In 2010, during a meticulous review of my manuscript, preliminarily entitled “The 05 File” (https://a.co/d/fNfKpt1), Gary Anandasangaree—then the legal adviser to the Canadian Tamil Congress and now Canada’s Minister of Public Safety—cautioned me against labeling the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as a “terrorist organization” in my book, citing the absence of a universally accepted definition of terrorism at the United Nations at that time. This guidance, delivered in good faith, reflected broader debates within international law and diaspora communities, especially concerning the LTTE, a group that, while banned in Canada since 2006, was still seen by some as engaging in politically motivated resistance (Canada.ca, 2006).
The Challenge of Defining “Terrorism”
Anandasangaree’s point about definitional ambiguity is valid. Although the LTTE had been designated a terrorist group by Canada (since 2006), the UN still lacked a cohesive, binding definition of terrorism, even by 2010 (Canada.ca, 2006). Scholars and practitioners have since acknowledged this gap, which continues to complicate legal, ethical, and policy debates around counterterrorism measures and political discourse.
Diaspora Advocacy and Perceptions
Within Canada’s Tamil community, the LTTE was sometimes justified in moral and historical terms—as defenders of Tamil rights, especially in light of human rights abuses perpetrated by the Sri Lankan state. However, this narrative became increasingly controversial following reports of LTTE tactics such as suicide bombings, child soldier recruitment, and targeted assassinations abroad, including the murder of India’s Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 (Smith, 2010).
As a legal adviser for diaspora groups, Anandasangaree was navigating a complex terrain. He represented constituents grappling with trauma, identity, and activism. His caution in 2010 thus reflected both a principled stance on legal ambiguity and empathy for sentiment within Tamil Canadians.
Subsequent Scrutiny: Immigration Letters
Recently, Anandasangaree has come under media scrutiny—not for his 2010 remark, but for immigration letters he drafted in 2016 and 2023 on behalf of Senthuran Selvakumaran, a Sri Lankan national previously determined by Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to have “protracted involvement” with the LTTE (Global News, July 15, 2025). These letters, sent on official House of Commons stationery, urged the CBSA to reconsider Selvakumaran’s application, stressing family reunification and character assessment (Global News, July 15, 2025).
Although Selvakumaran had been denied permanent residence due to national security concerns, Anandasangaree’s interventions arguably placed him at a potential conflict—between his role as a constituency advocate and his responsibilities as a public safety official. Still, at the National Post, Jamie Sarkonak emphasized that Anandasangaree’s early political engagement with Tamil nationalist advocacy raised valid questions for someone now in charge of national security (National Post, July 2025).
Public and Political Response
Opinion among public safety experts and advocacy groups has been sharply polarized. Phil Gurski, a former CSIS analyst, criticized Anandasangaree’s letters as reflecting poor judgment and “arrogance,” stating that the minister “should resign” over the matter (Global News, July 16, 2025). Secure Canada, a counterterrorism advocacy organization, warned that public trust in border security could be eroded when MPs intervene on behalf of individuals linked to terrorism (Global News, July 16, 2025).
On the other hand, Prime Minister Mark Carney defended Anandasangaree, noting that MPs routinely intervene in immigration cases on behalf of constituents, typically focusing on humanitarian or familial considerations (Global News, July 16, 2025).
Ministerial Recusal and Ethical Safeguards
In June–July 2025, as the controversy intensified, Anandasangaree proactively recused himself from any files related to the LTTE or its alleged Canadian front, the World Tamil Movement, citing “an abundance of caution” to avoid perceived conflicts of interest (Wikipedia, 2025). This action demonstrates his awareness of the ethical obligations inherent in his role.
Broader Reflections: Dual Roles in Public Service
My 2010 experience—of being counseled by someone who later became Public Safety Minister—highlights a broader tension: that between advocacy and state authority, personal belief and public duty, community solidarity and national security. In democratic systems, this duality is especially delicate when former advocacy leaders assume positions of security oversight.
Anandasangaree’s career path underscores several broader issues:
- Diaspora liaison: He has been a vital interpreter of Tamil diaspora concerns within Canadian policy circles.
- Legal caution: His reluctance to label the LTTE as “terrorist” in 2010 was grounded in legal accuracy, not ideological alignment.
- Post-advocacy role: His immigration letters later invited scrutiny—and necessitated ethical recalibration as minister.
- Transparency and accountability: His subsequent recusal reflects institutional pressure and political necessity.
Conclusion
My manuscript excerpt from 2010, now published as of October 2024, “Spy Tiger: The 05 File” (available at Amazon: https://a.co/d/4XlAmIE) provided a window into the evolving political and legal positioning of Gary Anandasangaree—one that continues to reverberate today amid unprecedented scrutiny of immigration decisions tied to national security. While his caution then was arguably legally justified, public opinion shifted when his earlier advocacy affected current policy debates. The question now hinges on whether Anandasangaree’s conduct, including his recusal and transparency, effectively addressed these conflicts, or if the criticisms leveled pose lasting concerns for Canada’s national security leadership.
Featured image: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
References
Canada.ca. (2006, April 10). Canada’s new government lists the LTTE as a terrorist organization. Government of Canada.
Global News. (2025, July 15). Before joining cabinet, public safety minister wrote immigration support letters for terror group ‘member’.
Global News. (2025, July 16). Prime Minister Carney says he still has confidence in public safety minister.
Smith, J. (2010). Defeat of the Tamil Tigers. National Defense University Press.
Wikipedia. (2025). Gary Anandasangaree. Retrieved July 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Anandasangaree
National Post. (2025, July). Jamie Sarkonak: Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree is unfit for office.