Tamil Protests

[omalak]

I understand what is going on in Sri Lanka is not right, and the innocent killing of civillians is a contravention of basic Human Rights... BUT!

This is no way to get your point across.. Blocking up a major artery in downtown Toronto and walking Illegally onto the Gardiner express way is going to get them nothing except hatred.

There are civilized ways of protesting (which is what they were doing), but this is just idiotic..

I saw some of the videos on the news where police officers were trying to hold protestors back from the on ramps, people were throwing police bikes, and other items at the police..

Personally as a Torontonian i say the police do whatever is needed to clear the situation up..

I known a number of Srilankans who i highly respect, but this is just going to diminish their overall efforts into getting the public and the government to listen to them..

Thats my rant.. :gone

[DumpInfo]

I'm definitely with you on this. I heard coming home fortunately I didn't run into any problems myself but that's just stupidity in my books.

[MistaChin]

Yo Osman x100 i totally agree. There's peaceful protests and then there's this. This is no way to get the support of the general public and not to mention the fact that it's outright dangerous. It only takes one frustrated and crazed motorist to just floor it and make tamil pancakes.

Im sick of these protests!!! Bring in the police to break this ridiculous protest up...idiots

[Fobio]

I drove the gf home tonight and saw 4 OPP parked at the side of the 404...on the way back up, they have already closed the DVP...I wonder what ommute will be like tmr...

[hatthi]

I think they may lose some sympathy from parts of the local GTA population. From the clips I've seen on tv the protestors got violent with the TPS. Throwing things, throwing bicycles, pushing, shoving. It's too bad some of the protestors couldn't keep it peaceful. Especially with women and children in the crowd.

[coles]

what a joke

then to put women and children as the front line to deter police from breaking it up with force.....

i understand people have a right to protest, but it's only a right until it infringes on rights of other people........and i'm pretty sure you can't go around throwing bikes at police officers to get on the ramp of the gardiner......just saying :)

[BoostieMonster]

I agree, I have to zig zag around city streets to get where I'm going, its brutal! At first I was like "ya ok they have the right to protest", but that was like 2 weeks ago, I was utterly shocked today to still see them at it.

[mazdabetty]

Well it's definitely getting people talking, which is exactly what they wanted... but definitely going the wrong way about it. I can't believe it got so crazy in TO! The Ottawa protest seemed pretty laid back compared to this I suppose, although some streets were closed off a while back, but they have it all under control for the most part...

[hatthi]

Looks like they're clearing off the gardiner now.

[slam525i]

The part I'm confused about is what they expect Canada to do? Do they want Canada to invade a sovereign country with a democratically elected government in favour of what the Canadian government (and US, UK, EU, Australia, and other governments) considers as a terrorist organization?

[aznkid.com]

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc **** YOU PROTESTERS CLOSING OFF THE DVP.

Mike Ross at 11:13pm May 10
boy your life is tough....

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc at 11:18pm May 10
it is tough.. i was really hungry and had to pee really badly.

in all honesty, don't tell me you AGREE with these people protesting on Canada's largest city's highways..

Mike Ross at 11:25pm May 10
poor you.

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc at 11:32pm May 10
if you're going to bring me down, at least back it up

i don't care if they protest.. i think it's fair to voice an opinion if they please but blocking off the freeway isn't going to make people take action.. and on MOTHERS DAY.. it may seem very small to you to ruin plans but i don't think it's fair to make the city suffer. I know some of them have lost their mothers etc, but is making the general public annoyed making everyone go out of their way going to solve anything?

Mike Ross at 11:53pm May 10
what would it take for you to walk out on a high way. and , gasp, at that , the "biggest city in canada" ? oh my...

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc at 11:54pm May 10
huh?

Mike Ross at 11:56pm May 10
exactly.

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc at 11:58pm May 10
you didn't make any sense..you must think i'm against the idea that they're protesting.. i could care less if they're protesting.. i just don't think the right place to be doing it.

Mike Ross at 11:59pm May 10
what would it take kevin, to make you walk out onto a busy freeway?

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc at 12:02am May 11
nothing. i fail to see it as an effective way of getting anything done

Mike Ross at 12:08am May 11
me neither. it must be serious, wouldn't you say...

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc at 12:10am May 11
doing illegal activities to protest is extreme, but doesn't make it justified

Mike Ross at 12:19am May 11
surly. i wonder if they're still out the on the high way. oh well, bet you'll sleep well.

Kevin 'aznkid' Luc at 12:21am May 11
no i won't sleep well until they're off the highway.. i have a job interview to go to tomorrow and have hopes it doesn't take over an hour to get to where i need to be like it did for me to get home tonight

[jaM3ican]

If the tension rises and the protesters get hurt when the police try to remove them...,,, sorry to say that i will have no sympathy.

They r going about it the wrong way. I don't even live in Toronto. I have more sympathy for the people that have to drive for a living to do their jobs. Bad enough the city is already congested, to add this on top is just plain ignorant.

[thanu31]

The part I'm confused about is what they expect Canada to do? Do they want Canada to invade a sovereign country with a democratically elected government in favour of what the Canadian government (and US, UK, EU, Australia, and other governments) considers as a terrorist organization?

They want Canada to step up and do their role, as they are part of the UN.

What sparked todays crazyness was the news that 3000+ people died on saturday, yes that many people in one day. and thats y they chant "stop the genocide".

Terrorists to some, but to Tamil people its their only representation, and hope (back in Srilanka).

Theres a lot to learn about these protests and why its happening, and like "Mike Ross" asks, "what would it take to go on the highway,...gotta be something serious". Serious indeed

Yea, its a big headache for commuters and stuff, but put yourself in their shoes and yea,...

Im not gonna get into details, ....way too much debating and details. I should sleep now, gudnite..

Oh dont wry bout ur job interview, ul make it, lol its reopening. gudluck

Guess what, they also picked up the garbage that they may have left on the highway.

[thanu31]

and the protests, have been very peaceful 95% of the time, except for the few jackasses who get out of hand

[thanu31]

ooh, quote from a guy on a car forum, btw hes not tamil,

"If you feel hard done by the protests, why not write your MP or MPP and remind them that the millions in dollars that goes to the UN that comes from our taxes is supposed to go towards ending conflicts in countries like Sri Lanka, or has this proud nation forgotten our place in the world."

[Broli]

ooh, quote from a guy on a car forum, btw hes not tamil,

"If you feel hard done by the protests, why not write your MP or MPP and remind them that the millions in dollars that goes to the UN that comes from our taxes is supposed to go towards ending conflicts in countries like Sri Lanka, or has this proud nation forgotten our place in the world."

exactly,

thanu, i like the way you think!

[matt9]

No respect.

[swales]

Just be happy it was 1 day, here in Ottawa they blocked our roads for 2 weeks straight.

[FLIPDADY]

When I see a few idiots that turn peaceful protests into clashes with law enforcement then I totally lose all respect for their cause. I have a lot of friends that work for Toronto police, these guys I respect for having patience with the protesters.

http://cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090511/090511_tamil_protest/20090511/?hub=CP24Home

[seelsy]

i understand canada should be peacekeeping in countries like these, but do your protests at the parlament buildings or goverment offices, blocking the highways was merely making it nearly impossible for a lot of people to get things done, what would of occured if there was an ambulance stuck on that highway, i understand there are hundreds killed overseas, and yes as a peacekeeping nation we should have a hand in that, but creating havoc in canada won't solve anything over there. I must admit though it was peaceful, other than a few, which happens in any group, a couple *******s decide to throw something, where most people are being civil.

[Soyabean]

I find it really pointless blocking our highways. I was about to go downtown yesterday to Eaton Center but luckly i didnt or else the drive back would of been a PITA. I just dont understand why they have to interfere with others. You have the right to free speech and we have no right to stop you. But why are you stopping us from commuting? Really stupid and ignorant. I agree with their cause, but not their actions

[MistaChin]

I'm still unsure of what their cause really is!!! Is it really to stop the war because their beloved Tamil Tigers are on the edge of defeat? If they wanted to stop the longest civil war in the world why are they only protesting now? It's because they're LOSING THE WAR and now they want help from International Governments? Give me a break.

Maybe someone can chime in and confirm their cause

[Fobio]

I think as a commutter, it doesn't matter what their cause is...it's could be to stop purple elephants from taking over Macross Island (there is a Macross Island, you know)...

Ppl have a right to protest and congregate...I also have the right to as hassle-free and efficient commute as my other commutters would allow...

I say the police/city/gov't should designate an area for them to protest and congregate...if you're outside of that area AND obstructing traffic, then they (the police) can move you along...if you resist, they should be able to issue tickets for obstructing traffic etc...and then if you still don't move along, make arrests...

Tho this issue is raised by the Tamil protests, it should not revolve around an ethnic conflict that most of us don't know much about anyway...

[Soyabean]

maybe i should of done my research before i said i support their cause. I just said it so no Tamil people here would hate me lol. I dont even know why they are protesting hahahah.

But seriously, although they are protesting, they should not interfere with others. How would they feel if they interupt them from protesting? I just feel that they should have more respect for others as blocking a major highway is sure to gain awareness and publicity but will surely gain them no respect especially if they end up pissing people off

[FLIPDADY]

I say the police/city/gov't should designate an area for them to protest and congregate...if you're outside of that area AND obstructing traffic, then they (the police) can move you along...if you resist, they should be able to issue tickets for obstructing traffic etc...and then if you still don't move along, make arrests...

Yeah it's called Queen's Park and Parliament Hill.

[omalak]

I'm still unsure of what their cause really is!!! Is it really to stop the war because their beloved Tamil Tigers are on the edge of defeat? If they wanted to stop the longest civil war in the world why are they only protesting now? It's because they're LOSING THE WAR and now they want help from International Governments? Give me a break.

Maybe someone can chime in and confirm their cause

I have a friend who is Sinhaleese (is that how you spell it)

Trying to put things together from what he told me, basically wehn it all started, and the Sinhaleese govt was elected, they went and changed the natioanl language to Sinhalees, they changed a number of things to basically restrict the oppertuniteis and the representation of the Tamil Miniorities.

I beleive Tamils were the more educated population over all, and they were basically shoved to aside when the Sinhaleese govt came to power.

The Tamils have since then been fighting for representation and a country of their own. thus the birth of the Tamil Tigers.

Who is right and who is wrong in this war? I am not sure, the Tamils will put out their numbers 3000+ killed in fighting over the weekend, the Sinhaleese will put out their numbers.. It;s really a matter of who do you want to believe.

The Tamil Tigers may have a good cause (or may have started with a good cause) But i'm not sure what types of tactics they use in this war.

The UN and almost all western countries see the Tamil Tigers are a terrorist organization. That is a given fact.

As much as i support the tamil casue and the right to representation, and stopping of war crimes and human right cruelties, the truth is this is a war that will not end it will go on Tamils and Sinhaleese people hate each other thats a fact.

It's like Isreal and Palestine, the west can do all that it can, but the conflict will not end, and i highly doubt the UN is going to force a creation of a Palestinian or Tamil Homeland..



Backgrounder ( i will read when i have some free time at work lol)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Civil_War

[MistaChin]

Everyone should make a protest on the 401 / DVP protesting their protest lol

[Fobio]

everyone should protest in front of my work...

oh noes it's monday...:bang

[omalak]

I should mention Tamil Tigers have their own record in violating Human Rights..

The LTTE massacred 113 Sinhalese and Muslim policemen after they had surrendered on promises of safe conduct.

The LTTE responded by attacking Sinhalese and Muslim villages and massacring civilians. One of the largest civilian massacres of the war occurred when the LTTE massacred 166 Muslim civilians at Palliyagodella.

In October 1990, the LTTE expelled all the Muslims residing in Jaffna. A total of 28,000 Muslims were forced to leave their homes taking nothing but the clothes on their backs.[55]


I'm not taking a side, both parties have done injustice to the people of Sri Lanka.

[swales]

Yeah it's called Queen's Park and Parliament Hill.

Ya but they won't let them onto Parliament Hill because of security issues so they just let them block the downtown roads. I'm all for people having protests but not when it effects everyone else (which is all they want to do anyways). Like I said, they blocked our streets for 2 weeks straight (for almost 24 hours straight each day) and in the end it's the general public that suffers and then have to pay the Police bill afterwards (cost Ottawa citizens $900K)

[kid_icarus]

I was reading the toronto star yday and saw a really interesting post by a reader and it really put things into a "logical" perspective for me

yes we all find it ridiculous that these protests are taking place in such a way that it impedes on our citizens/cities....

i understand fully what is at stake.... the lives of so many and it's not cool.
WE AS a people understand. citizens UNDERSTAND.... if a vote were to be passed today, i'm sure many citizens would say yes to sending some sort of aid over to sri lanka to try and help with the situation....

i find it amusing when people call us selfish for wanting these people to get off the streets. (the people label others as being selfish are typically the most naive people out there)

but let me try and rephrase what the reader commented on the toronto star

- the tamils/sri lankans, their parents, their grandparents, all left Sri Lanka because they clearly wanted to get away from it all there... they came to Canada for opportunities, for freedom, for our civil rights, etc etc....
- they insist to be a part of this community/country and to be Canadians
- yet they're happy and willing to hold their "fellow Canadians" as hostages by carrying out these protests...
- they are not impeding on the government... they are impeding on us... the people, the "PUBLIC SUPPORT"
- they are holding us hostage to fight a war for them that THEY THEMSELVES were not willing to fight... and because they abandoned/left their own country to avoid and get away from.

When i read that it made a lot of sense and not that i think it's 100% the way we should look at it.. but it's true in many aspects.
An analogy i see is, hiring a mercenary using blackmail....

I heard another comment yday where someone suggested the army
drive a big bus to the protestors yday and recruit whoever is willing to help out and see how many of them would be willing to go back and make a difference in their own country they left to avoid all these troubles.
Let's see if they'd be willing to thrust their women and children up into the frontlines again likey they did yesterday on the gardiner.

I'm all for finding a solution. but like everyone else here.. these protests are not the way to do it.

[kid_icarus]

Everyone should make a protest on the 401 / DVP protesting their protest lol

why don't we just protest around their protest and make a big circle around them lol

that was a funny comment though
i chuckled a bit haha

[ZeroChalk]

Just be happy it was 1 day, here in Ottawa they blocked our roads for 2 weeks straight.

They blocked off University Avenue for 5 days. They had numerous impromptu blockages on Front Street outside Union Station in the previous weeks. I'm also pretty sure they blocked off some other streets during rush hour putting the core in to traffic chaos.

If you know in advance you can at least navigate around these areas.

[mazdabetty]

but let me try and rephrase what the reader commented on the toronto star

- the tamils/sri lankans, their parents, their grandparents, all left Sri Lanka because they clearly wanted to get away from it all there... they came to Canada for opportunities, for freedom, for our civil rights, etc etc....
- they insist to be a part of this community/country and to be Canadians
- yet they're happy and willing to hold their "fellow Canadians" as hostages by carrying out these protests...
- they are not impeding on the government... they are impeding on us... the people, the "PUBLIC SUPPORT"
- they are holding us hostage to fight a war for them that THEY THEMSELVES were not willing to fight... and because they abandoned/left their own country to avoid and get away from.

When i read that it made a lot of sense and not that i think it's 100% the way we should look at it.. but it's true in many aspects.
An analogy i see is, hiring a mercenary using blackmail....

I 100% agree with all of the above. However the same could be said for other religious/ethnic groups, and why we no longer read "Merry Christmas" but see "Happy Holidays" posted all over malls and on television, as well as symbols like christmas trees and wreaths cannot be used because there's a possibility of "offending" someone. As well, why the word "God" gets bleeped out during daytime TV etc etc.

There is no real definition of a "Canadian", we don't really have our own "breed" I guess lol, we're just a big mesh of hundreds of different backgrounds and their argument would be just that, and that Canada gives them the rights to continue their religious practices and beliefs, thus the right to protest about pretty much whatever the hell they want. Which is unfortunate in some cases.

[Hives]

I do not want to see my tax dollars being spent on something that does not affect me, and my fellow Canadians personally. Homeless ppl in Canada? Child poverty in Canada? I pay taxes to be spent in myself and other Canadians for our benefit (roads, healthcare), not to see it be spent on some other country's problem.

[Broli]

I do not want to see my tax dollars being spent on something that does not affect me, and my fellow Canadians personally. Homeless ppl in Canada? Child poverty in Canada? I pay taxes to be spent in myself and other Canadians for our benefit (roads, healthcare), not to see it be spent on some other country's problem.

umm, shame on you if this is some kind of general statement that you are making.

you wouldn't want canadian tax dollars spent fighting against a genocide in some country or another, or helping fund programs to bring clean drinking water and food to starving children in africa.

there are more important goals than having a better road to drive on.

sorry to single you out but really this narrowmindedness and lack of community sense in most western people is a great problem as i see things.

this problem is the same old problem, the same in canada with the natives the same in palestine with the israeli occupation. when a group is opressed they must fight it. now this should be done through peaceful means (including very inconvient for the average canadian protests). violence is unacceptable but inevitably comes due to the fact that there are extremists on both sides of the equation. but fact is fact there is only one group with the power who uses it to opress the other group and this is the underlying problem.

there are innocent people suffering caught in the crossfire between two groups of *******s and the inconvienience to their lives far outweighs all of ours.


in terms of the statements regading them moving to canada to get away from it and because they were not willing to fight it on their own is just absurd and idiotic.

if you were living an opressed life you would be wanting to get away from it too, for your family for your children, you sacrifice everything for them. that doesnt mean that you dont still care about what is happening.

the truth is in situations like this the people fighting the opression with force turn to deplorable acts of violence, this should be condemened. the tamil tigers liberation army is guilty of much, but the tamil people caught in the wrong place are not.

[omalak]

well said broli... Im not opposed to protests, or to the rights of tamils.. But as was said earlier in the forum and by the police cheif and by the mcguinty govt, there are proper means of protest and what happened yesterday was not proper nor does it help the tamil cause it only sours the image of tamils in the minds of other canadians

[sunkist4338]

o

if you were living an opressed life you would be wanting to get away from it too, for your family for your children, you sacrifice everything for them. that doesnt mean that you dont still care about what is happening.

.

ok... I usually don't comment on situations like this, or religion. but I have to comment on one of your statements. the statement above about doing everything for your children. ( i would most definately do anything and everything for my children to protect them).

What these protesters did was put their children in harms way when they included them in the protest on the DVP. they were using THEIR CHILDREN as shieids. its like holding your child in front of you to save yourself from being shot.

Shame on them for doing this. At this point in time because they did this.. I do not support them.

No offence to anyone but I find this kind of behaviour using children in protest etc to be abominable!

[hatthi]

well said broli... Im not opposed to protests, or to the rights of tamils.. But as was said earlier in the forum and by the police cheif and by the mcguinty govt, there are proper means of protest and what happened yesterday was not proper nor does it help the tamil cause it only sours the image of tamils in the minds of other canadians

I agree. My biggest problem with the protest was the risk factor. What if someone was hit by a car? What if a driver trying to avoid protestors caused an accident and someone was hurt or killed? This kind of behaviour with women and children present in the crowd is just plain dumb. I think they need/must/have a right to protest. It also seems as though they need some more structure. There doesn't seem to be a proper chain of command or a spokeperson/organizer that everyone will listen to. Police/politicians/the mayor need someone to reach out to within the Tamil protestors. With co-operation between the groups things will be safer for all.

[omalak]

well said broli... Im not opposed to protests, or to the rights of tamils.. But as was said earlier in the forum and by the police cheif and by the mcguinty govt, there are proper means of protest and what happened yesterday was not proper nor does it help the tamil cause it only sours the image of tamils in the minds of other canadians

[kid_icarus]

the issue isn't "leaving an oppressed country"

the problem is "leaving your problems, then holding your Canadians hostage through blackmail(stopping traffic, protesting in peoples way), and not willing to do anything other than "simply that".

basically people leave their countries which have "terrible human rights/laws etc"
and for them to come here and "abuse our system, cuz they can get away with it"
is a serious contradictory stance from what I can see.

i'm happy if my tax dollars are spent to promote and protect democracy.

i am NOT happy if my tax dollars are spent trying to IMPOSE democracy.

i'm happy if my tax dollars are savings lives, making a difference in the world.

but i do not need other "fellow canadians" taking away MY RIGHTS, so that they can somehow impose their "WANTS/NEEDS" on me and our government

i can't stand the comments I hear from people telling us, to stop being selfish, stop thinking about ourselves and our "commutes".

I AM NOT ignorant! I understand genocide I know it's a terrible thing. I know lack of freedom of speech is terrible, I resent brutality and I hate what is happening there.

BUT I AM TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AS WELL! WE ALL ARE.
We're trying to feed our families, have a life in this country we embrace as home, and if I want to go downtown to the beach or for mother's day dinner, or for a Blue Jays game... I should be allowed to do so freely.

If I could sign a petition that "meant" something tomorrow that could help save the lives of all those tamils caught inbetween the lines, I would.

BE REALISTIC HERE! If 5,000 Tamils clog up the Gardiner... do you think 50,000 people clogging up the Gardiner is going to make a difference?

What do they want from ME?? from YOU?
Do they want us to join them in their blockades?
I have my opinion and I will voice it if I can to the government and if this went to vote, I would say yes, let's help find a solution.

BUT THE ULTIMATE FACT is this: It's up to our government to make the ultimate choice. If you think you can "FORCE" our government "make a difference", you're not going to get it by clogging up the gardiner.
And you're sure as hell not going to get it by ruining your public support.

[matt9]

umm, shame on you if this is some kind of general statement that you are making.

you wouldn't want canadian tax dollars spent fighting against a genocide in some country or another, or helping fund programs to bring clean drinking water and food to starving children in africa.

there are more important goals than having a better road to drive on.

sorry to single you out but really this narrowmindedness and lack of community sense in most western people is a great problem as i see things.

this problem is the same old problem, the same in canada with the natives the same in palestine with the israeli occupation. when a group is opressed they must fight it. now this should be done through peaceful means (including very inconvient for the average canadian protests). violence is unacceptable but inevitably comes due to the fact that there are extremists on both sides of the equation. but fact is fact there is only one group with the power who uses it to opress the other group and this is the underlying problem.

there are innocent people suffering caught in the crossfire between two groups of *******s and the inconvienience to their lives far outweighs all of ours.


in terms of the statements regading them moving to canada to get away from it and because they were not willing to fight it on their own is just absurd and idiotic.

if you were living an opressed life you would be wanting to get away from it too, for your family for your children, you sacrifice everything for them. that doesnt mean that you dont still care about what is happening.

the truth is in situations like this the people fighting the opression with force turn to deplorable acts of violence, this should be condemened. the tamil tigers liberation army is guilty of much, but the tamil people caught in the wrong place are not.

Canada does not have the money to be the savior of the entire world. A country this small. We have problems here.

[mazda lover]

They want Canada to step up and do their role, as they are part of the UN.

What sparked todays crazyness was the news that 3000+ people died on saturday, yes that many people in one day. and thats y they chant "stop the genocide".

Terrorists to some, but to Tamil people its their only representation, and hope (back in Srilanka).

Theres a lot to learn about these protests and why its happening, and like "Mike Ross" asks, "what would it take to go on the highway,...gotta be something serious". Serious indeed

Yea, its a big headache for commuters and stuff, but put yourself in their shoes and yea,...

Im not gonna get into details, ....way too much debating and details. I should sleep now, gudnite..

Oh dont wry bout ur job interview, ul make it, lol its reopening. gudluck

Guess what, they also picked up the garbage that they may have left on the highway.

we do not know for sure if 3000 people were killed, no journalist are allowed in the country so how do we know its true. You were sucked in believing the numbers as were the protesters.

[thanu31]

that info comes directly from people in srilanka,

True no one can confirm it, but you should wonder why the gov't prohibits it ever so tightly.

And 5000 protestors are all getting sucked in to believing?

[Cardinal Fang]

we do not know for sure if 3000 people were killed, no journalist are allowed in the country so how do we know its true. You were sucked in believing the numbers as were the protesters.

With all due respect the government of Sri Lanka doesn't exactly have a stellar reputation when it comes to the ethical treatment of their people. Remember this is the same government that new ahead of time about the Tsunami and did not warn people in the coastal region. And after the Tsunami hit refused to allow the U.N. to come into the country for relief work. They have thus far refused any foriegn journalists access to the country to actually see for themselves what's going on in the war.

I don't think it's a huge stretch to say they don't want people to know what they're doing. If its true that 3000 have not died you would think they would have no problem with foriegn observers. As bad as it is in the middle east they don't prevent reporters from dong their jobs.

[chinsterr]

Canada has such limited resources already in terms of military personel, where will all these "peacekeepers" be coming from?

The Canadian govt can voice (and pressure) the UN to do something, but ultimately, that will be as far as they go.

[mazda lover]

umm, shame on you if this is some kind of general statement that you are making.

you wouldn't want canadian tax dollars spent fighting against a genocide in some country or another, or helping fund programs to bring clean drinking water and food to starving children in africa.

there are more important goals than having a better road to drive on.

sorry to single you out but really this narrowmindedness and lack of community sense in most western people is a great problem as i see things.

this problem is the same old problem, the same in canada with the natives the same in palestine with the israeli occupation. when a group is opressed they must fight it. now this should be done through peaceful means (including very inconvient for the average canadian protests). violence is unacceptable but inevitably comes due to the fact that there are extremists on both sides of the equation. but fact is fact there is only one group with the power who uses it to opress the other group and this is the underlying problem.

there are innocent people suffering caught in the crossfire between two groups of *******s and the inconvienience to their lives far outweighs all of ours.


in terms of the statements regading them moving to canada to get away from it and because they were not willing to fight it on their own is just absurd and idiotic.

if you were living an opressed life you would be wanting to get away from it too, for your family for your children, you sacrifice everything for them. that doesnt mean that you dont still care about what is happening.

the truth is in situations like this the people fighting the opression with force turn to deplorable acts of violence, this should be condemened. the tamil tigers liberation army is guilty of much, but the tamil people caught in the wrong place are not.

I take offense on being called narrow minded because I am a westerner. I don't appreciate the guilt trip of yours referring to " programs to bring clean drinking water and food to starving children." that most westerners don't support. How do you know a lot of us don't. What about Rwanda, Yugosolvia and the list goes on, where does it end. We can't help everyone. Who should Canada support? Tamlis or ? Maybe neither as they both might be wrong in what they are doing. The country is corrupt and may never be any different than what it is now. So lets stop spending tax payers money on health care, education, social programs, infrastructure etc and send it all to fight a war we know nothing about. We are not there to see what is really going on. What we hear might be all here say. Of course we get a lot of our info from the internet so it must be true. If you don't like being a westerner and our way of life and it upsets you I think you know what to do. Get your head out of the sand.
Putting woman and children on the front line is a tactic used by terrorist. Don't say it was out of desperation.
no opinion is absurd or idiotic
I hope a close friend was not being rushed to a hospital but got caught in the massive traffic jam and died in the ambulance. My guilt quote
I appreciate your comments which you are entitled to.

[laksman91]

the issue isn't "leaving an oppressed country"

the problem is "leaving your problems, then holding your Canadians hostage through blackmail(stopping traffic, protesting in peoples way), and not willing to do anything other than "simply that".

basically people leave their countries which have "terrible human rights/laws etc"
and for them to come here and "abuse our system, cuz they can get away with it"
is a serious contradictory stance from what I can see.

i'm happy if my tax dollars are spent to promote and protect democracy.

i am NOT happy if my tax dollars are spent trying to IMPOSE democracy.

i'm happy if my tax dollars are savings lives, making a difference in the world.

but i do not need other "fellow canadians" taking away MY RIGHTS, so that they can somehow impose their "WANTS/NEEDS" on me and our government

i can't stand the comments I hear from people telling us, to stop being selfish, stop thinking about ourselves and our "commutes".

I AM NOT ignorant! I understand genocide I know it's a terrible thing. I know lack of freedom of speech is terrible, I resent brutality and I hate what is happening there.

BUT I AM TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET AS WELL! WE ALL ARE.
We're trying to feed our families, have a life in this country we embrace as home, and if I want to go downtown to the beach or for mother's day dinner, or for a Blue Jays game... I should be allowed to do so freely.

If I could sign a petition that "meant" something tomorrow that could help save the lives of all those tamils caught inbetween the lines, I would.

BE REALISTIC HERE! If 5,000 Tamils clog up the Gardiner... do you think 50,000 people clogging up the Gardiner is going to make a difference?

What do they want from ME?? from YOU?
Do they want us to join them in their blockades?
I have my opinion and I will voice it if I can to the government and if this went to vote, I would say yes, let's help find a solution.

BUT THE ULTIMATE FACT is this: It's up to our government to make the ultimate choice. If you think you can "FORCE" our government "make a difference", you're not going to get it by clogging up the gardiner.
And you're sure as hell not going to get it by ruining your public support.

The claims were many people are dying, so you should want some tax dollars to prevent the further loss of life?

[Gods Son]

Sorry...but a group of Canadians could not block a road in Sri Lanka without some worst type of consequence. This is getting ridiculous now. They have every right to protest, but you're not receiving any sympathy if you're not protesting at the right places (City Hall and Parliament Hill). If anything, they're making Sri Lankans look like troublemakers instead of protesting for a worthy cause. They have every right to protest, just do it the right way.

[omalak]

just remember ti be sane in this thread, this is the kind of topic that raises emotions.. Whenever you post just re read it to make sure this wont turn into a flaming contest.

Truth is Sri Lankan govt is responsible for a number of human rights contraventions..

The Tamil Tigers are not saints either, the tigers have killed their share of individuals.

The point of the Protest i believe is to pressure Canada to bring the issue to the international table due to the fact that we are traditionally a peace keeping nation.

Canada will be and is responsible for providing aid in need of a humanitarian crisis. It goes along with our reputation, it goes along with the image our governments too for our country.

Should Canada send aid at this moment to Sri Lanka? That i'm not sure of, when aid is sent you want to ensure the aid or cash will reach the intended people. Once the Tigers and the Government do not sanely deal with each other and setup a cease fire the UN and the West will do **** all

Tamil protestors can protest the humanitarian crisis BUT DO NOT CARRY THE FLAGS OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION!, yes Tamils are dying, so are Sinhaleese, I find it hard to believe that the Tamil tigers have no harmed or been responsible for deaths in that country.

Protestors need to see both sides of the story, stand up for human rights, not for independance and just tamils.

[chinsterr]

just remember ti be sane in this thread, this is the kind of topic that raises emotions.. Whenever you post just re read it to make sure this wont turn into a flaming contest.

Truth is Sri Lankan govt is responsible for a number of human rights contraventions..

The Tamil Tigers are not saints either, the tigers have killed their share of individuals.

The point of the Protest i believe is to pressure Canada to bring the issue to the international table due to the fact that we are traditionally a peace keeping nation.

Canada will be and is responsible for providing aid in need of a humanitarian crisis. It goes along with our reputation, it goes along with the image our governments too for our country.

Should Canada send aid at this moment to Sri Lanka? That i'm not sure of, when aid is sent you want to ensure the aid or cash will reach the intended people. Once the Tigers and the Government do not sanely deal with each other and setup a cease fire the UN and the West will do **** all

Tamil protestors can protest the humanitarian crisis BUT DO NOT CARRY THE FLAGS OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION!, yes Tamils are dying, so are Sinhaleese, I find it hard to believe that the Tamil tigers have no harmed or been responsible for deaths in that country.

Protestors need to see both sides of the story, stand up for human rights, not for independance and just tamils.

or in this one for that matter !

[MajesticBlueNTO]

Originally Posted by omalak
just remember ti be sane in this thread, this is the kind of topic that raises emotions.. Whenever you post just re read it to make sure this wont turn into a flaming contest.

Truth is Sri Lankan govt is responsible for a number of human rights contraventions..

The Tamil Tigers are not saints either, the tigers have killed their share of individuals.

The point of the Protest i believe is to pressure Canada to bring the issue to the international table due to the fact that we are traditionally a peace keeping nation.

Canada will be and is responsible for providing aid in need of a humanitarian crisis. It goes along with our reputation, it goes along with the image our governments too for our country.

Should Canada send aid at this moment to Sri Lanka? That i'm not sure of, when aid is sent you want to ensure the aid or cash will reach the intended people. Once the Tigers and the Government do not sanely deal with each other and setup a cease fire the UN and the West will do **** all

Tamil protestors can protest the humanitarian crisis BUT DO NOT CARRY THE FLAGS OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION!, yes Tamils are dying, so are Sinhaleese, I find it hard to believe that the Tamil tigers have no harmed or been responsible for deaths in that country.

Protestors need to see both sides of the story, stand up for human rights, not for independance and just tamils.


or in this one for that matter !

the war between the AK Kannan vs. VVT (Tamil Tigers) meant you stayed out of certain areas of scarlem and etobicoke.

...there was a comment made in jest about one of the 400-series highways, possibly the 401, being the next location for a protest (http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_34460.aspx)

[kid_icarus]

The claims were many people are dying, so you should want some tax dollars to prevent the further loss of life?

i don't know what you're asking me in your post?
if ur asking me if i think tax dollars should be used to save lives then yes.. whether it's abroad or domestic. i believe it is worth it.
however the medium in which lives are saved is important to me


just remember ti be sane in this thread, this is the kind of topic that raises emotions.. Whenever you post just re read it to make sure this wont turn into a flaming contest.

Truth is Sri Lankan govt is responsible for a number of human rights contraventions..

The Tamil Tigers are not saints either, the tigers have killed their share of individuals.

The point of the Protest i believe is to pressure Canada to bring the issue to the international table due to the fact that we are traditionally a peace keeping nation.

Canada will be and is responsible for providing aid in need of a humanitarian crisis. It goes along with our reputation, it goes along with the image our governments too for our country.

Should Canada send aid at this moment to Sri Lanka? That i'm not sure of, when aid is sent you want to ensure the aid or cash will reach the intended people. Once the Tigers and the Government do not sanely deal with each other and setup a cease fire the UN and the West will do **** all

Tamil protestors can protest the humanitarian crisis BUT DO NOT CARRY THE FLAGS OF A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION!, yes Tamils are dying, so are Sinhaleese, I find it hard to believe that the Tamil tigers have no harmed or been responsible for deaths in that country.

Protestors need to see both sides of the story, stand up for human rights, not for independance and just tamils.

and to follow up.. i'm with omalak on this.
i don't think our tax dolalrs should be spent just dumping money into sri lanka in the form of aid and food and stuff....
because honestly we don't know who's right.
the tamils are supporting a one sided fight... that being their own... no one knows what's "right or wrong" here.

all we know is lives are being lost at an incredible rate and that is not good for anyone.

the debate should really simply be "should we stop this fighting"

and ultimately that requires an INTERVENTION
and not some peacekeeping party to drop in on the show.... or food drops or whatever....

[slam525i]

the debate should really simply be "should we stop this fighting"

and ultimately that requires an INTERVENTION
and not some peacekeeping party to drop in on the show.... or food drops or whatever....

The problem is the UN and Canada have asked the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms so that humanitarian supplies can get in. They refuse. There is a demand for a cease fire for both sides; both sides refuse.

The only alternative is for western nations to invade a sovereign nation, overthrow their democratically elected government, and interfere with their domestic affairs. That's, needless to say, a bad idea.

My opinion (and it's worth about as much as an ant fart), is that the best course of action is no action. Both sides have committed what we would consider war crimes, but stepping in will only make it worse for everyone involved. The quicker the government can finish off the rebels, the quicker stability can be reestablished, and the fewer lives lost.

[emcdonnell]

Ultimately the current approach the Protestors are taking is pissing off the people they need to support there cause. Many of the posts on this thread make that clear. If they want to be effective they should be protesting outside Sri lanka's Consulate. Writing there MP's. Going to the UN in New York.
Not punishing other Canadians for the problems of their homeland. They could take some of the zeal and focus it into fundraising. Sell Tiger print wristbands or something to help increase awarness of what is going on.

I'm not that familiar with the issues but from what I can see both the rebels and the government qualify as terrorist according to most definitions therefore neither can claim the moral highground. Some might argue that the Government is in the right because they represent the majority. To this I would respond that tryanny of the majority is still tyranny. I think that the UN should impose economic santions on Sri Lanka until there is a cease fire and then pursue an equitable treaty that allows both sides to live there lives in relative peace and security.
Before you send in PeaceKeepers there must be a Peace to keep

[Cardinal Fang]

I'm not that familiar with the issues but from what I can see both the rebels and the government qualify as terrorist according to most definitions therefore neither can claim the moral highground. Some might argue that the Government is in the right because they represent the majority. To this I would respond that tryanny of the majority is still tyranny. I think that the UN should impose economic santions on Sri Lanka until there is a cease fire and then pursue an equitable treaty that allows both sides to live there lives in relative peace and security.
Before you send in PeaceKeepers there must be a Peace to keep

Very well said.

And just to add there is no reason for the Sri Lankan government to want to end this. They have the Tamil Tigers trapped in a small part of the country in and amongst what's left of the Tamil population. The government will lay waste to that small piece of land in order to get rid of the Tigers. The problem is they are wiping out the innocent Tamil people in the process. The Tamils are a minority in this country with laws designed to oppress them. When all is said and done the government will through this war accomplish what their laws have not. Get rid of the Tamil people. When this same type of situation came up in the old Yugoslavia the world took note and acted. Now....we could care less. :bang

I honestly can't blame the Tamils here for what they're doing. I'd like to get angry but I can't. If any of you had any sense of national pride you would act much in the same way if your ethnic group was being slaughtered. They're desperate and they see the world coming to the defense of certain people but not theirs. I can't blame them.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

[kid_icarus]

they could always go the korean route
see where that lead people.....
or they could go the vietnam route...
see where that lead people.....

i think canada/us... the world has learned that these interventions only cause major major issues....
today we still have north korea....
the US lost the viet war and it became a socialist/communist state again....

these are clear history lessons....

let's not even get into the gulf war and the current war on iraq/afghanhistan.....

so all in all.... i want to know what these tamils want canada or the UN to do?
instead of parading around the city streets
why haven't ANY of them come up with real solutions...or suggestions

all i hear is
- listen to us
- please do something
- save lives
- people are getting killed
- my cousins, my family etc etc
- this isin't right

do you think anyone is going to give mercy to 50 peacekeepers?
if we drop 50 peacekeepers onto sri lanka... are both sides going to sit back and say "hey hey, make sure no one shoots and kills those guys with the white helmets that read "UN""

or do they want us to send in an army to slaughter the opposition?

should we just raid the country and impose democratic rule on them?

these are very tough questions.... they involve making a global statement... one that sends a message with how countries/nations choose to handle these "sensitive" issues
a lot harder than jumping on a freeway and blocking the entire highway...

genocide is bad... but this is not black and white like WW2 or the Holocaust that came with it.

[Cardinal Fang]

No one is advocating sending an army there just yet. All they want is the world to do something. Anything for God's sake. This isn't even an item at the U.N.

1. The U.N. could impose sanctions on the Sri Lankan government and isolate them.
2. Failing that they could commence bombing government positions like the U.N. did in Yugoslavia to stop the Serbs from ethnic cleansing.
3. Blockade the country to keep the Sri Lankan government from re-arming.
4. Pressure the government to allow the Red Cross to enter and help the refugees.
5. Recall our ambassador from the country as a sign of protest.
6. Kick the Sri Lankan ambassador out of the country as a sign of protest. At the very least have Harper call in the farking asshat and yell at him for an hour or two.


There is much the world can do but we have no taste for it.

[thanu31]

^ Exactly,

To people who seem to be close minded
I came across this post from a citizen in Edmonton


We have an obligation as citizens of Canada and the world to keep ourselves aware of what is going on.
What I am reading here is that too many people do not want to be reminded that there is murder and mayhem afoot in the world. We are so lucky here, but we don't want anything to do with the rest of the world's problems. These people have seen trouble that we can never imagine. In that sense they have a greater world view and sophistication than we do. They are not fools or troublemakers. They are messengers and concerned world citizens.
We need to be more like them, and learn from them. But oh, yeah, here we have a barely literate country of so-called 'educated' people who have squandered a gift that millions around the world are dying for (education and freedom), so what could we learn from immigrants, right?
Each day I think I cannot be more ashamed of the country we have become, and then I read some CTV posts and sadly realize that indeed, my fellow citizens have outdone themselves again.
Wake up people, for crying out loud!

[omalak]

They need to stop waving those Tamil Tiger flags.

Countries do not want to be associated with trying to push the cause of a terorrist organization..

Once the flags are dropped and the sentiment of the Protestors changes from "Stop the Sri Lankan Govt from killing Tamils" to "Stop killing in Sri Lanka", maybe then Canada will seriously intervene.

Point is you support the casue of the Tamil protestors and i sure as hell be you, you will have a backlash from the Sinhalees population in Toronto.

Cardinal Fang, you are right with the above post all that should be done. But these protestors are only 1 part of the people who are suffering, dont forget the other side.



We have an obligation as citizens of Canada and the world to keep ourselves aware of what is going on.

True, but the world is not a perfect place, and when it comes to politics it is not about being aware and doing the best for the world. It is about protecting your name, and the contry's name.

Whatever favours Canada is what the government will do. I the government does not want to support a cause that currently looks to be being pressured by Protestors holding a Terrorist flag.

[Cardinal Fang]

Remember one person's terrorist organization is another's freedom fighters. They are born out of desperation and isolation. If it wasn't for the IRA do you think there would ever have been peace in Ireland? And yes both sides are suffering but please keep in mind that the Sinhalees are the privileged class in that country and I'm pretty sure they're not on the verge of being wiped off the face of their own country.

As I get older I realize that the term terrorist isn't what it used to be. It's now more frequently used to marginalize a group and their actions so as to make them appear immoral. Government sponsored terrorism is just as prevalent.

By the way I'm only taking up this position because our resident Left-Wing-Tree-Hugging-No-Balls-Pacifist at any cause (Broli) is away in Europe. He's usually in here like a dirty shirt with these causes. I'm trying my best to channel him right now. I thought this type of discussion needs his viewpoint no matter how flawed it is. :chuckle

Once he's back I'm switching sides.

[omalak]

True enough,

but there are casualties on both sides, they may be privilaged but they have incurred thousands of deaths as well. (over the years)

Something needs to be done yes..

But going back to the original point about protestors.. The need to keep it peaceful and in front of the govt buildings not on the highways.

And i'm telling you until those Tamil Tiger flags dont come down, i don't see the Harper govt doing much. Keep in mind Harper is the one who labeled the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization in 2006.

On the topic of freedom fighters yeah you are right i guess..

Hamas
Taliban
Tamil Tigers
Al Qaida???

they can all be called freedom fighters, it's in your perception true enough..

I'm not Sri Lankan but this is not something that will end anytime soon, they hate each other as palestien and isreal hate each other..

[Cardinal Fang]

On the topic of freedom fighters yeah you are right i guess..

Hamas

Don't like them but they were democratically elected by the people of Palestine. Funny how we push countries to have free elections and when they elect someone we don't like we dismiss them as fraud.



TalibanDon't like them either but they filled the vacuum of power after the Soviets left Afghanistan. Currently the Afghan people have elected a government that is enacting Taliban like policies.



Al Qaida???
Funny thing. We liked them enough to arm them to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan now they're bad. Seriously though....they are bad. :)

[thanu31]

terrorist term has replaced the term "rebels" which is sad
i guess half the population of USA are terrorist now
which includes Tupac
since he admits hes a rebel
rebels are ppl who dont agree with the governing body on certain issues etc

[omalak]

The world is a messed up place /shrug

I hope countries can help "The people of Sri Lanka" eventually it will happen.

[thanu31]

yes world is messed,
more the UN is messed

I heard many stories of UN corruption, and not helping out countries like SriLanka and other countries with problems.

[slam525i]

Now they're on College and Yonge, clearly holding signs in support not of the Tamils in general, but specifically the Tamil Tigers.

Don't even THINK about driving in the university/hospital/Dundas area.

[Broli]

And just to add there is no reason for the Sri Lankan government to want to end this. They have the Tamil Tigers trapped in a small part of the country in and amongst what's left of the Tamil population. The government will lay waste to that small piece of land in order to get rid of the Tigers. The problem is they are wiping out the innocent Tamil people in the process. The Tamils are a minority in this country with laws designed to oppress them. When all is said and done the government will through this war accomplish what their laws have not. Get rid of the Tamil people. When this same type of situation came up in the old Yugoslavia the world took note and acted. Now....we could care less. :bang

I honestly can't blame the Tamils here for what they're doing. I'd like to get angry but I can't. If any of you had any sense of national pride you would act much in the same way if your ethnic group was being slaughtered. They're desperate and they see the world coming to the defense of certain people but not theirs. I can't blame them.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"


this is exactly it, well said cardi


Remember one person's terrorist organization is another's freedom fighters. They are born out of desperation and isolation. If it wasn't for the IRA do you think there would ever have been peace in Ireland? And yes both sides are suffering but please keep in mind that the Sinhalees are the privileged class in that country and I'm pretty sure they're not on the verge of being wiped off the face of their own country.

As I get older I realize that the term terrorist isn't what it used to be. It's now more frequently used to marginalize a group and their actions so as to make them appear immoral. Government sponsored terrorism is just as prevalent.

By the way I'm only taking up this position because our resident Left-Wing-Tree-Hugging-No-Balls-Pacifist at any cause (Broli) is away in Europe. He's usually in here like a dirty shirt with these causes. I'm trying my best to channel him right now. I thought this type of discussion needs his viewpoint no matter how flawed it is. :chuckle

Once he's back I'm switching sides.



again well said for most of it . . .

i am by no means a no balls pacifist, but the rest i will agree to.

i don't think violence is the answer that will last, but i fully understand why someone would choose to use it in a situation like sri lanka


Don't like them but they were democratically elected by the people of Palestine. Funny how we push countries to have free elections and when they elect someone we don't like we dismiss them as fraud.

Don't like them either but they filled the vacuum of power after the Soviets left Afghanistan. Currently the Afghan people have elected a government that is enacting Taliban like policies.

Funny thing. We liked them enough to arm them to fight the Soviets in Afghanistan now they're bad. Seriously though....they are bad. :)


again, cardi, you are great, i may never come back if you continue to make my arguments for me

(tempting i am sure)

[Broli]

i didn't call you narrowminded because u are a westerner, i called you both narrowminded and a westerner, these are two different things certainly.

this was not a guilt trip for you nor anyone else, i wanted to make it clear that there are many kinds of programs that we should be proud to support with canadian tax dollars, and because you weren't thinking that outside of canada was as important as inside of canada you were being narrowminded. i appologize for this, i believe a better term would be one i will not write here on the board. (i don't believe that you feel this way, but if you did then the term would be appropriate)

you know where the list ends . . . never, as long as there are attrocities we should be opposing them, as long as there are people who need support we should be supporting them.

in this case again who should we support is clear, the group being wiped out indiscriminantly by an opressive sri lankan government. it isn't farking rocket science. when you do not see what is going on somewhere because a government doesn't allow journalists to go in, it is pretty clear what is happening, again not rocket science. (this mean supporting the tamil people, not the tigers, though doing one without the other may be difficult, the protection of the people is most important imo)

in terms of news from the internet, i don't know about you but i am fully capable of reading information from reputable sources and assimilating the information and formulating opinions based on it. this to me is a suitable means of obtaining information, certainly better than watching CBC.

i am happy to be a westerner, my parents both left opressive regimes to come to canada, and after visiting with my relatives in these places over the last few months, i have seen what a difference this has made for my life. enjoying the advantages of the western way of life is not wrong, but doing so without a moral compass and without caring what the cost of this is to the less fortunate parts of the world is wrong. as a westerner we have great ability to, from a postion of relative safety, protest for causes that we believe in. this is something that those suffering under opressive regimes do not. let us use this advantage to make some good in this world.

yes i would agree that their protest tactics are not the most brilliant but at least they are doing something (if they were a less marginalized population perhaps they would have better organization and a stronger movement)

woman and children of course should protest, i am surprised you would mention women, do you not think them fully equal to men in all ways. these protests are not a war, no one who is held up by this sort of protest is thinking, "lucky that is a woman in front of me, because if it was a man i would run him down" (well of course someone could be thinking this, but they would be mentally ill)

in terms of "terrorists" doing this as a tactic, perhaps when you are confined to a small geographic area with high population density and are consistantly attacked in your home, you have no choice but to defend yourself everywhere. maybe you need to eat where you shit

if someone died, who would have otherwise lived, while being rushed to the hospital in an ambulance it would be very sad. first i would say that i am sure that protesters would let an ambulance thru (i havent heard of them stopping emergency vehciles) second it would be one compared to thousands (this type of argument i dont like but i feel it is true).

lastly, the notion that no opinion is absurd or idiotic is itself both of these things, it is like saying there are no stupid questions, of course there are.




I take offense on being called narrow minded because I am a westerner. I don't appreciate the guilt trip of yours referring to " programs to bring clean drinking water and food to starving children." that most westerners don't support. How do you know a lot of us don't. What about Rwanda, Yugosolvia and the list goes on, where does it end. We can't help everyone. Who should Canada support? Tamlis or ? Maybe neither as they both might be wrong in what they are doing. The country is corrupt and may never be any different than what it is now. So lets stop spending tax payers money on health care, education, social programs, infrastructure etc and send it all to fight a war we know nothing about. We are not there to see what is really going on. What we hear might be all here say. Of course we get a lot of our info from the internet so it must be true. If you don't like being a westerner and our way of life and it upsets you I think you know what to do. Get your head out of the sand.
Putting woman and children on the front line is a tactic used by terrorist. Don't say it was out of desperation.
no opinion is absurd or idiotic
I hope a close friend was not being rushed to a hospital but got caught in the massive traffic jam and died in the ambulance. My guilt quote
I appreciate your comments which you are entitled to.

[wtom]

Some people held an anti-Tamil-protest protest over the DVP near Gerrard yesterday!

http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_34561.aspx

"And yet another highway has fallen victim to the protest. A group of demonstrators appeared on an overpass over the Don Valley Parkway near Gerrard around 5pm, creating a huge visual distraction.

But they're not part of the protest. Instead, they're anti-Tamil demonstrators, the first apparent backlash against the group which has been tying up the city for weeks."

[crystal8484]

I was walking downtown yesterday with my friends after the Metro Police graduation ceremony... and we ended up walking right where they started marching. I swear they came out of nowhere... at least 10,000 people. Or so it seemed. It spanned from Dundas Square to beyond College Park.

Redonkulous! :loco

[Mty Mous]

What is going on in Sri Lanka is truly sad, certainly glad that ppl don't think tamil ppl hate sinhalese ppl in general ... atleast that's not the case from what I've seen with my own eyes ... in fact I know several tamil ppl married to sinhalese ppl.

Is the Sri Lankan Government corrupt? - Yes
Are the Tigers really terrorists? Although I don't support what they're doing, I see them more as Rebels and NOT Terrorists. So that's a NO.
Is the SriLankan Government trying to wipeout Tamil ppl? - Yes, they're even killing babies and little children just for being tamil and nothing more. I see video footage of this far too often, and trust me, mothers aren't going to falsy accuse who killed their children when in that emotional state.
Do I think blocking off a major highway to protest was smart? - No, and I doubt that was the organizer's intent ... its really hard to control a HUGE crowd, and I think sadly one thing led to another and ppl ended up blocking the highway.
Are all the tamil ppl participating in these protests? - NO, cause there is waaay more than 10K tamil ppl in the GTA.
Are the protests going to be violent? - I doubt it ... unfortunately there are always some bad apples in every basket, I really hope these bad apples stay at home rather than make it worse for EVERYONE involved (Protestors and Police).


I'm not in support of the Tigers, but AM in support of what the tamil ppl/protestors are trying to say ... to basically put an end to all this sh!t happening out there, just stop all the fighting and killing cause there are way too many ppl getting caught in the crossfire.

As for the flags, I suppose no one remembers when everyone was holding up a plain black flag in the beginning stages of the protests eh? And the Canadian Government still didn't give a rat's @ss about what the protestors were saying back then.

That's all I'm going to say about this.

-Thuwa

[JMAK74]

In so much as yes the CDN government should say something internationally, the politics tied to this makes it very thin ice for them because:

- The perceived assocaiton of these protests with the LTTE
- From what I have heard, the Tamils in Sri Lanka want an autonomous area/independance - any support to the Tamils in general can be construed as CDN support for an independant Tamil homeland, which then begs the question for the CDN goverment - you mean it's okay to 'support' another groups who desires independance, however not for Quebec?
Does saying it's wrong mean CDN government supports outright a Tamil homeland - logically, no, but in the world of politics from my watching it in general, it will get construed to mean that
- China and Russia, who both have veto powers in the UN have stated they will veto any action by the UN for what's happening there (at the least military action on the part of the UN, not sure 100% about sanctions).

[Cardinal Fang]

- From what I have heard, the Tamils in Sri Lanka want an autonomous area/independance - any support to the Tamils in general can be construed as CDN support for an independant Tamil homeland, which then begs the question for the CDN goverment - you mean it's okay to 'support' another groups who desires independance, however not for Quebec?


Can't let this go by without pointing out that the comparison is not accurate.

A majority (nearly all) of Tamil's support independence. That's both in and outside that country. A majority of Quebecors do not support independence. They've had two votes on this and have rejected it.

The Tamil cause for independence is based on oppression, human rights and self determination. The Quebec cause has nothing to do with any of those things. It's purely political with financial purse strings attached. Recognizing one doesn't mean you must recognize the other.

[slam525i]

Are the Tigers really terrorists? Although I don't support what they're doing, I see them more as Rebels and NOT Terrorists. So that's a NO.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTTE#Human_rights_violations

Because of attacks on civilians, children soldiers, and ethnic cleansing, 32 countries list the LTTE as a terrorist organization. Of course, the difference between freedom fighters and terrorists is one of perspective.

On the other hand, the government has a long list of human rights abuses too. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Sri_Lanka#Abuses_by_the_government .



- The perceived assocaiton of these protests with the LTTE


It's not just perceived. When you carry signs that say "Lift the ban on LTTE" and carry flags representing the LTTE, you're in clear support of the LTTE.

It would appear to me that the protests are no different than marching through the streets in support of Al-Qaeda. It's one thing to protest the lack of humanitarian in the conflict. It's another to openly support a terrorist organization.

Frankly, I don't support either side. They certainly have the right to protest, but they don't have the right to violate the laws of Canada, either by disrupting traffic or by supporting a terrorist organization.

[Cardinal Fang]

I hope you guys get this pissed off during the next World Cup when soccer fans violate the law by disrupting traffic.

[MajesticBlueNTO]

you'll also see placards stating that a Tamil Eelam (independent Tamil state) is the only solution ... Tamil Eelam on wikipedia with some background on the Tamil vs Sinhalese situation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Eelam)

there was word in the media that someone from the Conservative party said that they wouldn't listen to or action on anything as a result of 'unlawful' actions as doing so would condone illegal activities to gain a response from the Federal government. The police and others have called the Gardiner hijack an "unlawful" and "illegal protest".

If the Conservative statement is true, by protesting on the Gardiner, the Tamil protesters have essentially shot themselves in the foot in trying to elicit any type of response from the PMO.

[omalak]

The Tamil cause for independence is based on oppression, human rights and self determination. The Quebec cause has nothing to do with any of those things. It's purely political with financial purse strings attached. Recognizing one doesn't mean you must recognize the other.

That's why the west does F*** all for the Palestine..

When it comes to independant states i think developed nations want no part of the battle as they only end u creatign enemies for themselves.

Millitary action is not what i would push for. But i would like to see the government take a more active diplomatic route to trying to help the situation in Sri Lanka, not just for Tamils but for other civillians stuck in the cross fire as well

[Broli]

this is perfectly stated


What is going on in Sri Lanka is truly sad, certainly glad that ppl don't think tamil ppl hate sinhalese ppl in general ... atleast that's not the case from what I've seen with my own eyes ... in fact I know several tamil ppl married to sinhalese ppl.

Is the Sri Lankan Government corrupt? - Yes
Are the Tigers really terrorists? Although I don't support what they're doing, I see them more as Rebels and NOT Terrorists. So that's a NO.
Is the SriLankan Government trying to wipeout Tamil ppl? - Yes, they're even killing babies and little children just for being tamil and nothing more. I see video footage of this far too often, and trust me, mothers aren't going to falsy accuse who killed their children when in that emotional state.
Do I think blocking off a major highway to protest was smart? - No, and I doubt that was the organizer's intent ... its really hard to control a HUGE crowd, and I think sadly one thing led to another and ppl ended up blocking the highway.
Are all the tamil ppl participating in these protests? - NO, cause there is waaay more than 10K tamil ppl in the GTA.
Are the protests going to be violent? - I doubt it ... unfortunately there are always some bad apples in every basket, I really hope these bad apples stay at home rather than make it worse for EVERYONE involved (Protestors and Police).


I'm not in support of the Tigers, but AM in support of what the tamil ppl/protestors are trying to say ... to basically put an end to all this sh!t happening out there, just stop all the fighting and killing cause there are way too many ppl getting caught in the crossfire.

As for the flags, I suppose no one remembers when everyone was holding up a plain black flag in the beginning stages of the protests eh? And the Canadian Government still didn't give a rat's @ss about what the protestors were saying back then.

That's all I'm going to say about this.

-Thuwa

this is likely true, however there would have been no response from canada either way, certainly not with this government.

what is important is that people become aware of this cause and hopefully in time pressure the goverment into action.

if more people would look past the stupid way that these protest seem to be going they would see that there is an important cause at its heart


you'll also see placards stating that a Tamil Eelam (independent Tamil state) is the only solution ... Tamil Eelam on wikipedia with some background on the Tamil vs Sinhalese situation (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Eelam)

there was word in the media that someone from the Conservative party said that they wouldn't listen to or action on anything as a result of 'unlawful' actions as doing so would condone illegal activities to gain a response from the Federal government. The police and others have called the Gardiner hijack an "unlawful" and "illegal protest".

If the Conservative statement is true, by protesting on the Gardiner, the Tamil protesters have essentially shot themselves in the foot in trying to elicit any type of response from the PMO.

[crystal8484]

I hope you guys get this pissed off during the next World Cup when soccer fans violate the law by disrupting traffic.


BAHAHAHAAHAHA.

What about when Canada won Gold?? Im pretty sure when everyone took to the streets the 'riot' spanned from say Dundas Square to beyond Eglinton... A GOLD MEDAL! ba-zing!! :chuckle

[matt9]

Why don't they just arrest them all? :/

[AskClaudio.com]

I hope you guys get this pissed off during the next World Cup when soccer fans violate the law by disrupting traffic.

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

World Cup Qualifying games are 3 weeks away :bana:bana2