[Indigsol] Demo: Update on Tamil demonstrations

mattm-b at resist.ca mattm-b at resist.ca
Sun Apr 12 20:33:17 PDT 2009 

this is a bit out of date, but it is better than nothing.

the protest is still going, and is planned to continue until tuesday.

****Please Circulate Widely****

****Please help promote the rally and gather support to pressure the
Canadian Government****



Dear Friends,



Yesterday, the indefinite protest continued peacefully on the streets of
Ottawa. The Tamils and few non-Tamils are determined to continue this
non-stop protest till Canada calls the Sri Lankan Government to immediately
implement a ceasefire. The Tamils have been living on the streets for the
past 3 days in harsh weathers waiting for the international community to
protect the innocent Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.



The protest continued on the sidewalks in front of the Parliament Hill and
there was a heavy presence of Police. First, few youths asked for permission
from the Police to march from Parliament Hill to the Sri Lankan Embassy
peacefully. But, the police denied this request and strictly told the people
they are not allow to move from the current location. Therefore, a group of
frustrated Tamils occupied the streets. Soon as the occupation of the
streets, the Police put barricades all around the protest.



*During the protests, we faced many problems like:*

-Police targeting specific protestors and taking photographs.

-Police misinforming the general public the main reason for protest. (e.g
Police told general public its a "Tamil Tiger Protest" when the protest was
to mainly protect civilians and a call to put immediate ceasefire)

-Police giving a hard to protestors who needed to leave the protest area
(e.g Police told protestors to take flags off the sticks and leave the
sticks in the protest area.)

-A girl who got punched in the face by Sargent Lamothe from the Ottawa
Police. You can see him in the pictures attached above, he went on to
intimidate a reporter who was filming the incident. Paramedics are attending
the girl who got punched by Sargent Lamothe. (Pictures Attached above)

- Ottawa Police stole from protesters along with blankets, and other
supplies people had. (Pictures Attached Above)



*A friend of mine has emailed me her concerns such as:*

-She was expected by the Police to be at certain places and couldn’t show
support.

-She said "appears to me that the rally is being a little stifled. There is
so much security and gates around you that not many passersby can see you
and your message".



*We Request All Labour Unions, Student Unions, Faith Groups, Community
Groups, and Other Activists to come and join and support our protest. Please
see below how you can help us. Thank you.*



*Other issues we are facing:*

-Sri Lankan Government supporters are sympathizing with citizens for the
inconvenience faced by the bus riders. Yesterday, as I was at the rally many
Tamils were sorry about that but felt that they have no choice anymore. Two
massive human chains in Toronto were totally ignored and we have no more
time to wait. Yesterday protestors made signs saying “Sorry for the trouble
but please understand our struggle”.

-As protestors are on the streets, the Sri Lankan Government Supporters and
their propaganda artists are trying to deviate the message by commenting on
articles on the internet. We encourage all Canadians to help the Tamils help
ensure that the message being sent is not being altered by external forces
controlled by Sri Lankan Government.



News on the situation in Sri Lanka:

-Tamil Radios are saying "Sri Lankan Government is digging graves for the
Tamils in Sri Lanka. Therefore, they can gas them and bury them."

-Carnage continues in
Vanni<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28991>

-Indian forces are working along with SLA - French News
Agency<http://seithy.com/breifNews.php?newsID=13481&category=EnglishNews>

-SLA attacks kill 129 civilians, 282 wounded in 'safety zone' on
Wednesday<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28980>

-On Sri Lanka, UN's Ban Says "Never Again" to Call for Ceasefire or
Suspension <http://www.innercitypress.com/unscsri5lanka040709.html>

-Lanka ready to gas Tamils -
Jayalalithaa<http://lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OX14a3255ASe4d4YOo6ca0ac4BP34d3BTmA3e0dM0MmIce04cYdJ0cc3vlYAde>

-Hospital shelled in Tamil no-fire zone causes heavy
casualities<http://lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b34OX14a3255ASe4d4YOo6ca0ac4BP34d3BTmA3e0dg0Mmyce04cYdJ0cc3vlYAde>

-SLA shelling kills ICRC Team Leader in
Vanni<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28983>

-Sri Lankan government uses chemical weapons in Vanni warfront - Solid Proof
revealed<http://lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b24OX14a3255ASe4d4YOo6ca0ac4BP34d3BTmA3e0dW0Mmyce04cYdJ0cc3vlYAde>

-Sri Lankan hospital shelled in Tamil no-fire zone -
Guardian.co.uk<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/09/sri-lanka-tamil-tigers-civilians>



International Solidarity:



*Britain*

*-*Hunger Strikers in LondonRefusing Food & Water for 72hours - Kidneys
about to fail (Article Attached Above)

-Pictures of Protest in Britian <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2804.html>

-Two Tamil youths have started an indefinite fast in
London<http://www.nerudal.com/images/2009/04/img_0055-150x100.jpg>

-Demo in London
Video<http://eurotvlive.com/script/viewVideo.asp?videoid=81642419400-094759837311784221532257332288979943299092775690986753384463803055844088159788563942220869815363451231762>

-'It is not the way for post-conflict ambitions,' say London
protestors<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=28965>



*Australia*

-Tamil protesters bring traffic to a halt in
Australia<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28979>

*Italy*

-Pictures of Protest in Italy <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2766.html>



*Sweden*

-Pictures of Protest in Sweden <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2761.html>



*Germany*

-Pictures of Protest in Germany <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2756.html>



France

-Pictures of Protest In France <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2748.html>



Denmark

-Pictures of Protest in Denmark <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2743.html>

-Demo in Denmark
Video<http://eurotvlive.com/script/viewVideo.asp?videoid=84321317547-0948207518691945276453484198143924531798121578202437921320745574936877120371481598924998179247894586785469>



Norway

-Pictures of Protest in Norway <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2732.html>

-Demo in Norway
Video<http://eurotvlive.com/script/viewVideo.asp?videoid=71057302594-0948192702392305700645485996258235975919849546703797113329110911342497880363490118865660732881415833973802>

-Demo in Oslo
Video<http://eurotvlive.com/script/viewVideo.asp?videoid=79670689404-094792722043912308731998619330490269342065353953169591739312790867766411567153882622899020258202655630939>

-No more excuses in waging the war - Protestors in
Oslo<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=28956>

-Sri Lankan Tamils on hunger strike in
Oslo<http://lankasrinews.com/view.php?2b34OX14a3255ASe4d4YOo6ca0ac4BP34d3BTmA3e0dU0MmIce04cYdJ0cc3vlYAde>



Canada

-Pictures of Protest in Canada <http://www.nerudal.com/nerudal.2724.html>

-Canadian Tamils Protest in Ottawa CTV NEWS - 8th April
2009<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSaB4nLO3nI>

-Cops pushing Tamils into a corner. They were kicking using their boots
also.<http://www.ottawasun.com/PhotoGalleries/otttamilsapr8/2009/04/08/9052881.html#top>

-Tamils hold indefinite protest – Ottawa
Sun<http://video.ottawasun.ca/video/featured/Tamils-hold-indefinite-protest/18998998001>



Switzerland

-Demo in Switzerland
Video<http://eurotvlive.com/script/viewVideo.asp?videoid=33231242001-0948203251190949343598685197880203856942389318563859159437850156579362120011655557145165064669916291842230>

-Demo in Switzerland Video
2<http://eurotvlive.com/script/viewVideo.asp?videoid=49350742748-094793569820847318444952083380711393428948891873727507085886817117053180737479011417539829950018308152494>



Netherland

-Demo in
Netherland<http://eurotvlive.com/script/viewVideo.asp?videoid=51183965175-0948192459811140622077137140121284821845022281395815130486379537616156913834466402942354137330272059435187>



South Africa

-TNA Ex-MP to begin hunger strike in South
Africa<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28978>



India

-Vaiko Protest against India’s support for Killing
Tamils<http://www.vakthaa.tv/v/3622/vaiko-protest-against-killing-eelam>



*Tamil Community Activists *

**

*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*

**

 *NON-STOP PROTEST @ OTTAWA*

*RALLY TILL WE GET A CEASEFIRE!*

**
*Why: *
-Rally against Sri Lankan Army Plans for Chemical Warfare against civilians
in the "Safe Zones"
-To immediately put a stop the ongoing genocide in Sri Lanka
-1,200 civilians were killed on April 6th

*Message:* STOP the genocide, Place Immediate Ceasefire

*When and Where: *Starts April 7th at 12:00PM @ Paliament Hill. Ends when we
get our goals achieved.

*Contact Information:*
Bus Information: 4168256020
Information about Protest: 6478386925

*About the Rally:
*The rally will be continuing for days till the Canadian Government responds
to our demands. Therefore we request that all Canadians to attend the rally
when they have time in the days to come.

*Requests To Student Unions, Labour Unions, Peace Alliances, Anti-War
Groups, etc:*
-Inform students, labour members, and peace and anti-war group members to
attend the rally in solidarity with the Tamils at Parliament Hill. Inform
contacts in Ottawa to attend the rally. You can bring your banners to show
solidarity.
-Please do immediate press release condemning the attroctious acts of the
Sri Lankan Government.
-As an organization, please contact the foreign affairs department or the
Prime Minister of Canada by emailing, calling, writing or visiting them and
tell them that you are concerned about the civilians safety.
-Send information about the Rally through your list servs.
-Inform medias that you are concerned about the Genocide in Sri Lanka and
encourage them to cover the action taken by the Canadians at Parliament Hill
to bring an immediate ceasefire.
-Please do as much as possible to help us.

*News on the Genocide In Sri Lanka:*
Victims of SLA combustible bombs in
Vanni<http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=71&artid=28428> -
WARNING! Unedited Pictures
Colombo uses firebombs setting ablaze civilian targets in
Vanni<http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28429>
SLA fired artillery shells create havoc inside safety
zone<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28902>
Eyewitness reports horrific experiences at makeshift
hospital<http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=28924>
Mangled bodies, torn limbs litter Safe Zone - medical
official<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28952>
Unedited videos are available, but they are very distrubing. Therefore, I
have not attached them here.


*International Solidarity News:*
British Tamils block Westminster Bridge, demand
ceasefire<http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=28961>
Westminster Bridge closed after Tamil ceasefire
protest<http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/apr/07/tamil-protest-westminster-bridge>

*Frequently Asked Questions:*

*When and where should people meet?*

There is buses being organized throughout the week to leave from Toronto to
Ottawa. Please call (416) 825-6020. Bus trip costs $30. Buses leave at 7am.

*Will people coming to Ottawa need assistance?*

Currently, we do not need assistance at Ottawa. Thanks for asking.

*Do you have any posters or flyers we can print and hand out before or
during the demonstration?*

All materials such as placards and brochures will be available at the rally.

*Is there a recommended website for more information on the history and
geography involved?*

Human Rights Organization: Actions, Brochures, Leaflets and Updates on
Humanitarian
Crisis<http://sn110w.snt110.mail.live.com/mail/www.haltgenocide.org>
History of Tamil Struggle
Book<http://www.tamilnation.org/books/eelam/unspeakable_truth.pdf>

*Do you have telephone contact numbers?*

Bus Information: 4168256020
Information about Protest: 6478386925

*Is there an organization to which we should direct media?*

Information about Protest: 6478386925

*What are you asking for from Canada's government?*

We are asking the Government of Canada to help stop the Genocide in Sri
Lanka and put in an immediate ceasefire.

*Do you want ordinary Canadians to do something also?*

We encourage ordinary Canadians to take actions in any possible way such as
signing petitions, writing, calling and visiting your MPs in your riding.

Also, we want you to contact the Foreign Affairs department and the Prime
Minister of Canada.

Since, we do not have an official site for this rally please visit
http://www.haltgenocide.org/ for information. Then you can check out the
Media information below also for information. Please write your letters and
actions based on this info.

*What are the Tamil Media sources to follow the News?*
TamilNet <http://tamilnet.com/>
LankaSri News <http://www.lankasrinews.com/>
Tamil National <http://tamilnational.com/>
Tamil Canadian <http://www.tamilcanadian.com/news/>
Tamil Eelam News <http://www.tamileelamnews.com/>
EuroLive TV - Raw Genocide Footages <http://eurotvlive.com/>


-- 
"All oppression is relative.
All oppression is specific."

- Albert Memmi

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