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Bring Sri Lankan refugees to Canada, Ottawa urged

by lalith | May 19, 2009 at 04:30 am

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OTTAWA AND TORONTO — The federal government should launch emergency efforts to bring thousands of Sri Lankans from refugee camps to join relatives in Canada, the country's largest Tamil-Canadian organization says.

The civil war is officially over and the cultish leader of the Tamil Tigers, Velupillai Prabhakaran, is said by Sri Lanka to be dead, but many of the more than 250,000 Tamils in Canada fear their relatives are still suffering persecution and harm, notably in the camps housing almost 200,000 people displaced by the violence.

At a Tamil rally in Toronto yesterday, Sutha Nadaraja, 42, stood with his wife and two young children. Among those in displacement camps are four of Mr. Nadaraja's relatives: two uncles and an aunt on his wife's side, and a cousin on his.

“Of course, we are worried for them. Three are wounded, but we didn't hear how badly,” Mr. Nadaraja said. “We don't want news that our friends and family have died. We want to save them.”

This seems to be a plausible step taken by the Tamils in Canada. Whether the Canadian Government will bow down to the so called Tamil pressure in Canada is yet to be seen.

Considering the other side of the story, the very relatives these expatriates left behind have suddenly become a group wanted in Canada. If they were so interested in getting their relatives down they should have started the process a long time ago,

As it is, the Canadian Government has experienced the taste of Tamil wrath, when the law of the land was taken into their own hands and highways were blocked among other displays of ill discipline. It is also a well known fact that Canada helps most of the Tamil diaspora by way of doles etc.

Wouldn't it be better for Canada to send most of these Tamil people, especially the ones on the dole, back so that they could help rebuild Sri Lanka, starting with their own yards?

This will help both countries.

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albertacowpoke

at 05:12 on May 19th, 2009

If refugees are to be taken out of Sri Lanka, I think it will be because of a plea by the UNHCR. In that case several countries will be asked to share the burden of new refugees. With the recent comments of Jason Kenny, Minister of Immigration, I somehow doubt that the Harper government has any appetite for accepting refugees. This could change, with a change of government. Thanks for your post lalith.

lalith

at 05:20 on May 19th, 2009

Thanks poke.

But right now, isn't a higher percentage of the Tamil diaspora there enjoying refugee status(only) already? I'm not too sure of the total there. But what I heard was about 400,000.

It will always good to have our Tamil brothers and sisters (not terrorists) back in Sri Lanka so that we could work together on rebuilding the country and live in harmony?

CeeGee

at 05:59 on May 19th, 2009

Hi Lalith,

What is disturbing is that the picture posted by you shows 3 little kids holding placards.

Do you see a similarity.

The LTTE used such kids as Child Soldiers.

All such refugees should now heave a sigh of relief as their young children are now safe from forced recruitment in to LTTE cadres.

As time goes by, the Canadian Govt. will be able to see & assess the commitment of the Sri Lankan Govt., which should give them the chance to repatriate the Tamil refugees back to Sri Lanka. Thus, saving a huge sums of money which is presently being doled out by the Canadians.

lalith

at 10:49 on May 19th, 2009

True.

Send them back Canada.

We would love to have our Tamil brothers and sisters back.

As a token of gratitude, you can keep the terrorist supporters. And, if you want a highway or two blocked in an emergency, you can use them. Fair trade?

photo catcher (not verified)

at 11:53 on May 19th, 2009

I personally love these ltte photos...such entertainment!!

However, I think it is a wonderful idea. I mean, to reunite all relatives in Canada.

After all, it will be difficult to leave the cool arctic climes and the benefits of a developed country even for a matter as important as reuniting with relatives. If they do come here...it would be anyone's guess what they would rally for.

Sorry Poke, Lalith, Cee Gee...we don't have enough roads that could be blocked off each time they think of something ridiculous like wanting the GoSL to bring a piece of the Arctic down to the tropics or give them the comforts of the west etc. etc.

We need to build our country and we deserve peace, unity and harmony; after a long, long time.

Please Canada...send only those who sincerely want to come and rebuild their beautiful homeland. Or else, they are yours on a golden platter with love from Sri Lanka!!

nirosh (not verified)

at 12:03 on May 19th, 2009

I agree... now that the war is over, Canada should take steps to send back all the refugees to Sri Lanka. Anyone know if this has already been covered in Canadian media? Tax payers deserve to know that their hard earned dollars do not need to wasted anymore.