I wonder what was going through PM Paul Martin’s head while Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Sri Lankan President was speaking about the LTTE and their reluctance to move away from terrorism.
During an address at the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, Kumaratunga spoke of the LTTE’s continued recruitment of child soldiers and their killings of political rivals (Sri Lankan Foreign Minister) while the Sri Lankan government and the people they represent pursue a negotiated peace settlement. She went on to imply that there were some in the international community (i.e. Prime Minister Paul Martin and his Liberal government) who allow the LTTE to sustain their military and fundraising activities, something she says, and I’m sure most agree, is detrimental to the ongoing peace process in Sri Lanka. I bet Paul Martin felt like he was being singled-out for his relationship with the Tamils in Canada when she implied such. He should have been feeling a little [sheepish] at this point of the Sri Lankan President’s address, but I doubt it.
If the Prime Minister of Canada is serious about the Canadian government’s war on terrorism, then perhaps he should consider severing his ties with the Tamil community, or better yet, add the Tamil Tigers to Canada’s list of identified terrorist organizations. I can’t think of any reason why he hasn’t done so yet, though there are some in Canada who are of the opinion that his reluctance to end his relationship with the Tamils is the fear he might lose the next federal election and he needs all the votes he can get.
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1 response so far ↓
1 tmorgan // Jun 11, 2009 at 11:42 AM
Characterizing all Tamils as LTTE terrorists?
Only a small percentage of Tamils showed up to those red flag waving rallies. The vast majority are law abiding and avoid the Tamil Tigers LTTE. We are not all Black July http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_July Tamils either.
Sri Lanka turns back Tamil aid ship
http://vannimission.org/2009/06/08/press-release-8th-june
http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=51453
“Terrorism doesn’t just blow up buildings; it blasts every other issue off the political map. The spectre of terrorism – real and exaggerated – has become a shield of impunity, protecting governments around the world from scrutiny for their human rights abuses.”
- Naomi Klein
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” – ArchBishop Desmond Tutu
If there is no magnanimity in victory there is no victory
- Canadian MP Bob Rae, Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic who was deported after landing with an approved Sri Lankan Visa
If you think of yourself as Chinese, Malays, Indians and Sri Lankans, then Singapore will collapse. You must think of Singapore: ‘This is my country.’ I fight and die for Singapore if necessary.
- S. Rajaratnam [Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora], Singapore Foreign Minister & founder of ASEAN who advised against Sri Lanka’s membership due to their divisive ethnic politics
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