Canadian Fighting Extradition to U.S. on Bogus Charges

by Dela M. - BASICS Issue #20 July/Aug 2010

Suresh Sriskandarajah is a name that is heard and mentioned a lot these days. The name belongs to a bright young Canadian individual who is facing bogus, trumped-up charges that will change his life.

The U.S. government alleges that Suresh was involved in providing computer software to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) back in 2006, prior to the banning of the LTTE in Canada. The U.S. government is now demanding the extradition of Suresh to the U.S. to face charges based on the technicality that the server of the Hotmail account he was using is New-York based.

The U.S seeks to have Suresh extradited by September of this year for this sole reason. Suresh was ordered to be extradited to the U.S. by the Superior Court of Ontario, as well as the Minister of Justice.

Suresh’s nightmare began after having visited Vanni, Sri Lanka in 2004 on a co-op term through the University of Waterloo. Suresh volunteered at two sites and offered his technical expertise, time and generosity.

While volunteering at Senthalir Ilam, an orphanage in Vanni, Suresh created a sponsorship program. At the Vanni Institute of Technology, he helped devise a curriculum for its aspiring students.

The work of Suresh Sriskandarajah, a humble young individual whose impressive resume is driven by his humanitarianism, has landed him in a legal situation that could just as easily be slapped onto many, many more Canadians.

It is unconscionable that the Canadian government can deport its own citizens on such trumped-up and ill-substantiated allegations. It is important to note that the validity of evidence presented in such cases is not assessed in extradition hearings, but only on trial after an extradition has been executed. This process leaves thousands of other Canadians, ranging from human rights activists to those connected with other legitimate struggles around the world, exposed to the repressive and sweeping measures of the ‘war on terror’.

Suresh Sriskandarajah continues to work hard and help out in his community. He has inspired leaders and individuals in academia, business, religious communities, and students to form a ‘Justice for Suresh Team’ and they are doing everything they can to ensure Suresh’s freedom.

Canadians must stand up and demand that Suresh be kept in Canada.

For more information on Suresh Sriskandarajah please visit: www.justiceforsuresh.org