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Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats
Statement by New Democrat Leader Jack Layton on Black July
Thu 23 Jul 2009
It is with great sadness that Canadians will mark the 26th anniversary of Black July. A government launching a massive, orchestrated pogrom against its own people is a shame. Black July is a true stain on Sri Lanka's reputation as a democracy.
New Democrats are concerned about the ongoing human rights violations, the lack of access to clean water, medical assistance and the government's inability to care for the civilians still living in the concentration camps.
We will continue to be the voice of Tamil Canadians in the House of Commons. We will continue to demand the federal government work with the United Nations to assert its authority and help the tens of thousands of civilians who are still at risk. Canada can help make that happen – that's why we called for two emergency debates in Parliament this year, to discuss solutions, options for peace, and Canada's role.
After the events of 1983, Canada welcomed those Tamils seeking asylum, and we continue to accept refugees and immigrants from Sri Lanka. But the Prime Minister must expedite the process for bringing family members to Canada, especially reuniting orphans with extended family here.
Today, New Democrats join the call for the Government of Sri Lanka to allow international observers into the country because we fear that killings could be taking place on a larger scale than reported – it is vital for international monitors and media to report on the reality of the situation.
Canada can and must do more. We can be a strong voice for peace on the global stage. Children in Sri Lanka need us to take up that responsibility today. We must prevent another Black July from ever happening again.
Lest we forget.
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தமிழர்களே,
கொசோவோ தனிநாடா இருப்பது உலகத்திற்கு அச ்சுறுத்தல் என்று ராசபக்சே கூற
ியுள்ளான். இதோ அந்நாட ்டு அதிபர் மற்றும் அமைச்சர்களின் மின்னஞசல். அவருக் கு நமது
ஆதரவையும் மகிந்தாவின் திமிர் பேச்சையும் அவ ர்களுக்கு தெரிவியுங்கள். Kosovo President - Fatmir Sejdiu fatmir.sejdiu@ ks-gov.neth_beqiri@president-ksgov.net ; i nformimi@president-ksgov.net ; safet.ze jnullah u@president-ksgov.net ; fehmi.mehmeti.zprk@ ; gmail.comjerliu@ president-ksgov.net, vjosa.o smani@president-ksgov.net , shqipe.m@presi dent-ksgov.net , jerliu@president-ksgov.nethttp:// www.president-ksgov.neகொசோவோ தனி நாடாக உருவாக்குகின்றமை சர்வதேச ஒத்துழைப்பக்கு அச்சுறுத்தல்லாகும் என்றும் சேபியாவடன் தெடர்ந்து ஒத்துழைப்படன் செயற்பட இலங்கை விரும்புவதாக ஜனாதிபதி மகிந்த தெரிவிப்பு.பிரித்தெடுத்து தனிநாடு ஒன்றை உருவாக்குவதில் நியாயம் இருக்காது என்றும் அது ஜக்கிய நாடுகளின் சாசனங்கள் மற்றும் இறைமை தொடர்பான கொள்கைகளை மீறுவதும்மாகும் என்றும் சேர்பிய ஜனாதிபதியுடன்னான சந்திப்பில் கருத்து தெரிவித்துள்ளார். கொசோவை தனி நாடாக பாக்கும் பிரட்சனையை சர்வதேச நீதி மன்றத்திற்கு கொண்டு சென்றுள்ளதாகவும் இது தொடர்பில் 36 நாடுகள் சர்வதேச நீதி மன்றம் முன்பாக விடயங்களை முன்வைத்ததுள்ளாதகவும் சேர்பிய ஜனாதிபதி மகிந்தவுக்கு கூறியுள்ளார். தனித்து செல்வதுடன் தொடர்புடைய இந்த பிரசிசனை மற்றும் அதனால் ஏற்படும் விளைவுகள் தொடர்பில் உலக மக்கள் அவதானம் செலுத்தியுள்ளதாக இரு நாடுகளினது தலைவாகளும் ஏற்றுகொண்டுள்ளனர். மேலும்; இரு நாடுகளுக்கும் இடையில் வர்த்தகம், சுற்றுலாதுறை, மற்றும் கலாச்சார விடயங்களில் உறவுகளை வளர்க்க அவதானம் செலுத்தியுள்ளனர்.
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AP writer leaves Sri Lanka after visa not renewed (AP) – 50 minutes ago COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Associated Press bureau chief in Sri Lanka, who broke news of private U.N. reports outlining civilian death tolls, has been denied permission to remain in the country. The AP's Ravi Nessman left Sri Lanka on Monday after the government declined to renew his journalist's visa. The government denied that the decision was related to his reporting on the final throes of Sri Lanka's quarter-century civil war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. The AP reported extensively on the heavy toll the war took on civilians as government forces surged across the rebels' strongholds in the jungles of the north this year. "We find this failure to renew Ravi's visa disturbing," said John Daniszewski, AP's senior managing editor for international news. Aside from reports on civilian casualties, Nessman revealed first word of a government document from January outlining a plan to keep hundreds of thousands of displaced people in camps for up to three years. Nessman received a one-year journalist visa upon arriving in Sri Lanka in July 2007, and it was renewed the following year. The government declined to renew it for a third year. Lucien Rajakarunanayake, director of international media in the office of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, insisted the government had not ousted Nessman. He said it was standard for foreign journalists to be based in Colombo for two years. Nessman's predecessor as AP bureau chief, Dilip Ganguly, was based in Colombo for a decade, from 1997-2007. Both sides of Sri Lanka's civil war have been accused by media groups of attempting to manipulate coverage. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said at least 11 Sri Lankan reporters were forced to flee the country in the past year, and Amnesty International said at least 14 Sri Lankan journalists and media workers have been killed since the beginning of 2006. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gHps2MkaTeJ5YJp_FpHDGqkzINiAD99J1M400
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Hon. Stephen J. Rapp,
Ambassador of War Crimes Issues,
Department of State.
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Liberals call for conditions on any IMF loan to Sri Lanka | |
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In addition to faxes, pl leave a message in the ebox too: EU Foreign Ministers: 1.Austria – Dr. Michael Spindelegger http://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/foreign-ministry/foreign-ministry/der-aussenminister/kontakt-minister.html 2. Belgium - Karel De Gucht, http://www.diplomatie.be/en/contact/ 3. Bulgaria - Ivailo Georgiev Kalfin, iprd@mfa.government.bg 4. Cyprus - Markos Kyprianou minforeign1@mfa.gov.cy 5. Czech Republic - KAREL SCHWARZENBERG, info@mzv.cz 6. Denmark - Per Stig Møller, um@um.dk 7. Estonia – Urmas Paet vminfo@vm.ee 8. Finland – Alexander Stubb, UMI@formin.fi, 9. France - Bernard Couchner – 37, Quai d'Orsay, F - 75351 PARIS, France 10. Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Infoservice/service/AllgemeinesKontaktformular.jsp Federal Foreign Office, Auswärtiges Amt, Werderscher Markt 1, 11013 Berlin 11. Greece - Theodora Bakoyiannis, dorabakoyannis@mfa.gr 12. Hungary - Kinga Goncz, iroda.konz@kum.hu 13. Ireland - Micheál Martin http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=8797 webmaster@dfa.ie 14. Italy – Franco Frattini, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Piazzale della Farnesina 1, 00194 Roma 15. Latvia - Mr. Maris Riekstins, webmaster@mfa.gov.lv 16. Lithuania - Petras Vaitiekūnas 17. Luxembourg - Monsieur Jean Asselborn, webadmin@mae.etat.lu 18, Malta - Michael Frendo, info.mfa@gov.mt 19. Netherlands - Maxime Verhagen, http://www.minbuza.nl/en/contact,reactieformulier___publieksinformatie.html 20. Poland - Stefan Meller, rzecznik@msz.gov.pl 21. Portugal - Luis Amado, Minister@mne.gov.pt 22. Romania - Andrei Cioroianu, mae@mae.ro 23. Slovakia - Ján Kubiš 24. Slovenia - Dimitrij Rupel, dimitrij.rupel@gov.si 25. Spain - Miguel Ángel Moratinos Cuyaubé, 26. Sweden - Carl Bildt, http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/7505 27. UK - David Miliband, msu.correspondence@fco.gov.uk Foreign and Commonwealth Office, King Charles St, London SW1A 0AA, UK
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MEDIA ADVISORY
Tamil Canadians on a 'Mission' to Help Patients
Local South Asian Group Launches Year-long Blood and Stem Cell Campaign
For Immediate Release
WHAT: The Tamil Canadian community is kicking-off a year-long blood and stem cell awareness campaign aimed directly at 'living' their mission, 'To encourage the spirit of multi-culturalism… and understanding with other ethnic communities.' Understanding community is at the heart of Canadian Tamil Congress' (CTC) commitment to providing over 450 units of blood during 2008. This is the largest amount of blood collected by any partner within Central Ontario region. Building on this success the CTC have committed to 1,000 blood donations (500 during the summer and 500 over the next calendar year). Knowing the need within stem cells the CTC have expanded their generosity by including the collection of 50 DNA samples for testing in hopes of providing potential stem cell donors for South Asian Canadian patients. The campaign will be operating out of 10 mobile and two permanent blood donor clinics across the city during July and August of which certain identified clinics will offer DNA sample (buccal swab) collection opportunities. These swabs will be tested in hopes of matching any of the 15 South Asian and 14 East Indian patients currently waiting for a stem cell transplant. To publicly launch this campaign, the CTC will join with other South Asian representatives and Canadian Blood Services with OneMatch at a clinic/swab photo opportunity. WHO: Interviews and photo opportunities with: · Tamil Canadian donors, including survivors of July 1983 who have built a new life in Canada
· Canadian Blood Services representative Victoria Lawson, and Canadian Tamil Congress representative Manjula Selvarajah speaking to the partnership and the value of an ethnically diverse donor base in both blood and stem cells
· Dr. Prateek Lala M.D. to speak to the need for more South Asians/East Indians to become blood and stem cell donors
· DNA sample collection (swabs)
o Donors will have the opportunity to provide DNA samples (swabbing)
WHEN: 1 pm, Tuesday July 14th, 2009 WHERE: Canadian Blood Services, 67 College Street West in Toronto, Ontario. --30—
CONTACT:
Manjula Selvarajah, Canadian Tamil Congress
Phone: (416) 240-0078
Email: manjulas@canadiantamilcongress.com
John Bromley, ABC
Communications Manager, OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network
(416) 313-4438 Mobile: (416) 573-2172
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| Do your Historical Duty – Register those family members, relatives and friends who were killed, disappeared, tortured, sexually abused or displaced. ( any kind of human rights violations ( 46 in all) Dear All, Please take a moment to realize that we stand at a critical phase in the very existence of our community. The perpetrators who committed such heinous crimes against our kith and kin now wants to eliminate all evidences and witnesses to hide their crimes against humanity and escape themselves. Are we going to allow that? At this juncture it's extremely important that we record all the atrocities with proper documentation, so that Justice could be seeked and the records become the resilient resolvement for our future generations. Please take the time to convince those who have lost their relatives or friends, to come and register the information with the Centre for War Victims & Human Rights - exclusively set up to record the killings and displacements in the Vanni. These records are highly confidential and would only used as documentation for the purpose of recording, at this historical juncture of our community. Please do your part in this effort to record the Injustice done to our people and crime of Genocide. Please convince your neighbor, friend, relative or anyone from Vanni, to come and record towards seeking Justice, Freedom and Peace for our people on the long run. For Registration, please call 416-628-1408 or 416-841-7458 Please visit our website: www.cwvhr.org Thanking You, CWVHR |
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| TAMIL PEOPLE STATEMENT: Wherever minorities are being persecuted we must raise our voices to protest. According to reliable sources, the Tamil people are being disenfranchised and victimized by the Sri Lanka authorities. This injustice must stop. The Tamil people must be allowed to live in peace and flourish in their homeland. - Elie Wiesel, June 30th 2009 SAMPLE FAX Sent @212 490 6006 Dear Mr. Elie Wiesel; Re: Thank you for your strong voice on Tamils in Sri Lanka I take this opportunity to thank you for your strong voice and comment on the Tamils' plight in Sri Lanka . I am sure, that world will take a serious note of your statement on Sri Lanka and do its utmost to bring sustainable peace to Tamils in Sri Lanka by bringing an acceptable political solution based on Tamils' Right to Self-Determination. I also wanted to use this opportunity to bring your attention to the undemocratic and authoritarian action by the Government of Sri Lanka as Sri Lanka continue to detain men, women, children and infants in their hundreds of thousands (Close to 300,000) behind the barbed wires under heavy military presents for many months with inadequate food, medicines, and other basic essentials in 40 odd Nazi style concentration camps under improper hygiene, inadequate shelter, and a lack of water, food and medical treatment by Sri Lanka even after the war is over. We must expose Sri Lanka for continuing to prevent aid agencies and independent journalists to these camps as many NGOs pointed out this is dire violation of international humanitarian laws. Thank you for your time and consideration. Yours truly, |
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1000 KM walk to Washington http://www.breakthesilenceusa.com/ A Global campiagn has been launched to save the Doctor's who have been imprisoned by Sri Lankan government. This campaign is supported by prominent Human Rights associations and activists. To ensure an effective campaign we seek your support (funds/donations and volunteers).. Please contact Canadian Tamil Congress and support this very important campaign/initiative . (416) 240 0078 / info@canadiantamilcongress.ca |
Rights Coalition urges Obama to initiate War Crime investigations[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 July 2009, 00:07 GMT] A Coalition of six US-based Human Rights Organizations in a letter to U.S. President Obama wrote: "[t]o address abuses associated with the recent fighting [in Sri Lanka's north], there is an urgent need for an independent, international commission of inquiry into many credible allegations of laws of war violations, including possible war crimes, by both sides, as well as illegitimate detentions. Mr. President, we urge you to publicly call for an international commission of inquiry and to take necessary steps to achieve it. We also urge you to take steps for the full protection of internally displaced persons, including independent access to camps, former areas of conflict and to conflict-affected civilians by humanitarian and human rights organizations and the media." The Coalition included the Carter Center, American Jewish Council through its Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), International League for Human Rights (ILHR), Freedom House (FH), and Amnesty International (AI) representatives signed the letter. A. Frank Donaghue, CEO PHR  Robert Arsenault, President ILHR   Felice D. Gaer, Director JBI  Karin Ryan, Director, HR Program, Carter Center  Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director FH  Larry Cox, Executive Director AI "Despite repeated warnings by several international organizations of impending mass killings of civilians and despite strong statements of concern by you and several other world leaders, more than 20,000 civilians are reported to have been killed. The Times of London and Le Monde have published investigations, based on reliable data, and suggested that most of the civilian deaths were caused as a result of shelling by the Sri Lankan government," the Coalition said in the letter. The letter warned that "[t]he failure of the international community to take concrete action to protect civilians in Sri Lanka has given the green light to regimes around the world and has signaled that there is nothing that the international community will do when a government kills its own people under the cover of sovereignty." On the 300,000 Tamil civilians still held in internment camps, the HR Organizations appealed to "urgently address the plight of those in de facto internment camps and to initiate action to hold accountable those responsible for the mass killings. There are reports that some in the camps have already died from starvation or malnutrition....there are consistent reports of widespread and serious human rights violations facing the displaced people, including enforced disappearance, extrajudicial executions, torture and other ill-treatment, forced recruitment by paramilitary groups and sexual violence." Pointing out that "the Sri Lankan government's record on investigating serious human rights abuses is poor and impunity has been a persistent problem," and that "[t]here have been serious ongoing violations of human rights and a backlog of cases of enforced disappearance and unlawful killings that run to tens of thousands," the letter drew attention to the the past failed efforts to address violations through the establishment of ad hoc mechanisms in Sri Lanka, such as presidential commissions of inquiry, the letter urged Obama to take steps to initiate an international inquiry into "allegations of laws of war violations, including possible war crimes, by both sides." In the background of the failure of the United Nations to take any punitive action and realizing that effective leverage can only be exercised by the U.S., the letter said, "[i]t is now imperative that the United States assume the leadership necessary to mobilize the international community to protect the surviving civilians and to hold accountable those responsible for mass atrocities. Failure to do so would encourage governments to commit mass atrocities without fear of consequence. That is why your immediate action is important at this juncture," the letter said.
http://www.yarl.com/forum3/index.php?showtopic=609402009ம் ஆண்டிற்காக சாதனை படைத்தவர்களை CNN தெரிவு செய்யவுள்ளது. இதில் மருத்துவத்துறையில் சாதனை படைத்தவர்களுக்காக நீங்கள் இம்முவர்களை தனித்தனியாக தெரிவு செய்யுங்கள் 1) வைத்தியர் சத்தியமூர்த்தி 2) வைத்தியர் சண்முக ராஜா 3) வைத்தியர் வரதராஜா தெரிவு செய்வதற்கான காரணங்கள் பற்றி நீங்கள் எழுதவேண்டும். உதாரணங்கள் கீழே தரப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. ஆகஸ்ட் 1ம் திகதிக்கு முன்பாக நீங்கள் இவர்களைத் தெரிவு செய்தல் வேண்டும் பின்வரும் இணைப்பின் ஊடாக நீங்கள் தெரிவு செய்யலாம் http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/nom/ Dear all, CNN is now accepting nominations for CNN Heroes for 2009. Closing date for Nomnation is 1st August. One can nominate people for 7 different categories (Championing Children, Community Crusader, Defending the Planet, Everyday Superhero, Medical Marvel, Protecting the Powerless, Young Wonder). Link: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/nom/We can make use this opportunity to Nominate 3 Doctors Detained by SL Government FOR "Medical Marvel" Hero Here is the sample used for 3 Doctors Nomination for Medical Marvel) Doctors Name - You can nominate separately Dr. Thangamutha Sathiyamoorthy, Regional Director of Health Services in Kilinochchi. Dr. V. Shanmugarajah, Medical Superintendent at Mullivaaykkaal field hospital. Dr. Thurairaja Varatharajah, Regional Director of Health Services in Mullaitivu Why does your nominee deserve recognition as a CNN Hero in this category? Please describe in detail your nominee's specific accomplishment and what was involved in achieving it. Be sure to include the dates of the activities. (200 word maximum) He is one of the three brave doctors worked for the government health services in Vanni region, Sri Lanka until he was detained by Sri Lankan Military on 15th of May 2009. His services helped to save the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people who were deprived from accessing any medical support. In a situation where no sufficient staffs, drugs, operation facilities while their make shift clinics came under regular bombardment, he served the people with dedication, passion and hope without fearing for his own life. When Sri Lankan government has restricted independent journalists or monitors from reporting on the situation and prevented actual information reaching outside world and also other parts of Sri Lanka, these brave doctors regularly reported the situation to the international media about the situation. Their information was one of the primary sources for the world to understand the human catastrophe and woke up even belatedly. All three doctors are now being detained by Sri Lankan Government many believe in reprisal for providing information about the civilians in the conflict zone. He has made a significant contribution to save lives of innocent people, promote human rights and elevate his beloved profession. Is there a specific incident or turning point that motivated your nominee to take action? (100 word maximum) He has been a dedicated doctor always wanted to serve people deprived from accessing medical support. The recent onslaught of Sri Lankan military against the rebels had uprooted the entire Tamil population lived in the Vanni region of Sri Lanka and were forced to live in a narrow strip of land for the final months of the war (Jan – May 2009). More than 300,000 people lived in that narrow strip without proper basic facilities and medical support delinking from outside world. During this time, he provided most needed medical services and helped to save thousands of lives. How have your nominee's efforts made a difference for the better? Please describe their impact, potential impact and how they have inspired others.(100 word maximum) He made a huge difference in the actual casualty figures and in the perception of the real ground situation to the world. By banning all media and outsiders including NGOs, UN, Sri Lankan Government hid the actual situation and casualty figures. Through interviews, video clips, pictures, reports, these doctors directly interacted with international organizations and brought out the real human tragedy. In a situation where at least 40 people died every day and many hundreds wounded as per UN, without the support of these doctors, the numbers would have been much more and would have led to total annihilation. Is there anything else that makes your nominee exceptional or unique? (100 word maximum) World Medical Association, Physicians for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists and many other organizations urged Sri Lankan Government to release these doctors who braved their lives to server people. Unesco is considering to recommend Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize for their valuable services. Except Sri Lankan Medical Association and Authorities, the entire world is urging an action in one voice. It means the world valued their services. A recognition of them as CNN Heroes will further strengthen the case and will be a lesson similar countries that this approach is unacceptable in this 21st century world.
The Honourable Sharon Carstairs, P.C. Room 471-S Centre Block
Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A4 The Inter-Parliamentary Union is calling on the government of Sri Lanka to mount a thorough investigation of the murders of three Members of Parliament, two of them Tamils. The IPU's Human Rights Committee, which has wrapped up its latest session, has examined cases of abuse of some 300 MPs in 29 countries.
 | | Sharon Carstairs | The Inter-Parliamentary Union says the Sri Lankan government no longer has any reason for not investigating the murders of the Parliamentarians now that its long-running civil war with the Tamil Tiger rebels is over.
Chair of the IPU's Human Rights Committee, Canadian Senator, Sharon Carstairs, says the government has always maintained it was unable to investigate the murders because they occurred in rebel-held territory. She says that excuse no longer exists.
She tells VOA, Tamil Parliamentarians are subject to arbitrary arrest, harassment and intimidation. She says her Committee is concerned about the situation of 12 Tamil Parliamentarians. She says they essentially have been stripped of their rights of freedom of movement and of their ability to perform their legislative duties.
She says the Tamil Parliamentarians are reluctant to leave the capital, Colombo, because their security is not guaranteed.
"So, there is great fear among the Tamil Parliamentarians," Carstairs said. "So, what we hope from Sri Lanka at this point is to get a new signal from them that Tamil Parliamentarians will have freedom of movement, they will have adequate security, they will be full participants of the government of Sri Lanka because they are duly elected Parliamentarians."
http://sen.parl.gc.ca/scarstairs/ContactUs/Contact_e.asp
Please sign the appeal, and passed on your family and friends.
Hon. Bob Rae (Toronto Centre) Website: www.bobrae.ca Email: Rae.B@parl.gc.ca 
Constituency Address:
514 Parliament Street
Toronto (ON) M4X 1P4
Phone: (416) 954-2222
Fax: (416) 954-9649 Ottawa Address:
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A6
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