A computer containing the names of the migrants as well as their family members in Canada and Sri Lanka was stolen from the reception desk on Saturday night and a room used by volunteers working on the case was ransacked, the Congress said.
The identities of the Sun Sea migrants is the subject of a publication ban ordered by the Immigration and Refugee Board. The ban was imposed to protect the refugee claimants and their families in Sri Lanka from reprisal.
“The biggest worry about this is the MV Sun Sea information,” said David Poopalapallai, the CTC spokesman. The group has been trying to call the family members to warn them their contact information may be in the wrong hands.
He said the break-in happened some time between 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, when the last volunteer left the office, and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, when another returned. Toronto Police Service were called to the scene at 31 Progress Ave.
“They did a targeted job,” he said, adding only the information on the Sun Sea appeared to have been taken. He said the group had received hateful calls and e-mails about the ship but did not consider them overly threatening.
Since the Sun Sea arrived off the B.C. Coast in August, the Tamil Congress has been helping the migrants connect with their families. It has also been lobbying the government on their behalf and making sure they understand their rights under Canada’s refugee law.
The arrival of the smuggling ship, whose passengers allegedly paid $40,000 to $50,000 each for the journey from Thailand, has prompted a strong reaction from Sri Lankan government, which has downplayed their claims they are fleeing persecution.
The RCMP is investigating whether any of those on board are members of the Tamil Tigers, the guerrilla group defeated by government forces in May 2009. Public Safety Minister Vic Toews has said the ship was organized by the Tigers, who used it to raise money for their activities.
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