Carleton Tamil students react to accused terrorist links

Carleton Tamil students react to accused terrorist links

Written by Alexander Baker

Thursday, 14 September 2006

Four University of Waterloo students were arrested for allegedly providing money and weapons to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in August.

In a sweeping raid RCMP and FBI officers detained 11 men, including seven Canadians, alleged to have links to the terrorist group. The group is fighting for an independent Tamil state in northern Sri Lanka.

The incident generated publicity, including a front-page spread in the National Post Aug. 31 with an image of students raising the LTTE flag. It depicts crossed AK-47 assault rifles.

These arrests have raised questions about Tamil student associations on other university campuses. Tamils must reconcile themselves with the fact the LTTE is considered a terrorist group in Canada, yet the cause they fight for - an independent Tamil homeland - is still their ultimate goal.

The Carleton University Tamil Students' Association (CUTSA) has grappled with this question in the past according to Lyndon George, CUSA vice-president (internal affairs). He said last year CUSA received an anonymous fax claiming CUTSA was a front to raise money for terrorist activities.

Ann Tierney associate vice-president (student and academic support services) was also made aware of the fax.

"We obviously had to investigate something like that, so [the CUSA executive] sat down with the presidents of the association and asked them for clarification," said George. "They said they have to dispel this myth every year [and] defend themselves, and they were very disappointed the fax came across."

S. Siva, 2005-06 CUTSA secretary, said Tamil students are very aware of the perceptions people have of them and their association, and they take steps to make sure accusations such as the anonymous fax are proven wrong.

"Our main objective is to promote Tamil culture, spread the traditions at Carleton University [and] preserve the culture and understanding," Siva said. "What we are striving for is peace, to stop the violence and death and find a solution to the matter."

Siva said CUTSA does not condone any acts of violence by the LTTE, and the flag with the guns is not the one they will raise at their annual Heroes' Day memorial in November. "That is more of an LTTE representation," he said.

George said that after sitting down with the CUTSA executive he was completely satisfied and had no concerns.

In fact, Siva said CUTSA takes precautions to make sure every event they plan or meeting they hold is approved by the university.

"We want to conduct ourselves in a way that doesn't bring anything negative to Carleton. The talks and events we carry as an organization are no harm to anyone."

The arrests at Waterloo, however, had nothing to do with the events their organization held. Those men were accused of sending money and weapons to the Tigers, so it is natural to ask where money raised by CUTSA goes.

"We have a student membership fee for when someone joins CUTSA," Siva said. Other than that, the group does not actively canvas or fundraise on campus, nor do they send money to Sri Lanka.

"There is nothing in the budget I've ever seen going to Sri Lanka," he said.

For his part, George said a new provision this year allows CUSA to audit any club or society at a moment's notice, so if they ever get evidence of wrongdoing they can immediately freeze accounts and take necessary action.

Siva said that while accusations of a terrorist connection do come more than he would like, he welcomes the opportunity to teach people about the Tamils.

http://www.charlatan.ca/index.php?option=c...17597&Itemid=26