DON'T BAN THE TRO IN CANADA LIKE IN THE USA, PLEADS THE TAMIL ACTIVIST IN TORONTO:

DON’T LEAVE US



[Image:Internally displaced Sri Lankan ethnic Tamils sit outside the UNHCR compound during a protest against the departure of aid agencies, in rebel held town of Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. The government has ordered nearly all aid workers in rebel-held territory to leave the area, even as humanitarian workers have expressed concerns for the welfare of those displaced by the fighting.(AP Photo]

"Palitha Kohona asks Canada to ban TRO - Canada"

DON'T BAN THE TRO IN CANADA LIKE IN THE USA, PLEADS THE TAMIL ACTIVIST IN TORONTO:
WILL THE CANADIAN CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT LISTEN WITH ELECTIONS ON OCTOBER 14TH?
DEFINITELY DOUBTFUL KNOWING THE CONSERVATIVES PAST: HOWEVER TIME IS AGAINST THE CONSERVATIVE, WHERE THEY DO NOT EVEN HAVE ONE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT IN THE ENTIRE GTA. (GREATER TORONTO AREA). TAMILS UNLIKELY TO VOTE FOR THE CONSERVATIVES EXCEPT A FEW TAMIL QUISLINGS FOR PERSONAL BENEFITS. T4J:


An objection statement from Thangavelu, TCWA, Canada to Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade , is follows;

(September 12, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) We understand that Mr. Palitha Kohona, Foreign Secretary, Sri Lanka met you recently in Ottawa. It appears he has urged the Canadian government to ban the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization – Canada (TRO-Canada) in the same fashion as the LTTE and the WTM. He might have cited the ban imposed on TRO (USA) by US government as a precedent.

The banning of LTTE in 2006 and WTM in June this year has criminalized the entire 300,000 strong Tamil Canadian community. Tamils are facing discrimination at work places, labelled terrorists in schools and potential “terrorists” in the eyes of the RCMP/CSIS. Individual Tamils are spied upon and meetings and rallies clandestinely photographed /videographed. It has become difficult to hire a hall to stage even cultural shows. Sometimes, the Police refuse security because of perceived connection of the organizer of the event to the LTTE/WTM. It looks though the life of Tamils is no different from Russians under the KGB of the Soviet era!

In the name of fighting anti-terrorism, Canada has embraced a series of policies that abandon perhaps the most elemental and crucial tenet of our democratic society: fair treatment of all citizens under the Canadian Charter. In lieu of this most fundamental of democratic protections, Canada adopted a panicked, racist, and unfair legislation that had eroded human rights protection. The Anti-Terrorism law is reminiscent of the McCarthy era which politicians condemn in hindsight while supporting similar tactics today.

There is a long history of oppression of Tamils in Sri Lanka since independence. We ourselves were victims of Sri Lanka’s state terrorism. Tamils in their thousands fled Sri Lanka to escape persecution and political oppression based on ethnicity and religion.

The current war in Sri Lanka between the majority Sinhalese (64% Buddhists) and minority Tamils who are largely Hindus is not a civil war like in Nepal. It is an ethnic war between the Sinhalese Nation and Tamil Nation.

Right now a human tragedy of starvation, disease and death is unfolding in Vanni where more than 220,000 men, women and children have been internally displaced because of the intensive bombing and shelling by the armed forces. This human tragedy has been compounded by the government order to INGOs to relocate to government controlled territory in Vavuniya leaving the IDPs to fend for themselves. GoSL has also prohibited media access to the Vanni and other war-affected areas so as to limit international coverage of the conflict and violations of international humanitarian and human rights law. The government has also banned and/or restricted transport of food, medicine, cloths, tents etc into Vanni. Only TRO (Sri Lanka) is on the ground to provide what ever little humanitarian assistance possible.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed deep concern over “the safety and freedom of movement of civilians and allowing humanitarian organizations to reach persons affected by the fighting who need humanitarian assistance.”

At a recent interview given by Gen. Sarath Fonseka, the influential Army Commander, who voiced his conception of Sri Lanka: "The Sinhala nation has to sacrifice if you want to protect the country and survive….. In any democratic country the majority should rule the country. This country will be ruled by the Sinhalese community which is the majority representing 74 percent of the population" (The Daily News – 19.7.2008). If this ultra- Fascist theory is applied to Canada, the break-up of the country would have been a fait- accompli long ago.

Palitha Kohona represents a country that was booted out from the UN Human Rights Council recently. Sri Lanka is guilty of human rights abuses, enforced disappearances, torture, detention without trial, corruption, inefficiency and profligacy.

We hope the Canada will not succumb to the pressure tactics of an internationally discredited government. It will be a monumental blunder and a tragedy of the first magnitude to those Tamils languishing in varying degrees of deprivation and degradation sans shelter, medicine and other basic needs. - Sri Lanka Guardian

http://www.srilankaguardian.org/2008/09/palitha-kohona-asks-canada-to-ban-tro.html

IDPs urge foreign aid workers not to leave Vanni, block convoy
[TamilNet, Friday, 12 September 2008, 16:50 GMT]




Internally Displaced Persons, who gathered Friday morning in front of the UNHCR office at Karadippoakku junction in Ki'linochchi, pleaded with the remaining officials of the UN and International NGOs not to leave Ki'linochchi as their presence was critical, not only for humanitarian assistance, but also to sustain a secure zone to escape what they feared in the coming days: Sri Lankan military's scorched earth policy in aerial and artillery bombardment. Meanwhile, a group of IDPs blocked the convoy of NGO vehicles in a peaceful protest at 55th Mile Post where a store of the World Food Progamme (WFP) is located from 6:00 a.m., forcing the NGOs to abandon their trip on Friday.

IDPs protest in Vanni
IDPs block NGO and UN vehicles from leaving Vanni


IDPs protest in Vanni
Veluppillai Sivasubramaniyam who displaced from Iluppaikkadavai
IDPs protest in Vanni
Ms. Anpu Santhirasekaran, displaced from Jaffna in 1990 and living in Vanni
IDPs protest in Vanni
IDPs protest in Vanni
IDPs in front of UNHCR office at Karadippoakku junction
IDPs protest in Vanni
Characterizing the Sri Lankan pressure on the INGOs and UN agencies to vacate Vanni as a prelude to carry out crimes against humanity, a group of IDPs staged a protest blocking the convoy of INGO and UN vehicles from leaving Ki'inochchi on Friday.

The UNHCR and NGO officials, who explained their circumstances, told the IDP protesters that they were forced to withdraw their presence based on security concerns, and there was simply nothing more they could do, other than alerting their hierarchy of their protest, according to TamilNet correspondent who visited the scene.

A displaced teacher from Mannaar mainland said the children were especially affected by the news of NGOs and UN organistions leaving Vanni. "This has become a theme for discussion in the classrooms. The children had a secure feeling that they were in a protected environment by only seeing the NGO vehicles moving around in the streets of Ki'iinochchi. That is why we preferred to move towards Ki'linochchi," she said. When our settlements, hospitals, schools and places of worship get bombed, the UN agencies such as Unicef witness the casualties and damage. Who will be there in future to witness our plight in future, she asked.

The IDPs who gathered in front of the UNHCR office had displaced several times and they were from Mannaar, Vadamaaradchi East, Poonakari (Pooneryn), Nedunkea'ni, Northern Vavuniyaa and from other areas of Vanni mainland.

One of them, K. Lingam from Jaffna, who was trying to talk to the UNHCR officials told media that people were terrorised by the indiscriminate bombardment and feared SLA blockade of supplies.

"We are at a critical stage. We can't live with dignity in SLA controlled areas. If you are forced to leave us at all, at this juncture, at least recognise our fundamental right to live in our land with dignity," was his message to the officials who were in a rush to prepare for leaving Vanni.

Arbitrary executions, enforced disappearances, abduction, unacknowledged detention and all forms of violence against Tamils from NorthEast are widely reported in Sri Lanka Army controlled areas that the IDPs do not consider as a viable option.

Velupillai Sivasubramaniam, 48, father of five, an IDP from Iluppaikkadavai, who displaced with his family, unable to take with their belongings, said he received no help from any organisations so far, despite he displaced at least four times, to Muzhangkaavil, Vanneari, Koa'naavil and now to Uruththirapuram, each time when artillery shells fired by the SLA reached their place of stay.

When asked why he was protesting while complaining that no organisations helped him actively, he said there was help although it didn't reach all, but said: "more than anything, it is their presence in our soil which is important to us, it is the feeling and the security it gives that we are not left alone by the global community, as a forgotten people, let to face a genocide."

Ms. Santhiraseakaram Anpu, who displaced from Kadduvan in Jaffna, in 1990 due to SLA offensive, said she was continuously leading a life since then with several displacements, lost her husband and daughter, and was not prepared to move towards SLA controlled areas. Her native place has been turned into High Security Zone. She feared that the Sri Lankan military would be prepared for an unprecedented bombardment after aid workers have left Vanni.

IDPs protest in Vanni
IDPs block NGO vehicles from leaving Vanni at 55th Mile Post in front of WFP store in Ki'linochchi


IDPs protest in Vanni
IDPs protest in Vanni


Chronology:
12.09.08 IDPs urge foreign aid workers not to leave Vanni, ..
11.09.08 TNA condemns expulsion of foreign aid workers from..
10.09.08 Foreign aid workers start leaving Vanni
09.09.08 Time for Britain to act, says UK Parliamentary gro..
09.09.08 UN pulls staff from Vanni, aid workers fear 'blood..