TYO - Canada
JUNE 2008
Vol - 4
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
Those who fear guilt, if they commit a fault small as a millet seed, will consider it to be as large as a palmyra tree. - Thirukkural (Verse 433)
To work towards the enhancement of the Tamil Nation and to provide an avenue for the betterment of the
Dear Treasured Youth,
Tamil youth in Canada
Welcome to the June edition of Tamil Youth Organization of Canada’s REACH, the e-newsletter for a youth readership. This marks the fourth issue of REACH, which in four short months has gained a readership of one thousand-plus. REACH extends a warm thank you for the continued support and positive feedback.
- TYO’s Vision
For the month of June, we commemorate Maanavar Ezhuchi Naal or Students’ Uprising day in undying respect and remembrance of Pon. Sivakumar, the first student martyr. Thank you to those who submitted their insights on the preservation of the Tamil language. This can be found on page 5 of this month’s issue. As always, we encourage the voice of our youth. Please follow the guidelines listed and continue submitting your work. To ensure you receive all emails from REACH, please add reach@canadatyo. org to your address book or list of safe senders.
INSIDE - REACH Historical View
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In solidarity, TYO – Canada
YOUTH Actions
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Future Events
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YOUTH Submissions
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Get Involved
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Message from TYO - Canada
JUNE 2008
TYO - Canada
Vol - 4
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
Historical View
The first Tamil militant to die for the Tamil Eelam cause
In 1970, Ponnudorai Satyaseelan founded the Tamil Manavar Peravai ( Tamil Students League), which was joined by Sivakumaran. Bandaranaike had in the meanwhile begun to take a hard line towards Tamils, cutting off foreign exchange for Tamil students going to India for higher studies, banning the import of Tamil films, books and Magazines from Tamil Nadu, and proscribing the small Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party in Jaffna. The formation of Tamil United Front in 1972 led to the Tamil Elaingyar Peravia (TYL, Tamil Youth League) in January 1973. It was founded by some 40 youths, many of whom subsequently were in the forefront militant movement. The TYL drew support from Thangathurai, the TELO leader. Satyaseelan’s arrest in February 1973 set off the second round of mass arrests in Jaffna and virtually crippled the TYL as well as the older Tamil Students League. Several young men languished in prison until 1977, although some gained amnesty on the eve of the Kankesanthurai by-election in 1975. By then two developments had occurred in the Indian subcontinent which had a bearing on the Tamils. One was the JVP insurrection which was stamped out. The second was the India Pakistan war which led to the birth of Bangladesh. Both events took place in 1971. The JVP was never popular among Tamils, although it did have marginal support in Jaffna. In 1973, the Sri Lankan navy seized a boat belonging to Kuttimani filled with dynamite. Kuttimani fled to India, but was arrested and deported from Tamil Nadu to face a Sri Lankan prison sentence. Tamil Nadu was then governed by M.Karunanithi’s DMK party. Jaffna witnessed its first case of death by cyanide poisoning the next year. Sivakumaran had been lying low for a while, but
took an active interest in the 1974 International Tamil Conference in Jaffna. He had been influenced by his parents’ pro-Federal Party views. He studied at Urumpirai Hindu College- which was to several recruits to the Eelam campaign- up to the advanced level, majoring in Chemistry. He is the only one among the Tamils of that era who is remembered fondly even today by everyone. He was a very sensitive person. He believed that despite the need for militancy, the Federal Party was important and often compared Chelvanayagam with Mahatma Gandhi and the boys with Subash Chandra Bose. He was a restless character. He would discuss all night, emphasising the need for an armed struggle. Since breaking off from Thangathurai, Sivakumaran had set up his group, which came to be known as the Sivakumaran’s group. The 1972 & 1973 mass arrests had slowed down his pace. His contemporaries say he was a shattered man after the Tamil Conference fiasco. He had worked for its success, and it pained him that nine people died for no fault of theirs. Since then he had passionately advocated vengeanceagainst Duraiyapah, the Mayor, and a Sinhalese police officer he held responsible for the deaths. On June 5, 1974, Sivakumaran was trapped by the police.... He was 17 yrs of age and knowing about police torture if he were caught, he used to carry a cyanide pill. On that day he swallowed it without so much as an afterthought and died almost instantly. Thus was born Tamil Eelam’s cyanide culture. Hundreds thronged Sivakumaran’s funeral. All shops in Jaffna downed their shutters
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in mourning and hundreds of pamphlets were distributed in the town and its outskirts, eulogising the martyr as Eelam’s Bhagat Singh. At the funeral, several TYL members pledged collectively to continue the fight for an independent state. Tamils later put up a bronze statue outside Jaffna in the memory of the young man - it showed a defiant youth, his clinched fist out stretched and dangling a broken chain. Courtesy: http://www.tamilnation.org/
TYO - Canada
JUNE 2008
Vol - 4
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
TYO – Canada commemorates Maanavar Eluchchi Naal Tamil Youth Organization of Canada hosted the TYO Soccer Tournament June 7, 2008 in respect and memory of Pon. Sivakumaran. In 1974, student Pon Sivakumaran sacrificed his life in the name of freedom. Maanavar Ezhuchi Naal or Students’ Uprising day originates from this act of heroism and serves as a reminder that the strength of students in togetherness holds the potential to achieve wonders. The champions and runner ups of the tournament will be presented with their trophies and entrance tickets to Tamils’ Day at Canada’s Wonderland this upcoming August. Read more
Press Releases TYO - Canada Commends General Assembly decision on Sri Lanka’s Seat on the Human Rights Council May 22, 2008
YOUTH Actions
The General Assembly’s decision to not re-elect Sri Lanka to the Human Rights Council, is certainly one to be commended. As the human rights body of the United Nations, the Human Rights Council represents the protection of such rights internationally. Moreover, it is a definite criterion that those who hold seats on this eminent council be defenders and protectors of human rights within their own nations. In this light, Tamil Youth Organization of Canada applauds this decision, considering Sri Lanka’s deplorable record of human rights. In the past few years specifically, the Sri Lankan government, with the aid of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, have been implicated in numerous rights abuses, including the increasingly common forced disappearances and assassinations of individuals within the minority Tamil community of the nation. Read more
TYO – Canada condemns the attack on civilians in Vanni May 24, 2008 The Sri Lankan Army’s Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) has killed sixteen civilians in a cowardly claymore attack on a Hiace van returning from Mulangavil hospital. Among the deceased, are five children, and seven females. The death toll is feared to rise as the conditions of four wounded civilians continue to deteriorate. Such a callous attack on unsuspecting civilians is not unusual of the Sri Lankan Army. The premeditated attack on the Sencholai orphanage in August of 2006, which claimed the lives of sixty-one school-aged children serves as a mere example of the many human rights violations committed with impunity. The deliberate and systematic assault on Tamil civilians is evidenced in the early February death of eleven school-aged children caused by a claymore mine implanted by the Sri Lankan army. Read more
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JUNE 2008
TYO - Canada
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
Tamil Day 2008 Venue: Canada’s Wonderland Date: August 02, 2008 Host: TYO-Canada
Future Events
Help the Homeless
An initiative is being taken by the members of the Tamil Youth Organization in order to help the homeless people in Toronto area. More information about this event will be announced soon.
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Vol - 4
TYO - Canada
JUNE 2008
Vol - 4
REACH
YOUTH Subimssions
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
Language is the nucleus of a prosperous race.Written, read, or spoken it is through language that one identifies themselves. That being said, there is no doubt that learning one’s mother tongue is of the utmost importance. I am not writing this article to bluntly encourage the readers to become fluent in all aspects of Tamil, but instead to present my ideas as to why it is important for our generation to preserve our language and ultimately our culture. After having read this article I would hope that the readers themselves will take the initiative to become more aware of events surrounding them, whether directly or indirectly. I am sure the majority of readers are well aware that there has been a civil war occurring officially for about three decades now in our homeland. Although the modern world has been led to believe that this war is strictly over territory they have failed to efficiently recognize the main factors that ultimately led to an armed struggle. One of those main factors was education. I am proud to say that Tamils have an extensive history of valuing education. We promote, encourage, and honor education amongst our culture. That being said it is important to recognize that what is happening in Sri Lanka is genocide. The Sri Lankan government has targeted a minority and through roughly half a century has pushed its genocidal constraints on the Tamil community. It is important to realize that if one wants to erase the identity of an entire race it is best to attack the language of that race. I am afraid to admit that this is exactly what has been happening to the Tamil language. The genocidal campaign occurring back home has targeted the Tamil language in all aspects including past, present, and future. When the Jaffna library that contained over 97, 000 unique books and manuscripts was burned in 1981, a piece of the Tamil language burned with it. Many of
those manuscripts and books cannot be retrieved and thus we have been stripped a good deal of our past. Our Tamil family back home is valiantly fighting to preserve our Tamil identity in the face of a government that is determined to strip away our liberties as human beings. With this said I’m sure the readers have become more aware of how much responsibility the Tamil diaspora actually has in preserving the Tamil language and culture. Allow me to point out that the government likes the idea of Tamils migrating to western countries such as Canada. The government encourages migration in the hopes that Tamils will adapt to an addicting western culture and eventually lose their language and traditions over the generations to come. As ridiculous as that may sound that has become a constant struggle here in the western world. More and more Tamils have gone from calling themselves Tamil, to Tamil-Canadian, to Canadian-Tamil. In no way am I saying one should not identify themselves as Canadian, all I am implying is that you be proud of your history and represent yourself in that manner. After growing up in a generation that has developed somewhat of a broken Tamil dialect, I fear that the future generations to come will continue to develop this broken Tamil to an extent where the language itself is at jeopardy. I am sure you can clearly see my reason for concern. So what should you the reader do? My main advice to the readers is to build a sense of pride and take initiative on preserving our language and culture. For the
Language in the Light
∂g÷~
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parent readers, it is your responsibility to teach your children Tamil whether it is in your own households or by enrolling them in Tamil classes. It is your responsibility to provide your children the right to their heritage. To the students, it is up to you to become involved in the community and enhance your language skills, whether it is through joining organizations that will practice those skills, or enrolling in Tamil study classes. I myself have taken the initiative to become fluent in all aspects of my language because I have realized the importance of it. The final message I want to leave with the readers is that we are the future! It is vital that initiative is taken now rather than later. We must be the ones to set the stage and bring our identity onto the table for the rest of the world to see. We must preserve and expose to the world a magnificent heritage that has been passed down through countless generations. Furthermore, we must express to the world that our language and heritage will remain eternal in the face of any opposition. Regards, Siva Vimalachandran VP Equity Commissioner, York Federation of Students Local 68, Canadian Federation of Students
JUNE 2008
TYO - Canada
Vol - 4
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
“Ignorance is not innocence but sin.” - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Speak Out As Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of the history, plight and suffering of the Tamil people. Understanding is crucial. And with understanding comes awareness, the most essential step in the path to progress. Ignorance is not bliss. • • • • • •
Stay updated with recent news Write to your local politicians Attend rallies Enlighten non-Tamil peers Write a poem, article, essay Research, understand and recite
Get Involved
Join TYO Tamil Youth Organization is always looking for hard-working, dedicated youth who would like to join in serving the Tamil community. As an organization with the interests of Tamil youth at heart, TYO provides opportunities for Canadian Tamil youth to network, contribute, and develop their skills in various areas. Interested in getting involved? Please contact us at contact@canadatyo.org Or visit us at www.canadatyo.org
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TYO - Canada
JUNE 2008
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
For our next month’s issue: Submit your written work based on
‘Your perspective about Black July’ Please follow the guidelines below. Don’t forget to add reach@canadatyo.org to your e-mail safe list. We appreciate all of your time and effort. TYO - Canada
Guidelines:
Get Involved
o All submissions must be in English o You may create your own title for your work o Written work should be within 750 words (or 2 pages letter sized), 12 pt font (Times) o Can be written in any form (article, research essay, poem, story, etc.) o Include your name, contact info, and University/ College/ High School (If applicable) o Submit before June 30th, 2008 o Must be e-mailed to reach@canadatyo.org with the subject ‘Reach-July 2008’ o Please attach a word file or copy and paste your work in your e-mail
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Vol - 4