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TO LANKA FROM CANADA
By D.B.S.JEYARAJ
Thavaselvam Nandagopal alias Gopu the 32 year old brother in law of LTTE
political wing chief SP Tamilselvan has been deported to Sri Lanka from Canada.
Nandagopal alias Gopu whose sister is married to the tiger political chief was
deported back to Colombo on Monday December Sixth.
Gopu was a failed refugee claimant who had been living in Canada since 1995.
He was also a frontline leader of the World Tamil Movement (WTM) identified as a
tiger front organization in Canada by both US and Canadian security authorities.
Gopu whose clout with the Canadian tigers was immense because of his
relationship with Tamilselvan was arrested by Canadian immigration authorities on
Dec 3rd .
He was then held at an immigration detention facility over the week - end and put
aboard a Colombo bound flight on Dec 6th.
An immigration and security official accompanied Nandagopal to Colombo.
Though the failed refugee applicant had protested on grounds that he would be
victimised by Sri Lankan security officials upon his arrival in Katunayake on
account of his relationship with Tamilselvan informed sources told "The Sunday
Leader" that nothing of the sort happened.
"He left the airport without any problems and also left Colombo for Kilinochchi in
complete safety" the sources said.
The sudden deportation came as a shock to WTM mebers in Canada as Gopu
was tipped to succeed Manuel Mariyadhas as the head of the Canadian world
Tamil movement next year.
Mariyadhas alias Naavalan quit the leadership post after the Great Heroes Day
demonstrations of Nov 27th. Gopu whose political stature has been growing
because of the Tamilselvan factor was a frontrunner in the succession stakes.
It is widely believed that Mariyadhas as well as his predecessor Anton Sabaratnam
alias Reggie had quit the WTM posts because of pressure exerted by the tiger
hierarchy in the Wanni.
It is also suspected that Gopu played a crucial role in undermining both Reggie
and Naavalan through his influence with his brother in law Tamilselvan. He had set
his sights on the tiger leadership post in Canada it is felt.
Gopu a native of Chulipuram in Jaffna was born in 1972 . He was for sometime an
engineering undergraduate in Peradeniya but dropped out before completing the
course.
He then came to Canada on a student visa in 1995 and was enrolled at Carleton
University in Ottawa. He dropped out after a while and moved to Toronto where he
took classes at the George Brown Community College. He also became a
volunteer at the WTM.
After the marriage of his sister to Tamilselvan Nandagopal alias Gopu moved up
the WTM ladder in Canada. He quit classes and became a paid full - time
operative of the WTM.
With his student visa lapsing Gopu applied for refugee status in Canada. His claim
and subsequent appeals were rejected. A final resort seeking a stay on
humanitarian grounds on the basis that he would be in danger if returned to Sri
Lanka was also unsuccessful.
He was then called over to the Immigration Centre at the Airport road , served a
deportation order and detained.
Efforts were made by a section of the WTM to thwart the deportation by seeking
legal remedy. Though some lawyers were consulted over the week - end nothing
tangible was worked out.
Attempts to launch political demonstrations in support of Gopu also failed due to
lack of support among WTM rank and file.
Gopu's rapid ascent to power in the Canadian tiger front was resented by many
as it was attributed to nepotism in the LTTE.
He became an ara chief, zonal chief and also served as Ottawa and Vancouver
city boss for a while. He was also for sometime in charge of LTTE publications and
part of fund raising operations.
WTM sources told "The Sunday Leader" that Gopu had a swollen head because
of the Tamilselvan connection and threw his weight about thereby incurring
opposition.
He also carried tales to Tamilselvan about WTM members here and gathered
further resentment. In recent times he had systematically undermined his
colleagues with the hierarchy with the ulterior motive of taking over the WTM in
Canada.
If the Immigration officials had not acted fast Gopu would have taken over the
WTM next year the sources said.
Though the deportation at face value appears to be a "simple immigration matter"
political observers feel that the political ramifications of the issue cannot be ruled
out.
" Once his relationship with the LTTE political commissar was known and he began
working openly for the WTM he was bound to attract attention in official circles.
They must have had information that he was about to become the Canadian tiger
top dog and acted fast" said these circles.
WTM circles in Canada are worried that news of this deportation may demoralise
members and supporters and are trying to keep the news under wraps. They are
also trying to de - link the political aspect and are projecting it as an immigration
matter.
An ex - associate of Gopu said that despite his uncertain immigration status in
Canada the deported man had been confident of ironing out matters with the
officials.
" The Canadian High Commissioner and others go up regularly to Kilinochchi to
meet my brother in law. So he can put in a word for me and everything will be all
right" Gopu allegedly boasted.
In spite of maintaining a dialogue with the LTTE in Kilinochchi Canadian authorities
have been careful in not admitting tigers and associates into Canada.
Tamilselvan, Balasingham and Balakumar have all been rejected admission into
Canada despite several endeavours. Tamil National Alliance MP's have also been
refused visas.
Tamilselvan's mother, sister and two brothers are also living in Canada.
The LTTE political chief may very well raise the deportation issue with Ms. Valerie
Raymond if and when the Canadian envoy meets him again. [Sunday Leader]