Duminda Silva’s Rs. 17 million fraud crashes – Dumnida threatened Insurance boss

Colombo Telegraph

IN JOURNALISM TRUTH IS A PROCESS

NOVEMBER 2, 2011
Duminda with former IGP

By Colombo Telegraph Duminda with former IGP 

The Police hasn’t taken any action against Duminda Silva’s Rs 17 million insurance fraud and the threat he made to the insurance company the Colombo Telegraph learnt. The police think there is sufficient evidence to act against MP Duminda Silva but they cannot go further due to extreme political pressure. “We would have been in deep trouble if we raised any issue then,” said one of them familiar with the case.
Duminda Silva MP, submitted the fake claim for Rs 17 million to Janashakithi Insurance. Janashakthi Insurance were told in August 2011 that his four-wheel drive vehicle had met with a horrible accident. It had hit even telephone posts before coming to a halt and was beyond repair.
As reported the story unfolds as follows; The vehicle had been towed to the Boralla police station even before an insurance appraiser arrived. He had later staked his claim for Rs 17 million to buy another brand new vehicle.Duminda Silva MP, submitted the fake claim for Rs 17 million to Janashakithi Insurance. Janashakthi Insurance were told in August 2011 that his four-wheel drive vehicle had met with a horrible accident. It had hit even telephone posts before coming to a halt and was beyond repair. While the insurance company was processing his claim, it also got in touch with its lawyer. He in turn sought the help of a private investigation agency to check on the claims made by the Duminda Silva. It came to light that the vehicle had been insured only two days before the accident. Thereafter, they continued the probe into other aspects. It was to reveal more startling facts — the accident had taken place six days before the vehicle was insured. That meant there was no insurance cover at the time of the accident. That is not all. Some of the photographs submitted after the assessor was allegedly threatened showed another wrecked luxury vehicle that was beyond identification. It came to light that the engine and chassis number of the vehicle that lay at the police station, configured in such a way that the worst accident would not obliterate the markings, was intact and not damaged. Nor was the front area of the vehicle except for sections.
There were mounting threats on the insurance company executives to make payment. At first it came from a relative of Duminda Silva. The threats were directed at the insurance company branch in the suburbs. Later, Duminda Silva raised issue with those at the branch office and at their headquarters in Colombo. They were on the verge of approving payment when another eminent counsel with strong political connections was consulted. He was annoyed at the way threats had been brought on the insurance executives on a fraudulent claim and promised to pursue the matter. He said he would even raise it at the highest levels. One day, the insurance top boss received a call from Duminda Silva. He identified himself and poured out a verbal barrage in choice obscenity. He asked, “what happened to my claim?” The boss replied that the matter was now in the hands of the influential senior counsel and mentioned his name. “I don’t care,” he thundered. He went into a rage and warned that if the Rs. 17 million was not paid pronto, the consequences would be disastrous. The boss said he detested the tone in which Duminda was intimidating him. “You wait and see. My tone would be worse when something happens to you,” and banged the telephone. What Duminda least realised was that the boss’ lawyer was also present when the call was made. The speaker phone was switched on. They took note of the entire conversation.
Immediately thereafter, they went to the Police Station and lodged an entry giving the fuller details. The lawyer, who also made a statement, said he was witness to the episode. The OIC Boralla is unavailable for comment. The Police Officer who answered to Colombo Telegraph call told he is unaware of the case.
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President’s saffron robe donating pooja at Sri Maha Bodhi for and on behalf of Duminda

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Duminda with former IGP
“Duminda Silva is not my man, he is Gota’s man” MR said to Bharatha and Rathnasiri
By Colombo Telegraph
Silva is not my man, he is Gota’s man” President Mahinda Rajapkasa said to both Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra and former Prime Minister and senior Minister Rathnasiri Wickkramanayake. Informed sources told the Colombo Telegraph that, three months ago, Bharatha had complained to the President that Duminda Silva had given a contract to underworld thugs to murder him. President Rajapaksa had subsequently ordered the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to investigate the alleged murder plot.  Two underworld gangsters who were in police custody at that time had given statements to the CID confirming the murder plot. Bharatha Lakshman had secured a copy of this CID investigation report and informed Rathanasiri Wickramanayke, Minister Susil Premajayantha, Alavi Moulana, the Governor of the Western Province, Minister John Senavirathne and some other senior Sri Lanka Freedom Party members about the CID findings.   Full Story»>

Canada Urges UN for an independent investigation in Sri Lanka

As Canada continuously emphasizes its central pillar of the foreign policy, promote freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, in the international forums, one of the worst offenders of it, Sri Lanka continuously takes the centre stage of its criticism.

Guillermo E. Rishchynski, Canada's Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations, in a statement to the Third Committee on the promotion and protection of human rights at United Nations, on October 26, 2011, said, “Canada is also concerned that the underlying sources of conflict in Sri Lanka are not being addressed. As such, we encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to engage constructively on a process of political reconciliation and accountability.”

“We also support calls for an independent investigation into credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights committed by both parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka, as recommended by the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka.” He further said.

The excerpts from the statement by Canada at the United Nations as follows,

"Thank you Mr. Chair,

The promotion and protection of human rights, a cornerstone of this organization, is a central pillar of Canada’s foreign policy. Canada stands firmly on the protection of human rights and takes principled positions on important issues to promote freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Over the past century, the world witnessed brutal despotism, including totalitarian regimes which enslaved their own peoples. We recognize that even today, implementation of human rights remains a challenge. Yet, we are hopeful that we can find common ground in order to advance the rights and fundamental freedoms which we all hold dear.......

Canada is also concerned that the underlying sources of conflict in Sri Lanka are not being addressed. As such, we encourage the Government of Sri Lanka to engage constructively on a process of political reconciliation and accountability. We also support calls for an independent investigation into credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law and human rights committed by both parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka, as recommended by the UN Secretary General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka."

Sri Lankan government boosts military spending

By Saman Gunadasa 
2 November 2011

The Sri Lankan government presented its 2012 budgetary estimates to parliament on October 18, unveiling a nearly 7 percent increase in military expenditure. The boost to already high levels of defence spending indicates that the government, facing a deep financial crisis, is preparing for violent confrontations with working people.

Such is the extent of the fiscal crisis that total budget expenditure for 2012 is estimated at 2.22 trillion rupees ($US20.1 billion), which is double the expected income of 1.1 trillion rupees. President Mahinda Rajapakse, who is also finance minister, will announce proposals on November 21 to meet the trillion-rupee deficit. The government is already imposing new taxes and resorting to foreign and local borrowing, imposing even greater burdens on the backs of workers and the poor.     Full Story>>>

Shavendra raises immunity defense to escape torture charges

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 November 2011, 01:57 GMT]
Sri Lanka's Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and ex-Major General in Sri Lankan Army (SLA), Shavendra Silva, has invoked Article-31 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Immunity as his defense to war-crimes charges leveled against him by two Tamil plaintiffs in the District Court of Southern District of New York (Case 11 Civ. 6645), court records show. With no declared formal intervention by the U.S. State Department, and despite earlier pronouncements that Silva will defend his actions in the Court of law, the ex-General appears to have thought it prudent to hide behind "absolute" immunity defense his counsel claims the General is legally entitled to. 

• Shavendra's Motion to Dismiss

• Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Immunity

Silva's counsel mentions in a letter to the Court that filing an official Motion to Dismiss will "dignify the alleged attempts at "service" on the Ambassador," and therefore, they were requesting their letter to be treated as a motion to dismiss, which the Court granted.

The Plaintiffs are expected to file a reply to the motion to dismiss by the 8th of November, and Defendant's reply, if any, to be filed before the 17th November.

Shavendra Silva, alleged War Criminal holding UN post

The defense argues that pursuant to a UN Convention on Privileges and Immunities, and to an agreement UN and the US regarding the Head Quarters located in New York, Mr Silva has the same Immunities accorded to diplomats, and that Mr Silva is entitled to such immunity as defined by the Vienna Convention.

The defense also argues that such immunity is "absolute," and therefore, precludes any civil action from proceeding against a currently-serving diplomat, regardless of the nature of the alleged crimes.

The defense cites four previous cases in support of its immunity argument. 

While the question of immunity is a difficult hurdle to overcome, the defense's argument is clearly less than persuasive. First, there are no binding Supreme Court cases cited by the defense on the issue of immunity. The second circuit case cited involves functional immunity, and can be distinguished from Shavendra case where the issue is one of crimes against humanity committed while the defendant was not a diplomat, and no functional immunity applies here, legal sources in Washington said.

Further, courts have said the purpose of the immunity "is not to benefit individuals but to ensure efficient performance of the functions of diplomatic missions." In Shavendra's case, the likely argument presented by the plaintiffs is, Colombo purportedly sought to exploit the immunity provision to sanitize an alleged war-criminal. Plaintiffs are likely to highlight Switzerland's warning to ex-General Jagath Dias on imminent war-crimes investigations, and Colombo recalling the General, as an appropriate example of Colombo's efforts to send alleged criminals as diplomats, legal sources added.

• Immunity in respect of serious crimes

"Legal scholars have argued that diplomatic immunity, which supports personal inviolability, may not prevail when the defendant has committed international crimes. When establishing the hierarchy between norms granting immunity and norms protecting fundamental values such as human life, the immunity norms always lose. Further, diplomatic immunity is a functionality based principle based on "reciprocal compromise," and cannot be categorized as jus cogens, or compelling law. U.S. jurisprudence will inevitably move towards a position where sanitization of genocidaires, such as Shavendra Silva, is legally prevented by narrowly interpreting the doctrine of immunity," spokesperson for the US-based activist group, Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), said.

Ali Beydoun, lead counsel and director at American University's Human Rights Impact Litigation Clinic, filed the civil action against Mr Silva on behalf of Tamil plaintiffs Vathsala Devi and Seetharam Sivam.

Chelvanayakam statue decapitated in Trincomalee

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 November 2011, 00:14 GMT]
The statue of Thanthai Chelva (SJV Chelvanayakam) located near the Sivan Temple at Thirugnaanasampanthar Street in Trincomalee was decapitated on Sunday night. People who were enraged to notice the desecration on Monday morning placed a cloth on the headless statue. Local people suspect genocidal elements occupying Trincomalee for timing the act, when the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) team led by Mr. R. Sampanthan, MP for Trincomalee, is on an international visit seeking solutions for the national question of Eezham Tamils. The statue is located in a recently Sinhalicised part of the Trincomalee city. 

The occupying SL military has razed down all traces of the memorials including burials of the Eezham Tamil war heroes, while grand memorials were built for the genocidal SL military and the Indian ‘Peace Keeping’ Force (IPKF). 
The desecration of the legacy of the Tamil struggle has now been extended even to the memorials of the leaders of non-violent struggle, civil activists in Trincomalee commented.
Residents of Sivan Koayil area had seen the chopped head of the Chelva’ statue at the feet of the statue Monday morning.
The memorial was destroyed once before allegedly by the occupying SL military and was reconstructed later. 

The entire Tamil population was shocked to see the head of the late Tamil leader S.J.V.Chelvanayakam was chopped off from the statue erected at Thanthai Chelva Memorial at Thirugnanasampanthar Road in the heart of Trincomalee city Sunday night.

Thanthai Chelva’s birthday in April this year was observed by garlanding the statue at the memorial by former Trincomalee district parliamentarian K.Thurairatnasingham, UC Chairman S.Selvarajah and Vice Chairman S.Sriskandarajah.

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First democratic leader of Justice the Godfather of the Sri Lankan Tamil Struggle: Honourable Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam

Honourable
Samuel James Veluppillai Chelvanayakam
QC. MP

MR. Mara visits kudu Duminda in J’wardenapura Hospital: Is it to learn of a secret number from Duminda ?

(Lanka-e-News -01.Nov.2011, 1.30PM) The President Rajapakse visited Duminda Silva who was responsible for the murder in cold blood of the President’s advisor and Director General of President’s unions, who was also a loyal and close associate of the President for 30 years . The President went to the Jayawardenapura Hospital yesterday evening (31), purportedly to inquire after the health and recovery of Duminda who killed Bharatha on the Highway most brutally.

After attending the funeral of former Minister Mano Wijeratne at his house in Wellawatte, and paying his last respects , had along with Ministers Mervyn Silva, Anura Priyadharshana Yapa, Tissa Karaliyaddha, President’s Secretary Gamini Senarath had gone to the Jayawardena Hospital with two lead security vehicles in front of the convoy . Neither the Hospital staff nor the henchman of Kudu Duminda , SSP Tennekoon were informed of the sudden visit of the President, reports say.

The President making a sudden visit to the Hospital to inquire after the health of Duminda the murderer who was responsible for the brutal murder in cold blood, in broad daylight and in the public Highway of Bharatha Lakshman ,a senior SLFP stalwart , a Presidential advisor on President’s union affairs , and a long time loyal associate of President has caused a rude shock to many senior Ministers and members of the SLFP party.The people are already disgusted and rudely shocked over the non arrest of Kudu Duminda and the other suspects even after there is clear and cogent evidence that Duminda Silva after shooting Bharatha first , had again ordered to ‘shoot him’ which resulted in the spraying of bullets on Bharatha by Duminda’s security detail. With the President visiting the Hospital to inquire after the cold blooded brutal murderer , he has confirmed that he is with the murderers and not with the victims . In addition , even that iota of doubt people had about it has also been dispelled now thereby.
A close pal of the President commenting on this sudden and shamefully shocking visit of the President to the Hospital said , Duminda’s living is most important for the regime allegedly because they have to get from Duminda a secret number in connection with a cash Safe or something akin ,which only Duminda is aware.

Posted by Thavam

U.S. Embassy Deeply Concerned About Lanka-e-News Blockade

Embass of the United

States Sri Lanka & Maldive   (November 1, 2011)

November 1, 2011

The United States Embassy in Colombo is deeply concerned that the Internet news site Lanka-e-News has been blocked in Sri Lanka.  While the Embassy does not endorse the views of any particular media outlet, the United States believes that a free and independent media is vital to ensuring the health and continuation of any democracy.  Freedom of expression, including unfettered access to Internet news websites, is a basic right which must be respected. We therefore call on the Sri Lankan authorities and the managements of Sri Lankan telecommunications firms to stop activities aimed at blocking free access in Sri Lanka to all legitimate media websites, including Lanka-e-News. 

• Read in Sinhala (pdf, 60 kb)
• Read in Tamil (pdf, 60 kb)

Basil in a mad scramble for commission collection on US $ 2200 million refinery project before President’s return

Tuesday 1 of November 2011

This BOT transaction brings huge losses to the country (Lanka-e-News -31.Oct.2011, 11.30PM) Basil Rajapakse is making grand preparations to gobble down a huge commission on the largest contract at the moment in Sri Lanka – the modernization of the Sapugaskande oil refinery at a cost of US dollars 2200 million which is being transacted without any transparency, on terms and conditions which are detrimental to the country.

Basil is over anxious to ‘fix’ this deal before the President returns to the Island for obvious reasons.

It is learnt that it is only the crude oil imported from Iran which can be refined at the present at the Sapugaskande refinery., The crude oil imported from Saudi Arabia cannot be .refined., and only 35000 barrels of crude oil per day can be refined at present at the refinery. It is believed that this can be increased to between 50,000 and 100,000 barrels per day.

Earlier , an agreement was signed with Iran for the expansion of the Sapugaskande refinement processes , but after America banned the Iranian currency , this agreement had to be abandoned. Iran had estimated a cost of US dollars 1500 million for this refinery project.

Now, four Companies had presented their reports regarding the oil refinement expansion project to the public funds Dept. of the Treasury . The Chinese Company ‘Huanqui’which is closely linked to the Rajapakse regime has offered the highest bid of US dollars 2200 million to complete this project . Basil and a prominent group of the regime who are drooling over the massive commission component at the expense of the country’s interests are making an unholy scramble to grant the project to this Co. despite the fact that the bid of this Co. is the highest. meriting rejection.

Among the other countries which have submitted reports on their bids are ‘Sino Pak’ , a Chinese Co. and a Czechoslavakian Co. Although the reports of the other Companies for this project are comprehensive and run into many pages., the report of the ‘Huanqui’ Co. which enjoys the patronage of the Rajapakse regime, in respect of this massive 2200 dollars project is contained in just two or three A 4 pages. ( A part of this report is published herein) .

The most intriguing and frustrating aspect of this deal which lacks transparency is , under the guise of expanding the refinement processes of crude oil in SL , the ‘Huanqui’ Co. is going to be blessed with a windfall by the regime, for the crude oil refinement and the profits there -from are to be enjoyed by the ‘Huanqui’ Co. for 20 or 30 years . This will revert to us only at the end of this period under the ‘ Build operation and Transfer’ (BOT) transaction.

It is significant to note that Sri Lanka can settle the monies taken in this regard via its oil refinement Industry earnings within 5-6 years. When such possibilities are there , SL entering into a BOT transaction is a most dismal measure and most detrimental to national interests engendering huge losses to the country, experts say.
The SL representatives of this Huanqei Co. are Prabath Nanayakkara and Dilshan Wickremesinghe , the son of Shiranthee Rajapakse’s brother.

This project has so far not even been submitted to the ‘Standard Cabinet Appointed Review Commission’ (SCARC) for its review .

Basil Rajapakse is making hasty moves to conclude this deal before the President’s return. Sources however say , there has arisen a cut -throat competition among the regime’s group itself as regards collection of commission from the Huanqei Co. Each is tumbling over the other to grab it first , fast and full.

Lying , cheating and wallowing in doctored photographs - MR meeting Queen demonstrates all these and more!

Tuesday 1 of November 2011
 (Lanka-e-News -01.Nov.2011, 1.30PM) When a brute escapes from its lair it searches for prey ; when a liar escapes from his abode he too searches for his prey –this time the prey is the Queen, whom he chose to hide behind with the vain hope that all his lies and brutalities at home can be suppressed thereby. Rajapakse regime chief had once again demonstrated not only to his own people but to the whole world his faceless and double tongued nature.. These photographs visually also confirm this truth.

The Queen Elizabeth the 2nd of Britain , as the Head of the Commonwealth gave a dinner to all the leaders of the Commonwealth countries . The leaders had to follow a queue when they were to be greeted by the Queen .

The Medamulana village ‘frog in the well’ who had leapt out for this occasion however wanted to flaunt that he was greeted solo by the Queen and arranged for such a photographic gimmick ,as the photographs after the photo shop manipulation show herein . These distortions and doctoring for which the Rajapakse regime is well noted for ,was done disgracefully and shamelessly casting away the hallowed traditions of true representation verbally and visually normally expected when a country’s leader meets an important celebrity.

Of course distortions and doctoring of photographs may be expected from ordinary scoundrels , but such shameless actions cannot be expected in relation to pictures taken of the meeting of Commonwealth leaders where hallowed traditions are most respected. But this ‘ frog in the well’ leader who leapt out only for self publicity deemed it fit to deplorably and degradingly doctor and amend the photographs taken even with the Queen and make spurious pictorial representations in his megalomaniacal disposition for cheap self seeking selfish publicity . After changing the individuals in the actual photographs taken , others had been interpolated in the scenes of shaking hands with the Queen and Prince Philip.

The top photograph is what was officially issued by the Commonwealth moments before the regime Head supposedly met the Queen. Next is the photograph depicting the regime chief shaking hands with Prince Philip. The third photograph depicting the regime chief , the ‘frog in the well’ leaping forward purportedly to shake hands with the Queen along with his group of frogs like those which come out with the rains , is issued by the President’s media after the masterly doctoring effected on it via photo shop experts . As there was no handshaking with the Queen and no photograph , the photograph depicting the handshaking with Prince Philip had been given a ‘cut and paste’ using the Queen’s picture utilizing the photo shop technology.

In a vain attempt to display falsely ‘ I was not in the queue . I directly met the Queen . I stood shoulder to shoulder with her’ , this photograph had been technologically altered without any sense of shame. (this photography doctoring is clearly betrayed by the tiles on the wall on the right side – compare with the other photographs) . Need a leader of a country if he is honorable , labor so much to resort to this cheap and utterly disgraceful fake measures and gimmicks only to prove (falsely) he met the Queen.
Aney , why do you disgrace the image of our country by these fake conduct and falsehoods . At least spare a thought for us , citizens of the country , without projecting a picture to the whole world that Sri Lankans are deceitful leaders . Of course as a leader who knows only lying , living in an ivory tower of your own and wallowing in deceit , you are at liberty to paint any picture you want about yourself as your picture is already well known world over for the most infamous reasons, but do not compromise the country’s image thereby, no ,not for all the world!

When are we going to send these frogs back into the wells at Medamulana ? the place they came from and where they fit into best before they tarnish the country’s image any further. At least let them be taught how to cheat without getting caught. All these years of experience gained in cheating and duping the people has apparently not taught them lessons in ‘cheating without getting caught’.

Canadian civil activists vow support to Tamil struggle for national liberation

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 01 November 2011, 00:05 GMT]
In a significant move after Canada's largest peace organisation, the Canadian Peace Alliance and Canada’s largest trade union, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, recently resolving to support Eezham Tamils Right to Self-Determination, hundreds of non-Tamil activists in Canada have taken part in the Pongku Thamizh rally, the biggest politico-cultural event held Saturday afternoon by Canadian Tamils after 2009 Mu'l'livaaykkaal genocide. “The struggle for Tamil Eelam is legitimate and represents the essence of human dignity and justice. We will continue to unequivocally support Tamil student organizers as the struggle for national liberation moves into the international sphere,” said James Clark, the organizer of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War while addressing the thousands who thronged the Queen's Park in Toronto. 

Thousands of people gather at Queen's Park for Pongku Thamizh

James Clark, organizer of the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War

Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students—Ontario

Tamil Youth Organisation-Canada members rally up the crowd

Jim Karygiannis, Liberal MP from Scarborough-Agincourt addressing the gathering

Angela Reignier, Communications Director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers

A number of solidarity activists from civil society and grassroots movements across Canada addressed the gathering.

“In 2009, the mass demonstrations by the Tamil community inspired many of the people now involved with Occupy Toronto, said Jesse McLaren, an emergency room doctor and activist with Occupy Toronto.

“We wanted to join the Tamil Freedom Rally and to continue building solidarity between different struggles against oppression,” Jesse McLaren said. 

The event firmly re-articulated the principles of Tamil nation, homeland, and self-determination. 

“We are disturbed that two years after the end of the war—marred by grave allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity—the Sri Lankan government still refuses to provide a political solution that addresses the political demand for self-determination, ” said Pablo Vivanco, an organizer with the Latin American Solidarity Network. 

“As a Latin American, I understand the brutal consequences of imperialism and the subsequent necessity of a liberation struggle. I stand with you in solidarity for Tamil freedom and independence from Sri Lankan genocide,” Mr. Vivanco further said. 

Members of the Jaffna University Students’ Union are facing violent persecution and intimidation at the hands of the Sri Lankan intelligence apparatus. In the last month alone, the President of the Students’ Union and another member were brutally attacked for being critical of the Sri Lankan occupation. 

“The Canadian Student Movement will continue to support Tamil students and their struggle for freedom in Canada,” said Sandy Hudson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students—Ontario. “We call on the Sri Lankan government to immediately stop its campaign of terror against the student organizers of Tamil Eelam.”

“We will continue working with students around the world to build international solidarity for Tamil students living under constant military rule” said Priyanth, spokesperson for the Tamil Youth Organization—Canada. “We demand the release of all political prisoners and an end to the occupation of our homeland in the NorthEast,” Priyanth said.

The speakers at the Pongu Tamil rally spoke strongly in favour of international campaign to end the genocide of the Tamil people and a sustainable political solution based on self-determination were James Clark, (organizer, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War), Sid Lacombe (coordinator, Canadian Peace Alliance), Sandy Hudson (Chairperson, Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario); John Cartwright (President, Toronto & North York Region Labour Council); Carolyn Egan (President, Toronto Area Council of the United Steel Workers); Pablo Vivanco (organizer with the Latin American Solidarity Network), Angela Reignier (Communications Director, Canadian Association of University of Teachers); Abdalla Al-Baalawy (Vice President External, Scarborough Campus Students’ Union); Jagmeet Singh (New Democratic Party, Member of Provincial Parliament); Bhawan Kaur (organizer, Sikh Activist Network); and Jim Karygiannis (Liberal Party, Member of Parliament).

The event was covered in both the Tamil community media and by mainstream national and local media. Mainstream television, radio, and print media in Canada referred to the Pongku Thamizh rally as the “Tamil Rally for Freedom” and described the thousands of flags at the rally as the flags of Tamil Eelam.

“A UN report, prominent human rights groups, and governments are all calling for an international inquiry into war crimes and crimes against humanity. Now we need to start addressing the root cause of the ethnic conflict in the island of Sri Lanka,” said Krisna Saravanamuttu, the spokesperson for the National Council of Canadian Tamils. “We want to see an immediate end to military rule and colonization of the Tamil homeland. A political solution based on the democratic aspiration for self-determination is the immediate issue of the hour.”

The first Pongku Thamizh demonstration was organized by the Jaffna University Students’ Union in January 2001 as a response to the Sri Lankan military campaign of abuses, disappearances, and mass graves. The event organized by the students of Jaffna University attracted thousands of peaceful participants and has grown into a global uprising for Tamil self-determination in their traditional homeland in the NorthEast. 

“The global war on terror criminalized the Tamil resistance movement and labelled the national liberation struggle as terrorist. The rally represented a major political shift in the discourse around the Tamil national question. Tamils and their progressive allies around the world agree that only an accommodation of self-determination will ensure a long and sustainable peace for all peoples in the island of Sri Lanka,” a Canadian Tamil student activist told media. 

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