The Canadian government confirmed this week, that a new list of terror organizations listed by the Sri Lankan government earlier this month has no legal barring in Canada, but warned its citizens with ties to the list could be subject to questioning or arrest in Sri Lanka.
On April 1, the Sri Lankan government listed several organizations in the Tamil Diaspora including Canada.
“This order is based on the recommendation by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, as the Competent Authority regarding the identification of persons, groups and entities, believed on reasonable grounds to be committing, attempting to commit, facilitating or participating, in the commission of acts of terrorism,” the media release from Ministry of External Affairs in Sri Lanka said.
“The substantial effect of an order under this Regulation is that all funds, assets and economic resources belonging to or owned by the designated persons or entities remain frozen until they are removed from the designated list. Moving, transferring or dealing with frozen assets without the permission of the Competent Authority is prohibited. In terms of the Regulation, any person who fails to comply with an order to freeze assets is liable to heavy penalties.”
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Canada’s Harper government said the list will have no legal bearing in the country and urged its Sri Lankan counterparts to incorporate Diaspora views instead of banning them.
“Diaspora communities play an important role in Sri Lanka’s post-conflict reconciliation process. This action by the Sri Lankan government could further hinder progress on reconciliation. While we may share concerns about some of those listed, we remind the Government of Sri Lanka that it must ensure any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with its obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) said in a joint statement.
“The Government of Canada remains committed to combatting all forms of terrorism. Under the provisions of the Criminal Code, Canada included the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on its list of terrorist entities in 2006 and added the World Tamil Movement to the list in 2008.”
The Canadian government confirmed this week, that a new list of terror organizations listed by the Sri Lankan government earlier this month has no legal barring in Canada, but warned its citizens with ties to the list could be subject to questioning or arrest in Sri Lanka.
On April 1, the Sri Lankan government listed several organizations in the Tamil Diaspora including Canada.
“This order is based on the recommendation by the Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, as the Competent Authority regarding the identification of persons, groups and entities, believed on reasonable grounds to be committing, attempting to commit, facilitating or participating, in the commission of acts of terrorism,” the media release from Ministry of External Affairs in Sri Lanka said.
“The substantial effect of an order under this Regulation is that all funds, assets and economic resources belonging to or owned by the designated persons or entities remain frozen until they are removed from the designated list. Moving, transferring or dealing with frozen assets without the permission of the Competent Authority is prohibited. In terms of the Regulation, any person who fails to comply with an order to freeze assets is liable to heavy penalties.”
Canada’s Harper government said the list will have no legal bearing in the country and urged its Sri Lankan counterparts to incorporate Diaspora views instead of banning them.
“Diaspora communities play an important role in Sri Lanka’s post-conflict reconciliation process. This action by the Sri Lankan government could further hinder progress on reconciliation. While we may share concerns about some of those listed, we remind the Government of Sri Lanka that it must ensure any measure taken to combat terrorism complies with its obligations under international law, in particular international human rights law,” Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular) said in a joint statement.
“The Government of Canada remains committed to combatting all forms of terrorism. Under the provisions of the Criminal Code, Canada included the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on its list of terrorist entities in 2006 and added the World Tamil Movement to the list in 2008.”
