Tory candidate in 'no way' a Tamil sympathizer: Conservatives

After Paranchothy was nominated as the Conservative candidate in the Toronto-area riding of Scarborough Southwest about a month ago, he changed his name and background to Gavan Paranchothy, the Globe and Mail reported Thursday.

The newspaper suggested Paranchothy, a broadcaster with Tamil Vision International, which devoted much of its coverage to the civil war in Sri Lanka, was trying to hide his Tamil roots.

In media reports, Paranchothy was often quoted commenting on alleged atrocities committed against Tamils.

"Sri Lanka is carrying out a systematic genocide of innocent Tamils who are seeking shelter under trees. They are being lured into so-called safe zones which are then being bombed by Sri Lankan forces," Paranchothy once told The Tamil Eelam News Services.

The Globe and Mail said Paranchothy is part of a group of Toronto-area Tamils, some of whom have links "to a Tamil Tigers remnant organization, who recently forged political ties with the federal Tories and the Ontario Progressive Conservatives."

The newspaper said Paranchothy last fall hosted a televised commemoration service for dead Tiger fighters, who the Globe quote him describing as "strong and faithful people who stood guard for the Tamils, fought for freedom and peace."

Dimitri Soudas, spokesman for Conservative leader Stephen Harper, told reporters Thursday that prior to becoming a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada, Paranchothy was asked and "confirmed" that "he in no way, shape or form was a sympathizer or supporter of the Tamil Tigers."

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