Tamil hunger striker wins damages over burger claims
[Jul 29, 2010, 19:03], [BBC]
A Tamil refugee hunger striker has accepted £77,500 in damages over newspaper reports he secretly ate burgers during his protest.
The articles in the Daily Mail and The Sun struck at the heart of Parameswaran Subramanyam's integrity and achievement, the High Court was told.
He began his 23-day protest outside the Houses of Parliament on 7 April 2009, in a bid to raise awareness of the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.
The newspapers have apologised.
Mr Subramanyam was treated in hospital for five nights after ending his hunger strike.
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RIGHTS OF TAMILS ON BOAT NEED TO BE RESPECTED
[Jul 29, 2010, 00:31], [Canadian Council for Refugees ]
The Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Tamil Congress today called on Canadians to be mindful of the need to honour international human rights obligations, in responding to the Tamils believed to be on board a boat approaching North America.
“Over the years Canada has saved the lives of thousands of Tamils fleeing persecution, by providing access to a fair and independent refugee system,” said Wanda Yamamoto, CCR President. “Whether they arrive by plane, foot or boat, people seeking refuge from human rights abuses have a right to an individual hearing on the reasons why they fled – a right recently reaffirmed by Parliament. In respecting this right we take a stand against the persecutors and the human rights violators.”
In recently published guidelines on Sri Lankan refugee claims, the UN Refugee Agency notes that groups potentially at risk of persecution in Sri Lanka include journalists, human rights activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and persons suspected of having links with the LTTE (Tamil Tigers).
Former Sri Lankan MP M.K. Eelaventhan on politics in Sri Lanka Special
[Jul 28, 2010, 00:02], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - At each rally, demonstration, political event and memorial, elderly Tamils provide their insights, experiences and analysis into the history of Sri Lanka. DigitalJournal.com caught up with former Sri Lankan Member of Parliament M.K. Eeleaventhan.
At the Black July commemoration at Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto, Digital Journal had the opportunity to speak with former Sri Lankan Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament M.K. Eelaventhan, who describes himself as a “wise, traveled old man.”
In the interview, Eelaventhan discussed the political situation in Sri Lanka, a historical recount between Sri Lanka and other nations in the region, his personal experiences with the government and his encounters with numerous public officials in Canada, Sri Lanka, South Africa, India and elsewhere.
“All these people do sympathize with us but their final conclusion is that they’re thinking of their own geopolitical interests, each country. No country’s foreign policy is based on morality, there’s only permanent interests.”
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Tamil Transnational officials speak out about crisis in Sri Lanka Special
[Jul 27, 2010, 17:03], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - Representatives of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam spoke about the crisis and political situation in Sri Lanka and what the Canadian federal government and international community's response should be.
Digital Journal reported in May of the international Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) election, which took place in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and other nations. The purpose of the organization is to achieve independence for Tamil Eelam.
There are ten national representatives in each country.
On Sunday, during the Black July commemoration at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Digital Journal caught up with three democratically elected representatives of TGTE: Executive community member Sam Sangakasivam, transnational member Anjalo Yogendraw and TGTE member Suren Mahgndran.
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Toronto Tamils commemorate Black July at Queen's Park (video) Special
[Jul 27, 2010, 16:54], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - It has been 27 years since that fateful July week where approximately 3,000 Tamils were killed and hundreds of thousands more were displaced after Singhalese mobs burned down their homes, vandalized their businesses and killed Tamils in the streets.
Tamils have been politically active in Toronto and other parts of the world since the 25-year civil war came to an end in May 2009, which saw the deaths of tens of thousands of people and thousands more injured.
On Sunday, hundreds of Canadian Tamils remembered the tragic events of Black July in 1983 and last year’s alleged genocide against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka by the government security forces. The commemoration was held at Queen’s Park in front of the Ontario Legislature in downtown Toronto.
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Elected Tamil Representative discusses Black July, NCCT (video) Special
[Jul 27, 2010, 15:56], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) National Youth Representative Siva Viamalachandran spoke to DigitalJournal.com about the significance of Black July, the purpose of the NCCT and the goals of Tamils everywhere.
Digital Journal reported about the historic National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) election that was held one month ago where a large number of community members and leaders were voted to represent the interests of Tamils across Canada.
During the Black July commemoration ceremony at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Sunday, Digital Journal had the opportunity to speak with NCCT National Youth Representative Siva Viamalachandran about Sunday’s remembrance event, what happened in that fateful month and the significance of the NCCT.
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Sri Lanka opposition man in self-immolation
[Jul 27, 2010, 14:00], [globaltimes.cn]
60-year-old activist of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) has died in self-immolation, party and medical officials said here Tuesday.
Rienzie Algama set himself in fire opposite the UNP headquarters at the Colombo suburbs of Pitakotte around 5:30 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Monday.
He was rushed to the local Kalubowila hospital with severe burn injuries and was later transferred to the General Hospital in the capital.
"He passed away around 1:30 a.m. (2000 GMT) this morning," Dr. Hector Weerasinghe of the General Hospital said.
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British Tamil embarks on Sri Lanka justice walk
[Jul 27, 2010, 01:07], [Guardian, UK]
A British Tamil has embarked on a two-week walk from London to Geneva to ask the UN to initiate an independent investigation into allegations that war crimes were committed when the Sri Lankan government crushed the Tamil Tigers last year.
Gobi Sivanthan, 29, a businessman from Hayes, west London, left Downing Street at midnight on Saturday morning. As part of his "walk for justice", which is due to end outside the offices of the UN human rights council on 6 August, Sivanthan is also calling for a boycott of Sri Lankan goods, for internally displaced persons to be allowed to return home, and for access to be granted to prisoners of war.
The UN estimates that about 7,000 people died in the final months of fighting that culminated in the defeat of the Tamil Tigers and the end of the island's 25-year civil war.
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Thousands of student orphans from Sri Lanka's civil war
[Jul 26, 2010, 16:34], [Asian News]
More than 8 thousand children are without parents due to civil war between government and LTTE. In one school alone in a village, more than 200 students have lost their parents. Members of the People's Freedom party visit villages in the area of Gaudarimunai in the north to understand the situation, and charge "the government is trying to undermine our work." Bimal Rathnayake, former MP and member of the group, said yesterday in Colombo: "We visited a school where 102 students lost their mother, 97 their father and 15 both. It is a tragedy. Several NGOs have estimated that there are about 8 thousand students in similar conditions, but the government has still no official figures".
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Tamils rally at Queen's Park
[Jul 26, 2010, 08:42], [Toronto Sun]
Hundreds of Tamil-Canadians gathered at Queen’s Park Sunday afternoon to remember countrymen who were killed 27 years ago during Black July — a time when a wave of violence swept through Sri Lanka.
“During the riots that took place in July 1983, nearly 3,000 Tamils lost their lives, hundreds of thousands had to flee the country or became displaced, and millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed,” said Siva Vimal, of the National Council of Canadian Tamils.
He said the council was formed in the wake of the protests that swept through Toronto last year in an effort to unite Tamils across the Canada.
“To date, there have been no reparations ... no apologies and no justice,” Vimal said.
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Former Sri Lankan president denounces the government
[Jul 24, 2010, 12:40], [BBC]
Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has launched one of her most outspoken attacks against the government.
She accused it of "completely forgetting the legacy" of her mother, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first woman prime minister.
She said it was also wrong to ignore her accession to power 60 years ago.
No-one from the government was available to respond to her allegations.
Ms Kumaratunga said the government have an "obsession against" the Bandaranaike family.
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Ban Ki-moon's UN Called Secret on Corruption, Silent on Torture from Sri Lanka to Sudan
[Jul 23, 2010, 23:35], [Inner City Press]
UNITED NATIONS, July 23 -- The widening gap between UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's rhetoric and what his administration actually thinks and does was on display on July 22. Ban preaches about transparency and accountability, but he was represented Thursday by a person who opaquely demanded to be identified as a “senior UN official” - that is, without accountability.
Ban's “senior UN official,” when asked by Inner City Press why under Ban moves toward a UN Freedom of Information Act were curtailed, replied, “ask the member states, let them legislate, then we'll do it.” He paused. “If the member states insist, our way of decision making would have to be modified” for “this kind of perfect transparency.”
But back on May 3, Ban intoned that “I welcome the global trend towards new laws which recognize the universal right to publicly held information. Unfortunately, these new laws do not always translate into action. Requests for official information are often refused, or delayed, sometimes for years... Too often, this happens because of a culture of secrecy and a lack of accountability” Ya don't say.
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Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan retires after claiming 800th Test wicket
[Jul 23, 2010, 08:11], [Canadian Press]
GALLE, Sri Lanka — Muttiah Muralitharan claimed his 800th Test wicket with his final ball in cricket's traditional format to cap a career that easily could have been derailed in 1995.
In a venue closer to home and a long time removed from his infamous trouble 15 years ago at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the 38-year-old Muralitharan, a chirpy but quietly spoken Sri Lankan, set a mark for Test wickets that surely will stand for a considerable time when he removed India tailender Pragyan Ojha on Thursday to reach the milestone.
In 133 Test matches, Muralitharan took 800 wickets, conceding an average of 22 runs per wicket and bowling 55 balls per wicket.
He said he had no regrets quitting the game after his dream send-off.
"Frankly, I have done it and that's enough — this was the only thing I was thinking," Muralitharan said.
"God gave me everything, not only victory, eight wickets and everything (in the final Test). I think this is one of the greatest moments of my cricketing career."
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As Sri Lanka Panel Meets With Nambiar, 4 Month Clock Frozen, Pillay's Office Will Staff
[Jul 22, 2010, 03:13], [Inner City Press]
UNITED NATIONS, July 20 -- While the UN Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka war crimes did, the UN confirmed on July 20, have the first of three days of meetings in New York on July 19, the UN now says that the four month clock for the Panel's report will not beginning in these three days. The UN would not say when it would begin.
On June 22, UN Spokesman Nesirky said the Panel would finish "within four months of the commencement of its work." So are these three days of meeting not "work"?
On July 19, Inner City Press observed and exclusively reported on the Panel's three members meeting in the UN's North Lawn building, with Lynn Pascoe, Nicholas Haysom and then across First Avenue in the UN's DC-1 building. Inner City Press quoted panel member Steven Ratner than no further “UN permission” will be needed for the panel to seek to travel to Sri Lanka.
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Lessons of Srebrenica: How the 15th Anniversary of Srebenica Can Guide Sri Lanka
[Jul 22, 2010, 03:11], [www.huffingtonpost.com]
On the 15th anniversary of Srebrenica massacre, President Obama has led the way in reminding the world that the lessons of Srebrenica must continue to guide our moral compass. He has reminded us that "the name Srebrenica has since served as a stark reminder of the need for the world to respond resolutely in the face of evil." But more so, he has reminded us that after great atrocities, we still have a great duty to foster peace and reconciliation. No place can the duty to help pursue justice and build peace be greater than in a fractured Sri Lanka struggling to recover from war.
It has been a little over a year since Sri Lanka's 25-year civil war ended following a period of intense fighting. According to Human Rights Watch, over 80,000 people died in the conflict, many thousands of whom were unarmed civilians seeking refuge in safe-zones. The conflict in Sri Lanka has no easy answers. There are no heroes, only deeply entrenched beliefs on all sides. But when UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon appointed an international panel to help investigate war crimes to overcome the past, the Rajapaksa government chose to respond by allowing a member of their government to lead a violent protest against the UN office in Colombo and incite public sentiment against "outsiders."
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