TamilWeek_Feb_26

Roar of the Tamil Tigers
[Toronto Star - Feb 26, 2006]

Although Toronto's Tamil community is often described as sharing one
voice, there are clear divides. It's not known just how many support the
LTTE, but most estimates — from police sources or Tamil community
members — present a similar picture.

About 15 per cent are considered hard-line Tiger supporters, including a
small group who fought themselves. On the opposite end is another 15 per
cent who are vocally anti-Tiger.

Among the remaining 70 per cent, there's widespread support for Tamil
independence in Sri Lanka, and thus for the Tigers' mission. But some
within that majority can't afford to donate to the cause, or are morally
opposed to the Tigers' violence. This is the group among whom LTTE
intimidation — whether direct or through the Tigers' fearsome reputation —
opens wallets, says Toronto Tamil journalist David Jeyaraj.

Forget George Orwell's Big Brother, says Jeyaraj; here it's the fear of "Little
Brother" — the English translation of LTTE leader Prabhakaran's nickname,
"Thambi."

Jeyaraj, a soft-spoken man with dishevelled hair and a habit of furtively
looking over his shoulder, recounts a recent drive with his friend when the
conversation turned to the Tigers. Jeyaraj, who immigrated to Toronto in
1989, says he instinctually leaned close and whispered, as did his friend.
"After a few minutes we said, `Look why are we doing this? We're the only
ones in the car.' But that's how we are."

Stockwell Day's promise to list the Tigers gets mixed reviews within
Toronto's Tamil community. For many Tamils who lived through the
harassment and false arrests after the Sri Lankan government passed the
country's 1979 terrorism act, there's fear of racial profiling here by
authorities. "You were presumed guilty unless you proved yourself
innocent," Jeyaraj says of Sri Lanka. He worries Canadian police won't have
"the know-how to be selective."