Canadian Democratic League welcomes Human Rights Watch report

CANADA: Canadian Democratic League, a Canadian Tamil organisation has welcomed the recent report by Human Rights Watch, Funding the 'Final War': LTTE, intimidation and extortion in the Diaspora which documents the persistent and systematic extortion and intimidation of the Tamil community by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The Canadian Democratic League statement:

"As Canadian Tamils, we welcome the recent report by Human Rights Watch, 'Funding the 'Final War': LTTE Intimidation and Extortion in the Tamil Diaspora' which documents the persistent and systematic extortion and intimidation of the Tamil community by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

The report is accurate, and its findings resonate with the ground realities of Tamils in Toronto, whose fundamental rights of free expression and association are daily suppressed through the intimidation, violence, and climate of fear instigated by the LTTE and its front organizations in Toronto.

Multiculturalism in Canada is compromised not when the LTTE and its front organisations are criticised, but when the rights and dignities of all Canadians are not vigilantly protected and promoted by the Canadian authorities.

These rights and dignities have consistently come under threat by the LTTEs claim of being the "sole representative" of the Tamils.

Armed with this undemocratic claim the LTTE has carried out political killings, disrupted elections and destroyed civil society among the Tamil community in Sri Lanka. The LTTE and its supporters use similar means to silence the Tamil public in Canada and have created a climate of fear so that they effectively control the Tamil community.

To denounce the LTTE and its henchmen, therefore, is not to be anti-Tamil. Rather, it is to stand in solidarity with Canadian Tamils who are victims of harassment, intimidation, and extortion by the LTTE.

Furthermore, unless such violence and the culture of fear and intimidation is challenged, Canadian Tamils will not be able to contribute in any meaningful way to peace and democracy in Sri Lanka.

Tamils suffered persecution and violence in Sri Lanka and we fled to Canada to live in peace and dignity. We did not come here to be afraid of opening the door.

The LTTE's presence in Canada, and the systematic intimidation and violence this engenders among its Tamil community, attacks core Canadian values and commitments, and is an affront to all Canadians".

For The Canadian Democratic League: Anton Mariyampillai, Pon. Shanmugalingam, Kulaindaivelu Mahendran and Lenn. Benedict.