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Canadian Tamil group welcomes ban
The organization 'Canadian Tamils for Democracy' have welcomed the ban imposed by the Canadian government on the LTTE saying it will help safeguard the democratic rights of Tamils living in Canada.

The group thanked the Human Rights Watch for their recent report "Funding the 'Final War': LTTE Intimidation and Extortion in the Tamil Diaspora" and the Canadian media organizations for publishing the HRW report and bringing the LTTE intimidation to theattention of the public. Several Canadian newspapers, including the liberal leaning Toronto Star called for the ban on the LTTE.

The release from the 'Canadian Tamils for Democracy' states, “Hundreds of thousands of Tamils fled their homes, disavowing war and seeking instead to build a peaceful and secure future for themselves and their children.
“However, they continue to face serious threats and violence, and are being forced to support a war in which they do not believe -- a brutal assault on their democratic rights”.

It said that moreover, the coerced financial support is used to sustain the militarization of Tamil children in Sri Lanka who, given the persistent war and the prevailing poverty, are vulnerable to being recruited for the purposes of this horrific war.

“We thank the Canadian media who, through their news and editorials, exposed the crimes being perpetrated by the LTTE and their front organizations upon members of the Canadian Tamil community. Furthermore, their coverage of the activities of the LTTE garnered support for this law among various communities in Canada. We thank the Canadian media for recognizing the severity of the LTTE's illegal intimidation and violence against Canadian Tamils, as evinced by their calls for the ban of the LTTE and its front organizations.

“We are humbled by the courage of ordinary Tamils, independent researchers, and community activists from England, Canada, Australia and Germany who contributed to the research and publication of this report by bravely speaking their minds.

“When action is taken against the LTTE and their front organizations, however, we ask that great care be taken by relevant authorities, so that the rights and freedoms of the ordinary Tamil citizen are not infringed upon.
“Now that the LTTE has been listed as a terrorist organization by the Canadian government, and their activities have been banned, Canadian Tamils For Democracy urges the Canadian government, police, and others involved in law enforcement, to heed the recommendations of HRW, so that Canadian Tamils may live without fear,” the release said.

Speaking about the ban, Minister of Public Safety Stockwell Day said, “This listing is meant to support the Tamil community in Canada who are law-abiding and hard working people who have left their country of origin to build a better life for themselves and their families in Canada -- where the rule of law and human rights are respected.”

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