, or disappearing, never to return....
to me that qualifies people for refugee status.
if they are criminals, or thugs, that should be rigorously assessed and such folks may not be allowed in. but ordinary folks who are fleeing certain death in Sri Lanka should be welcome in our Canada.
unfortunately as the author stated, Canada does not have a good history in regard to these kinds of bulk landing immigrants, who are claiming refugee status....just remember, as he did, the Komagata Maru, and the SS St. Louis....and we do have lots to apologise for.
when folks are faced with imminent execution upon being deported to Sri Lanka, do we still suggest that they should be sent home to be murdered by their enemies? How does one justify this kind of attitude, except by the word "BIGOT".
as to the folks that suggest that these Tamils would be a drain upon the nations coffers for welfare support, i would venture to suggest that this is not true except for in the very beginning. my experience of Tamil people is that they are very energetic and industrious, and i simply do not see them sitting back on a welfare income...but rather i see lots of new businesses and a motivated work force. at least that describes the Tamils i know...let's not let the bigots rule the day, as they have done so often. let's give these refugees, fleeing a dangerously unacceptable life in Sri Lanka looking only for an opportunity to attempt to make a new life, a positive contribution to the world, to live in peace with their new neighbours.
kasi_visvanath
2 years ago
errors
please forgive my occasional grammatical error above in my letter, i neglected to edit it properly before posting it. my apologies for any annoyances.
Bob Tarplett
2 years ago
Send them (back) to India!
Australia has the right and sensible process of absolutely refusing to allow these so called Tamil refugees to land in Australia and diverts them to Christmas Island for processing sending to the country of origin. Canada should do the same and ensure that it diverts or prevents these ships from getting anywhere near our territorial waters.
There is a friendly country were these Tamils should go to - India which has a Tamil State and was the original home of the Tamil people.
Canada must STOP being the continual dumping ground of "bogus" refugees and terrorists. We should put our security ahead of that of others.
When will this end? Do we not see the results and problems of criminally lax immigration and refugee laws in Europe! Why should we have to go through this obscene nonsense every time just to satisfy the moral hypocricy of the blatantly corrupt money grubbing immigration lawyers and academics as well as NDP and Liberal policians.
NO, we should send the Tamil bastards back (to India)or sink them! They caused their problem (civil war in Srilanka) in the first place anyway let them suffer the consequences!
Ramona777
2 years ago
Wow Mr. Tarplett
Who pissed in your cereal this morning?
You've been duped into thinking that we're under a security threat.
It isn't true. The only reason we should worry about our safety is because our lame government continues to support the "war" in Afghanistan.
But Canada is increasingly becoming a war-like society (last weeks announcement that we're spending billions on FIGHTER jets -- there's obviously enough money to support new immigrants.
Did you ever think that borders are artificial devices and that we all have red blood.
Booker
2 years ago
Give them a chance
Many commenters here seem to have come to the knee-jerk opinion, based on nothing, that these people are not legitimate refugees. Let them land and have immigration figure it out. Let's not repeat our often shameful history.
bob the cat
2 years ago
Diktat
What does the market dictate? Are more brown people required to pick the fruit..drive the cabs , make the beds at Whistler? You know..the "jobs" "Canadians" don`t want to do.
What does the Fraser Institute say? Now that humans are now commodity.
The "Troubles" in Sri Lanka formerly Ceylon can be in large part attributed to the colonial political interference on the island. What was once two countries...aprox. 75% Sinhalese and 20% Tamil..5% others was made as one by the colonizers. When The Tea Barons..Britain. "granted independance" the Sinhalese naturally were the majority.
The Tamils wished for their independance as well...the way it was. The two peoples previously co-existed peacefully though pretty much independantly from each other...the way THEY wanted it.
jnewcomb
2 years ago
tamils make great immigrants!
No need to harp on Komagata Maru and make canadian people defensive about admitting Tamils as phony refugees - Tamils are super intelligent, well-educated folks who will also be great immigrants and set up many businesses, make money and prosper, hiring canadians too. Tamils like freedom to make money, entrepreneurship, so little problem of them being unionists or socialists. Thanks to Tamils for coming here! Stay, make money, raise your families and do well. Canada is golden opportunity -far from Sri Lanka government oppressions.
TerryK
2 years ago
Tamils and LTTE
I lived in Sri Lanka as a teacher in 1992 and 1993. Suicide bombers blew up a car in which the Admiral of the Navy was traveling and the President while he walke in a May Day parade. But there were harsh actions by the government also. I always thought of it as a civil war. The government assassinated a popular opposition candidate for the presidency.
Those Tamil citizens living in LTTE controlled areas could not help but be associated I am sure.
At a garden party at the British Ambassador's residence I was speaking with a very interesting gentleman about cobra's in his garden. During our conversation I found out that he was a general in the Sri Lankan Army. The conversation somehow turned to "ethnic cleansing" and I expressed my opinion that nothing justified such a gross violation of human rights. He still smiling in a fatherly way at my naive perspective tried to explain how in some cases it is necessary sometimes to maintain a peaceful society. I was horrified. This was not an evil man, just a military career man.
There is no doubt in my mind that thousands of innocent Tamil Sri Lankan citixens have been and are still being routinely tortured and murdered after the LTTE's last stand in Trincomalee.
Tamil people have lived in Sri Lanka for centuries but the British during their occupation brought thousands of Tamils from India because they were such excellent hard working people.
I believe that all Tamil refugees should be allowed into Canada not only for humanitarian reasons but also because they will make excellent Canadian citizens.
Chris Keam
2 years ago
A just society would reject
A just society would reject the notion that something as arbitrary and involuntary as being born in a certain place without the privilege of porous borders brought about by wealth could ever be justification for restricting one's freedom to move about the Earth.
Judging people 'worthy' or not by which side of an imaginary line they come from is archaic and cruel.
Bharathier
2 years ago
The History of Ceylon/Sri Lanka...
Reading above comments, one could misunderstand sinhalese in Ceylon are the original inhabitants and tamils came after from tamil nadu. The truth is sinhalese immigrated from north east india to Ceylon became budhists and created their own language from PALI which was an aryan language. Because there are sixty million tamils living in south India and Ceylonese tamils have naturaly cultural ties in india, one should not misunderstand about these two nations. Ceylon was two separate country until the BRITISH joined these two nations for administrative purposes, divided and ruled both nations for centuries, created the mess. Now the minority is suffering in the hands of the racist sinhala majority who systamically kill them because they are tamils and look at all tamils as tigers/terrorists and thinks and acts Ceylon/Sri Lanka is a sinhala budhist country only for sinhalese. Thers is no future for tamils in the island of Ceylon. Ceylonese tamils are genuine refugees.
Batiushka
2 years ago
Send them back CIC should deal with them
Today is a different story, nothing compares with 1914 and 1939. Why other immigrants must to follow all immigration policies and requirements while others just arrive illegally and are allowed to stay? I am an immigrant my self and I had to go through a very strict process, achieve a certain classification level and also take a English test. This sounds like a double standard thing, for ones they should comply the CIC rules and for others this does not apply?
bob the cat
2 years ago
Batiushka
You are an immigrant...the people (Tamils) referred to here would be..refugees .. Asylum seekers...big difference.
Barathier Would there be Tamil people wishing to continue the armed struggle from Canada?... unfortunately the Air India murders have probably hardened the Canadian opinion on refugees from Civil Wars.
Civil War is always particularly awful. Rightly or wrongly the Tamils lost. Will they continue the struggle..or is there to be a complete purge of any and all opposition?
I would agree Ceylonese Tamils are genuine refugees.
RickW
2 years ago
It was the Harper Government......
....that designated the Tamil Tigers "terrorist", and only because he wants Canada's East Indian vote. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/08/03/harper-apology.html
Bharathier
2 years ago
Reply to Bob the Cat
First of all Ceylonese Tamils made a grave mistake of continue to fight using violence after 9/11. Everyone knows the world openion changed about armed struggles after 9/11. They should have gradully gave up violence and diplomatically achieved a political solution to the ethnic problem in the island. Now, if Ceylonese Tamils and the diaspora wants to achieve a just solution, they must fight legally by non-violent means. I hope whoever supported the LTTE economically learned a lesson and LTTE themselves too. Who suffered/suffering after all sacrifices, the innocent men women and children in tens of thousands killed and maimed by the murderous sinhala armed forces using banned weapons...
Bharathier
2 years ago
What's happening in Jaffna now... Sinhala Barbarism
This is the way Ceylonese Tamils are being treated by the sinhala armed forces...
"The mother of Sravanai Tharsika, the family consultant nurse allegedly killed by a Sinhala doctor in the islets of Jaffna, complained in Oorkaavattu’rai magistrate court Monday that unidentified persons on motor cycles had come to her house several times and threatened her and her family with death if they pursue in any way with the case of Tharsika’s killing, sources in Oorkaavattu’rai said. Tharsika’s mother also filed a petition through a lawyer Monday to Oorkaavttu’rai court seeking exhumation and fresh medical examination of her daughter’s remains as she believes Tharsika was sexually abused before being killed. She had added in the petition that she does not believe the medical examination report of Tharsika’s body submitted and requested the fresh medical examination report to be submitted in the court, the sources added."
bob the cat
2 years ago
Thankyou Bharathier
Thanks for the insights into the Sri Lankan conflict..it would seem there is still some legal recourse for the minority within the country? Important to get word out wherever possible on the situation there.
Let`s hope for a positive outcome with the asylum seekers and as Rick W. points out...this is not always a fair minded government..their ideaology trumps their professed Christianity.
Peace
bob
x4estworker
2 years ago
Refugees or Terrorists?
Without a doubt, those who can prove they are legitimate refugees should be let into Canada. The Sri Lankan government has much to answer for in its treatment of civilian Tamils.
Having said that, the Tamil Tigers were a vicious terrorist group who didn't think twice about using child soldiers, civilian human shields and suicide bombers. They used strong intimidation tactics to force the Tamil diaspora in Canada to financially support their cause.
Proven Tamil Tigers should NOT be let into Canada. They are criminals and murderers. I am appalled at the naivete of those who do not distinguish between true refugess and thugs.
Inform9-11
2 years ago
LTTL's
I'm sick and tired of having the past thrown in my face. I have lived overseas and I have been discriminated against because of my colour. Did I whine or complain? Not at all. S.E. Asians are the biggist complainers on the planet. If something doesn't go their way, the first word I hear is discrimination. I say send the LTTL's to India, that hotbed of diverse cultures, or pehaps Pakistan, Bangledesh or someother hotbeds of assimilation and cultural diversity. I'm sure those countries would more than welcome people of the same colour. They could set up businesses there and contribute to the GDP just as well there as here.
Call me a racist but do you see East Indians hiring Whites? Do you see Chinese hiring whites? How about the Vietnese? Or other coloured cultures? Hardly any. Do you hear the whites complaining about discrimination? Hardly ever. Get over the past, this is now and likely some if not all the LTTL's will set up businesses here and send money home to support more war. Let them do it in the countries mentioned and see what happens there.
As far as I'm concerned I've had enough of cultural diversity in Canada. Shut the door now!
Inform9-11
2 years ago
LTTE
Correction, I meant LTTE.
Dr Alexander
2 years ago
Invoking the Komagata maru and the SS St. Louis is useful..
in evoking emotion, but useless and irrelevant in this particular thesis.
What is relevant is the rule of law.
Whilst in international waters, the MV Sun Sea is free to steam as and where she pleases. Boarding her in international waters is the same act of piracy as was just committed by the Israelis when they boarded the Mavi Marmara (killing eight Turks and one American in the process).
If we don't have the capability of "processing" a few hundred "surprise" refugee claimants, while we get thousands of international travellers every day in Canada, then it is our Immigration department that has a problem.
PWB
2 years ago
Reject people who come to our shores to avoid our refugee system
The people that may be coming to our shores are simply crashing the refugee line. The population of this world is increasing at an unsustainable rate. We have been and still are one of the world's escape valves. The system that we have put in place to accept refugees may not be the best one, but it is legitimately ours. If the Komagata Maru had been permitted to land its people here,the immigration would most likely have been unbearable. We would have set a precedence that would have seen this country overflowing with East Indian refugees a long time ago! India is not controling its birth rate and we as a country should be demanding this before we trade or accept any more Indian citizens into Canada. The rule that governs this country however, is that if it brings in any revenue, it should be permitted or even encouraged despite the moral and social consequences.
I suggest we contact this refugee ship and indicate that it can go back (with our assistance) to the port that it left. Once global warming forces the mass migration of millions of the world's populations, we will have our hands full anyway. People trying to enter our country illegally should be turned back and the rest of the world's migrants should be made to understand that this is not the way you seek entrance to Canada.
If our government is unable to deal with this simple matter sensibly and promptly, then I fear we are doomed to accepting countless illegal refugees in the future. Eventually the country will be lost.
Luck
2 years ago
let people into canada
Canada should let in as many people as we can.
This will help our population make an army in time of war.
We need more multi culturism so we can have their prospective in our government thinking.
Immigrants are tommorrows leaders in our canadian governments.
Canada is known to let anybody in so why stop now.
Canada is becoming a superpower and have military slogan come fight with me.
Canada sleepy country need a change by bringing in more people, more issues and more of everything.
People we talk to say open door wider and hope for the best yes.
RickW
2 years ago
Since Mulroney......
....Canada has been loathe to let in poor people.
Camero409
2 years ago
Hey Luck
Are you serious? You must be on drugs...
cboo44
2 years ago
Spare the Historical Guilt Trip
NOT ONE PERSON having anything to do with the Komagata Maru incident is alive today, so cut the bull.
If we allow every so-called "refugee" into Canada "just because" then why do we have borders or rules/laws governing immigration? You want bleeding-heart free for alls? Be prepared to live with YOUR decision.
RickW
2 years ago
cboo44
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
- Emma Lazarus, 1883
You got a problem with this?
zalm
2 years ago
Brother....
I had to click back to the home page to make sure I wasn't on the editorial pages of the Notional Pest or something....
Such a bunch of racist claptrap I've never heard on these pages! I can speak only for myself, but I've learned to take a little time to evaluate peoples' stories as they tell them to me. And that not only because I'm naturally suspicious, but also because I have been fortunate enough to have as neighbours and acquaintances not one but two members of the Refugee Determination Panel - one for eight years in the 1970s to 1986, the other from the "tough times" under Mulroo when he swore Canadians would "get tough on illegal refugees."
Both pointed out how much nonsense that was - Canadian High Commissions and Immigration make heavy use of intelligence in the countries of respective origin of refugees, including from refugee agencies on the ground, as well as what information comes available from security services of "friendly countries". Shocking to say, but true. How else would so many of these countries find out their citizens had escaped and applied for refugee status in Canada? Why else would it now be a risk to send them back?
For so many reasons, many of you are dead wrong about the process. It is quite well thought-out, runs with only modest interference from bureaucrats, and most importantly, substantially complies with international law on treatment of refugees.
Nobody wants another boatload of Jews sent back to Nazi-occupied Europe again as Canada did. Just like we did with capital punishment, better to make a mistake on the side of life, than cause the death of someone innocent.
But I'm not going to waste my time trying to convince some of you of this - you'll go looking for the stories or you won't. I'm moving on, I suggest you do as well. Michael Byers, thank you for an interesting article, and thank you to the too-few commenters who see another side to this.
Oh, and, Inform9-11,
Call me a racist...
OK, you're a racist. Proud?
Bharathier
2 years ago
Boycott the Apartheid Ceylon/Sri Lanka!!!
Tamils all over the world BOYCOTT the racist aparthied Sri Lanka, especially Ceylonese Tamils in the western countries get united and boycott SL!!!