TAMIL TIGERS FUND-RAISER IN MONTREAL

S E C R E T MONTREAL 000979

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR CA/VO/L/C and INR/IC and SA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2O13
TAGS: PTER KVPR PINR
SUBJECT: TAMIL TIGERS FUND-RAISER IN MONTREAL

Classified By: Bernadette Allen, Principal Officer; Reasons
1.5 B and D


1. (S/NF) Summary: A Local Canadian Law Enforcement
Source has informed Post that there will be a "Tamil
Olympics" the week of 28 July 20O3 in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada. Source reports that this event is a fund
raiser for the Tamil Tigers Terrorist Organization (LTTE).


2. (S/NF) According to the reliable source the "Tamil
Olympics" is a gathering of individuals of Sri Lankan
decent who now live in Canada. The gathering includes many
activities including several sporting games, and attracts
Sri Lankans from all over Canada. According to Source at
last year's "Olympics" individuals were prcssured into
"donating" gold jewelry and cash. Local Law Enforcement
attempted to track the jewelry; however, according to
Source the jewelry passed through many individuals and the
trail was lost. Local Law Enforcement believes that the
money derived from the jewelry was funneled to the LTTE.
Source also states that individuals were threatened with
violence to give money to various charities that Law
Enforcement believes funneled the money to the LTTE. Local
Law Enforcement was not able to make any arrests because
the individuals involved in the extortion would not come
forward to talk to Law Enforcement.


3. (S/NF) Source also stated that his branch of Local Law
Enforcement was being pressured to "find something on the
LTTE soon because the (Canadian) Government wants to put
the LTTE on the (Canadian) list of Terrorist
Organizations." Source stated that Local Law Enforcement
would have the "Olympics" under surveillance but added that
they have had significant problems infiltrating the local
Tamil groups in the past because they are a very tight-
knit, homogeneous group.
ALLEN