கனடா ஊடகங்களில் வந்த கனடா கவனயீர்ப்பு நிகழ்வு

Tamil protesters slow traffic in Toronto core

Sunny Freeman

Staff ReporterS

John Spears

Thousands of protesters are slowly leaving the downtown core after a five-hour demonstration by members of Toronto's Tamil community clogged sidewalks and closed busy thoroughfares.

The demonstrators arrived at 1 p.m to protest attacks by the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in that country's bloody civil war.

"We want awareness of the genocide going on in Sri Lanka. It has been systematic genocide for 61 years and we want all Canadians, including non-Tamils, to stop it," said protester Shan Thayaparan, 43, of Toronto.

Police closed Front St. to vehicular traffic in both directions between York and Bay Sts. York is also closed both ways from Front to Wellington St. W.

The streets are expected to be reopened by 7 p.m., said Const. Wendy Drummond.

Protesters waving flags and placards, banging drums and chanting began formed a human chain that ran up Yonge St. to Bloor St., continuing west down Bloor St. to University Ave., where it turned south back toward Front St.

"We want our (Canadian) government to get involved for the people back home. We want our government to talk to the Sri Lankan government," said Sarmi Ponnu, 12, who had travelled from Scarborough with her grandparents to take part in the demonstration.

"Every day we wait, there is more people getting killed," she said.

Kala Pathmanathan, a protester from Markham, said the Canadian government should deliver food and medical assistance to those being affected by the ongoing civil war.

"We must save our people in Sri Lanka. They are eating leaves, they don't have any food," she said.

By 3:30 p.m. some demonstrators were spread along the sidewalks of all four streets, with a heavier concentration in the southern part of the downtown core near Yonge and Dundas Square.

"There are no issues so far. We're communicating well with the event organizers and it's been very peaceful," said Drummond.

An influx of protesters toting Tamil red flags en route to the rally congested some subway stations and trains in the east end, said TTC spokesperson Danny Nicholson. At one station there was a line of about 150 people waiting to get a day pass this afternoon.

An increased number of police officers attended to monitor the protests and divert traffic. Officers from several units, including the public safety division and TAVIS task force were been stationed around the downtown core.

Police advised motorists to expect delays and take alternate routes during the afternoon to avoid being caught in slowed-down traffic.

The demonstrations have been occurring downtown every couple of weeks for the past two months, including some 40,000 people taking to the streets in late January.

Similar events are taking place today around the world.

Greater Toronto is home to 200,000 Tamils, the largest such community outside Sri Lanka, where a 25-year-old civil war and a long history of atrocities on both sides has risen to an even bloodier level in recent months.

- http://www.thestar.com/article/603135

City's Tamil community stage protest downtown

Toronto - A protest continued into the rush hour, Monday, as thousands from Toronto's Tamil community flooded the downtown core to raise awareness about the attacks by the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in that country's bloody civil war.

The protest slowed traffic on several downtown streets until about 6 p.m.

It began on Front St., went up Yonge St. to Bloor St., continued west across Bloor to University Ave. where it turned south back to Front. The protesters converged at Union Station at around 6 p.m.

Police were warning the public to avoid that TTC stop as it was swarmed at one point.

Protesters waved flags and placards as well as banged drums and chanted as they formed a human chain in an attempt to bring attention to what they call genocide in Sri Lanka.

Police kept a close eye on the protestors, but they were peaceful and orderly - despite being in the thousands.

A similar demonstration happened in January of this year, which drew in about 45,000 people. The GTA is home to 200,000 Tamils.

For the past 26 years, the civil war has ravaged Sri Lanka. According to the United Nations, an estimated 70,000 people have been killed.

The battle is over independence, as Tamils, who are mostly situated in the northern part of the country, are fighting for their own separate state, while the Sinhalese majority and their government oppose the movement.

The UN has warned that if the fighting continues, civilian casualties could reach catastrophic proportions.

- http://www.680news.com/more.jsp?content=20090316_080157_1972

Roads close as thousands of Tamils protest in T.O.

Thousands of people from Toronto's Tamil community gathered downtown to form a human chain through the core of the city Monday afternoon to protest the civil war in Sri Lanka.

The protesters formed a human chain that started on Front Street, and headed up Yonge Street to Bloor Street, and head west down Bloor to University Avenue, where it turned back south to Front.

The peaceful protest was meant to draw attention to the attacks by the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in that country's bloody civil war.

Many protesters voiced their support for the Tamil Tigers, a group formally known as The Liberation Tamil of Tigers Eelam. The Canadian government has the group officially listed as a terrorist organization.

Some protesters showed up dressed in military fatigues in support of the Tigers, and said they want Canada to recognize the group as freedom fighters rather than terrorists.

Toronto police closed several roads in the area for a short time because of the sheer amount of people protesting, including:

Front Street, between York and Bay Streets

York Street, from Front Street to Wellington Street

Traffic was moving slowly through Front Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue

A similar demonstration in January drew about 45,000 people. With the weather warmer this time, this demonstration is expected to be even larger.

The protest began at 1 p.m. and will likely last until 6 p.m. Police are advising motorists to take alternate routes during the afternoon to avoid being caught in slowed-down traffic.

The Greater Toronto Area is home to one of the largest Tamil communities outside Sri Lanka. About 200,000 Tamils live in and around the city.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the civil war that has been ravaging Sri Lanka since 1983.

The United Nations human rights chief recently warned that civilian casualties could reach "catastrophic" proportions if the two sides do not suspend their fighting soon.

Sri Lanka's Tamil minority has been fighting for their own separate state in the north. Their cause is championed by the militant group, the Tamil Tigers. The Singhalese majority and their government oppose the separatist movement.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Galit Solomon

- http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTV...=TorontoNewHome

காணொளி

http://watch.ctv.ca/news/latest/tamil-protest/#clip150655

Protesters urge a halt to Sri Lanka offensive

JON TATTRIE, METRO HALIFAX

Chanting “Stop the genocide,” about 100 Sri Lankan-Canadians marched through Halifax Saturday, slamming Sri Lanka’s actions in the Tamil region of that country.

“The Sri Lankan government claims that it is engaged in a military battle with the Tamil Tigers through this offensive. What they are really doing is annihilating innocent Tamil civilians,” said David Poopalapillai, national spokesman for the Canadian Tamil Congress. “The conditions of civilians trapped in the war zone are deplorable, as they have no access to basic necessities such as shelter food clean water and medicine.”

The march was held to raise awareness and encourage Canadians to write their MPs, pressing our government to push the Sri Lankan government toward peace.

“We want this to stop. We want our government to use its good influences to stop this war,” Poopalapillai said. He added that the Sri Lankan government is using “war on terror” propaganda as cover for its actions.

He said Tamils have been persecuted in Sri Lanka since independence in 1948. The country has been dogged by civil war since the 1980s as the rebel Tamil Tigers clash with government forces

- http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/local/article/197265

இண்டைக்கு நடந்த பேரணியை வார்த்தையில சொல்லிறது எண்டால் அதை ஒரு புத்தகமாக எழுதவேணும். எம்மால் முடியுமான அளவு கனடா வாழ் தமிழர்கள் மிகச்சிறப்பான முறையில உரிமைப்போர் பேரணியை செய்து இருந்தம்.

மிகவும் ஒழுங்கான முறையில எல்லாம் நடந்திச்சிது எண்டுறதோட மட்டும் இல்லாமல், முடிஞ்ச பிறகும் தெருவில இருக்கிற எம்மவர்கள் போட்ட சிறிய குப்பைகளை ஒவ்வொன்றாய் பொறுக்கி எடுத்து பல்லாயிரம் - லட்சம் மக்கள் சிறிது நேரத்துக்கு முன்னம் குறிப்பிட்ட இடத்தில ஒன்றடியாய் கூடி இருந்தார்கள் என்பதற்கு எதுவித ஆதாரமும் இல்லாத வகையில பேரணி முடிஞ்ச பிறகும் கவனமாக குப்பைகளை அகற்றியது வரை எல்லாம் மிகச்சிறப்பாக நடந்து இருந்திச்சிது.

ஆக.. முடிவாக ஒரு வசனத்தில சொல்லிறது எண்டால் தமிழனிடம் அதிகாரம் வந்து - கிடைக்கவேண்டிய உரிமைகள் கிடைச்சு தமிழீழம் அமைஞ்சால் உலகத்துக்கே தமிழீழம் முன்னுதாரணமாய் அமையும் எண்டுறதுக்கு ஓர் சான்றாக இன்றைய பேரணி அமைஞ்சு இருந்திச்சிது.

ஒரு விசயத்தை எப்படி ஒழுங்கமைச்சு செய்து முடிக்கிறது எண்டு எங்கட ஆக்களிட்ட உலகம் படிக்கவேண்டிய விசயம் நிறைய இருக்கிது.

இதுதாண்டா தமிழன்!

நீங்கள் இவற்றின் பின்னூட்டல்களை பார்க்கவில்லை போலும்

நாங்கள் வீதியில் நின்ற நேரத்தில் சிங்களவன் பின்னூட்டல்களாலும் வாக்குகளாலும் எதிராக எழுதியிருக்கிறார்கள்

முதலில் வாக்களியுங்கள் http://www.cp24.com/

பின்னூட்டல்கள் மூடப்பட்டுவிட்டன ஆனால் agree disagree இல் மாற்றங்கள் ஏற்படுத்தலாம் பெரும்பாலான பின்னூட்டல்கள் எதிராக இருக்கின்றன

- http://www.thestar.com/article/603135

Edited March 17, 200916 yr by tamilsvoice

எழுச்சிப் பேரணி என்றால் இதுதான்..! எனக்குத் தெரிந்து தாயக விடயங்களை மறந்துவிட்டு வாழ்ந்து வந்தவர்கள் கூடப் பங்கு பற்றியிருக்கிறார்கள். இதுவரைக்கும் தான் இப்படி ஒரு பேரணியை வாழ்நாளில் கண்டதில்ல என்று 680 செய்தியாளர் கூறியதாக அறிந்தேன்..!

Tamil supporters stage protest against violence in Sri Lanka

Toronto police are advising commuters to avoid the area around Front Street between York and Bay streets, as vehicle traffic in both directions has been blocked due to the ongoing Tamil community demonstrations. York Street will also be closed from Front Street to Wellington Street West.

***

A protest held by Toronto's Tamil community this afternoon was progressing peacefully, Toronto police said, as thousands of Tamil supporters lined downtown sidewalks in opposition to violent attacks by the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in that country.

A human chain of as many as 30,000 protesters was being formed this afternoon, along a massive downtown square created by Yonge, Bloor, University and Front streets.

The rally was expected to create some traffic congestion in the downtown area, after demonstrators at a similar event in January flooded the streets making them impassable. Police were appealing for calm from both the public and protesters, and warned the rally could grow as the afternoon progressed.

"It has been very peaceful and part of the Toronto police service's mission in this demonstration is to allow these protesters to have a peaceful and lawful demonstration, keeping in mind of course public safety," said Const. Wendy Drummond at a press scrum this afternoon.

Hundreds of people were already waving signs on sidewalks in the downtown core by lunch, waving Canadians flags alongside red ones with the tiger insignia of the Tamil Tigers, the separatist group in Sri Lanka that is on Canada’s list of banned terrorist organizations.

Old men holdings signs reading "Respect Tamil Sovereignty," stood next to parka-clad children waving flags larger than themselves, chanting pleas for liberation. Other protesters drove the route in cars, honking and waving flags.

Literature handed out along the route described the Sri Lankan civil war, which has raged for the past 26 years and resulted in the death of an estimated 70,000 people, as a "humanitarian catastrophe." It requested the international community demand a permanent cease fire and recognize the Tamil State.

Police presence along the route was more noticeable than during past events as groups of armed officers walked through the rally. Several ambulances and fire trucks could also be seen along the route. During the protest in January, participants intentionally blocked traffic, some even laying along the road.

Const. Drummond said protest organizers had been in contact with police and rally members were keeping to the public space of sidewalks.

"If we do a re-evaluation and find it may be necessary to close certain road ways, we will let the public know well in advance of those plans being put in place," Const. Drummond said.

The rally is expected to conclude at 6 p.m.

- http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/t...-sri-lanka.aspx

16ம் திகதி The Star பத்திரிகையில் வந்த செய்தி ஏற்கனவே இணைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. 17ம் திகதி வந்த செய்தி

Human chain of Tamils circles city core

Protesters explain why they're demonstrating

Leslie Ferenc

STAFF REPORTER

A sea of protesters flying Canadian and Tamil Eelam flags stood shoulder to shoulder, in some places three and four deep, along busy downtown streets yesterday, saying they were there to speak for those in their homeland of Sri Lanka who cannot.

Tamil protesters estimated about 120,000 people lined sidewalks in a nearly seven-kilometre human chain along Front St., north up Yonge St. to Bloor St., then west to University Ave. and south again to Front.

The chain was broken only at intersections to allow busy midday traffic to flow, but thinned in numbers along Bloor St. and University Ave.

By 5:30 p.m., Front St. was closed as emotionally charged demonstrators congregated in a massive show of strength and solidarity for those they say are facing atrocities back home. At 200,000-plus, Greater Toronto is home to the largest diaspora of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Demonstrators, among them seniors, families with young children, and students, chanted “We want justice. We want it now” and “Free our leader.” They called on the Canadian government to lift its ban on fundraising for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and help broker peace in war-torn Sri Lanka. Many said the only solution is to separate and create a Tamil state and government. They want Tamils to have a say in their future through a referendum to separate.

Canada last year declared the World Tamil Movement, a Canadian group which is alleged to raise money for the Tigers, a terrorist organization. In 2006 it declared the Tigers a terrorist organization.

Here’s what protesters were saying:

Gowry Soma - Bay and Front Sts.:

When he was 7, a Sri Lankan soldier put a gun to Gowry Soma’s chest and asked Soma why he shouldn’t shoot him. Decades later, Soma said he can still feel the cold steel of the barrel. “I came here in 1992 and since then I’ve never been scared for my life,” said Soma, who lives in Guelph. “For the first 14 years of my life, I lived in fear. Tamil people in Sri Lanka still live in fear every day. They are being killed every day. They don’t have food, medicine or shelter. They have no voice. I am their voice today.”

Genit Jeyakanthan – King and Yonge Sts.:

“I’m here because our relatives back home are living in a war-torn area,” said the 23-year-old York University student, whose uncle was killed during an air force bombing recently, leaving behind a newborn baby. “I’m here to ask for a peaceful solution to the conflict and to bring awareness to Canadians and the international community about what is happening there. This is a very emotional issue for our community. We feel nothing is being done by the international community to help to solve the problems back home. The way I see it, we either have one country in war or two countries in peace.”

Meera Nimalraj – College and Yonge Sts.:

“I’m here to help raise awareness among people who are not Tamils about the genocide in Sri Lanka. Not only is the government killing our people, it is also killing our culture, our traditions, our language,” said the 18-year-old University of Toronto student, who brought her younger cousins to the protest. “I want [my cousins] to know that in Sri Lanka, children aren’t as lucky as they are. The least I can do for them is to spread the message of the crimes against them around the world.”

Kulasingham Thanabalasingham – Yonge and Bloor Sts.:

“The Sri Lankan government is killing our people and the Tamil Tigers are the only ones that represent our people,” he said, adding he’s committed to spreading the message of atrocities in Sri Lanka and has been as far as Washington, D.C., to protest the treatment of Tamils in Sri Lanka. “Some people say the Tamil Tigers are terrorists. They are not. They are freedom fighters. They are dying for us all. It’s why the Canadian government must lift the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and help negotiate peace between the two parties, and also provide medical aid, food and financial support because the Tamil people are suffering. Something has to be done for them as soon as possible.”

Guna Subramaniam and his cousin Vithi Thillai – University Ave. and Queen’s Park Circle:

“We want the Canadian government to help stop the fighting, the genocide,” said Subramaniam, who brought his whole family, including his 65-year-old mother. Every day children are dying. Every day we’re asking, asking, asking for help from the Canadian government. And we are not terrorists," said Thillai, who said some of his family members in Sri Lanka have been killed. “The LTTE is the only source to protect the Tamils. The LTTE is the only voice of the Tamils. It is frustrating for us and we are depressed when we hear over and over about our family members and friends who are killed. Yet there’s nothing we can do except go to the streets and ask for help. We hope the international community is listening.”

Nathan Sinnthurai – near University Ave. and College St.:

“I’m here to represent my people and my family in Sri Lanka,” said Sinnthurai, who brought his two young children and wife to the demonstration. He said the protest was important enough to book a half-day off work. “The Sri Lankan military has an operation that covers a 52-kilometre area with 200,000 people living inside it. That area is bombed day and night. My sister’s husband was killed by a bomb last year in March. He was a lawyer. I’m here for him and the other innocent people. The Sri Lankan government has also killed many journalists who write about the situation. Many journalists have left Sri Lanka where there is no freedom of the media. It’s why we have to tell the world what is happening there. We need to help our people.”

Kirupananthy Sripathmanathan – University Ave. and Queen St. W.:

“Everyone here has relatives or friends that have died,” said Sripathmanathan, as husband Sripathmanathan Vadivelu translated. “The government is killing us and even though we talk, talk, talk, no one is helping us. We want our own country. We want to be separate. We want freedom and a life there, like in Canada, where people can speak and connect with their families and be free. We are not terrorists. We only want to be free.”

- http://www.thestar.com/Article/603446

The Toronto SUNல் 16ம் ,17ம் திகதி வந்த செய்திகள் கீழே இணைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

Tamil community forms human chain

Tens of thousands of Toronto Tamils took to the streets today to protest attacks by the Sri Lankan military in that country's bloody civil war.

Waving the red and gold flags of the Tamil Tigers alongside Canadian flags, the protesters mixed chants for a separate Tamil homeland with calls for the Canadian government to take action to help stop what they call a genocide in their homeland.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, declared a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 1997 and by Canada in 2006, have been fighting for a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in northern Sri Lanka since 1983. More than 70,000 people have been killed.

Fighting has escalated in recent months, as the military routed the rebels from most of their de facto state in the north and cornered them in a narrow strip of land along the northeastern coast along with tens of thousands of trapped civilians.

"Genocide is going on in Sri Lanka," protester Doug Eiss told the Sun. "The Canadian government must put a stop to these things. Everyday people are getting killed."

He said the protests have to make a difference because innocent people are dying each day in his homeland.

"Stop the war there, stop the war and start peace talks immediately," Eiss said.

The afternoon protest – which saw a human chain stretch from Front St. up University Ave. across Bloor St. and then south along Yonge St. – brought traffic both on the road and the sidewalks to a near standstill during the evening rush hour.

While Toronto Police expect to have a crowd estimate available tomorrow, the Tamil community had expected 75,000 protesters and believe they exceeded that with the actual turnout.

Young Tamil-Canadians Araby Sivananthan, 16, and Thebana Gnanakrishnan, 16, said they were protesting because they want Canada to appeal to the United Nations for help for Tamils in Sri Lanka.

"We're on the streets to get awareness," Sivananthan said.

The two Grade 11 students said the thousands on the streets are making a difference because passersby keep coming up and asking them about the situation in Sri Lanka.

"If that's what we need to get people's awareness and to get Canada to take action then yes we'll (keep coming out)," Sivananthan said.

Toronto Police kept a heavy presence along the protest route to ensure public safety and made an early appeal for residents to be patient if they were trying to travel downtown.

Late in the day, police closed Front St. between York and Bay Sts. as the Tamil community flowed to a vigil in front of Union Station.

Tonight the force thanked both the Tamil community and residents for a peaceful and orderly protest.

Toronto is home to approximately 250,000 Tamils, one of the largest populations outside Sri Lanka, and a number of protests have been staged.

– With files from The Canadian Press

http://www.torontosun.com/news/2009/03/16/...pf-8769776.html

Thousands protest Tamil treatment

Tens of thousands of Toronto Tamils took to the streets yesterday to protest attacks by the Sri Lankan military in that country's bloody civil war.

Waving red and gold Tamil Tigers flags -- along with the Canadian flag -- protesters mixed chants for a separate Tamil homeland with calls for the Canadian government to take action to help stop what they call a genocide in their homeland.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, declared a terrorist organization by the U.S. in 1997, and by Canada in 2006, have been fighting for a separate homeland for ethnic Tamils in northern Sri Lanka since 1983. More than 70,000 people have been killed.

Fighting has escalated as the military routed the rebels from most of their de facto state in the north and cornered them in a narrow strip of land along the northeastern coast along with tens of thousands of trapped civilians. Toronto Tamils have repeatedly taken to the streets during the last few months to protest the escalating conflict.

Toronto's population of about 250,000 people of Tamil background is one of the largest outside Sri Lanka.

"Genocide is going on in Sri Lanka," protester Doug Eiss told the Sun yesterday. "The Canadian government must put a stop to these things. Everyday people are getting killed."

The afternoon protest -- which saw a human chain stretch from Front St., along University Ave. and Bloor St. before going south along Yonge St. -- brought traffic on the road and the sidewalks to a near standstill during the evening rush hour.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandg...774806-sun.html

இவ்வூடகத்தில் வந்த காணொளிகளை இணைப்பினூடாக(link) பார்க்கலாம்

http://www.torontosun.com/news/2009/03/16/...pf-8773216.html

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandg...pf-8773216.html