OTTAWA (AFP) — A Canadian group accused of bankrolling Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tigers wired more than three million dollars overseas before being shut down, local media reported Tuesday, citing police documents.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) report marked "secret" is said to provide the first detailed look at the financial activities of the World Tamil Movement, a non-profit organization added to Canada's list of banned terror groups in June.
The 83-page report by the RCMP anti-terror squad, obtained by the National Post, said the group used monthly pre-authorized payments to collect funds from hundreds of supporters in Canada.
In addition, the group made money through bake sales, car washes, newspaper sales and festivals, the report said.
The Tamil Tigers (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) seek the creation of a separate homeland in Sri Lanka, saying Tamils face discrimination under the island's Sinhalese majority.
The Toronto-based World Tamil Movement has denied fundraising for terrorism.
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