TYO - Canada
OCTOBER 2008
Vol - 8
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
To cherish great men and make them his own, is the most difficult of all difficult things - Thirukkural (Verse 443)
To work towards the enhancement of the Tamil Nation and to provide an avenue for the betterment of the Tamil youth in Canada
Dear treasured youth, Wakeup young souls, the sun sets only to rise brighter than ever the next morning. As such, REACH is once again shining right your way with the latest news and issues in our society.
- TYO’s Vision
REACH can only be as bright the readers that support it, and for that we thank you for your commitment with the newsletter and TYO. This month’s topic of the current situation in Sri Lanka is on page 6 of this issue. On pages 2 and 3, we’ve given you a brief history of genocide that happened around the world. Important information regarding the Tamil IDP Crisis are on pages 6-9. We hope you get involved on pages 10 and 11. To ensure you receive all e-mails from REACH, please add reach@canadatyo.org to your address book or list of safe senders. In solidarity, TYO – Canada
INSIDE - REACH Historical View
p. 2
YOUTH Actions
p. 4
YOUTH Submissions
p. 6
IDP Crisis - Campaign
p. 7
Get Involved
p. 10
Message from TYO - Canada
OCTOBER 2008
TYO - Canada
Vol - 8
REACH
Historical View
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
What is genocide? The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1948 and came into effect in January 1951. It defines genocide in legal terms, and is the culmination of years of campaigning by lawyer Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term by reference to the Simele massacre, the Holocaust, and the Armenian Genocide. All participating countries are advised to prevent and punish actions of genocide in war and in peacetime. The number of states that have ratified the convention is currently 140. Article 2 of the Convention defines it as: Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such: - Killing members of the group; - Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; - Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; - Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; - Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. 1. Armenia
More than 1,000,000 deaths (1915–1917)
HISTORY REPEATING
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Article 2 of the Convention defines genocide as: ... acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.
Large scale, mass atrocities of a genocidal level occurred when Armenian nationalists began to demand greater autonomy under the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the nineteenth century. Veiled from the international community by the chaos of World War I, the Ottoman government intentionally destroyed over 1 million Armenians from 1915 - 1923.
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a series of targeted exterminations and massacres that still haunts the minds of survivors today. 3. Cambodia
2. Holocaust
Cambodia: 2,000,000 deaths (1975–1978)
6,000,000 deaths of Jews; 5,000,000 deaths of Poles, Roma, communists and other “undesirables” (1938–1945) As Adolf Hitler’s Nationalist Socialist regime pursued its policies of Aryan supremacism, the Nazi regime began to eliminate all “undesirable” races: the Jews, the Slavs, gypsies, political and religious dissidents, homosexuals and the disabled. Businesses were looted, targeted populations were deported en masse to concentration camps and, ultimately, 6 million Jews and 5 million “undesirables” lost their lives in
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As Pol Pot came to power in the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge began to take over the majority of Cambodia. Because the United States’ bombing campaign during the Vietnam War weakened Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge was eventually able to enter the capital to institute a new, authoritarian regime. All opposition to the regime was exterminated in a genocidal campaign. Between 1975 and 1979, over 2 million Cambodians were targeted for destruction. 4. Bosnia With the death of Josip Tito, Bosnia’s long time authoritarian dictator, the combination of the emergence of nationalist politics and the militarization of Serbia and Croatia sparked the eruption of a three-
TYO - Canada
OCTOBER 2008
Vol - 8
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
SRI LANKA Bosnia: 200,000 deaths (1992–1995) sided civil war between the Bosnian-Serbs, Bosnian-Croats, and Bosnian-Muslims. Within this war, Bosnian Serbs attempted to ethnically cleanse strategic regions in Bosnia to accomplish their mission of creating a “Greater Serbia.” The scale of atrocities committed against the Muslim populations in various areas of Bosnia by the Serbs was genocidal. Over 200,000 Muslims have been killed or starved and tortured to death in concentration camps between 1992 and 1995.
Historical View
5. Rwanda
The gross, consistent, and continuing violations of the rights of the Tamil people, by the Sri Lankan government and its agencies during the past several decades, include grave breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Genocide Convention, and the Geneva Conventions relating to the humanitarian law of armed conflict.
800,000 deaths (April 6-July of 1994) Tensions in Rwanda between the oncedominant minority Tutsis and the majority Hutus periodically erupted in anti-Tutsi violence since the Hutus gained power after independence from Belgium in 1962. After a civil war between exiled Tutsi rebels and the Hutu government ended in a ceasefire and power-sharing agreement, Hutu extremists within and outside the government began to prepare a Tutsi extermination campaign. On April 6, 1994, the Hutu President’s plane was shot.
Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_the_Prevention_and_Punishment_of_the_ Crime_of_Genocide http://www.genocideintervention.net/educate/genocide
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OCTOBER 2008
TYO - Canada
Vol - 8
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
Tree Planting More pictures canadatyo.org/gallery.php
Our tree planting event took place on Sunday, Ocotber 5th. from 10am-1pm. This was our second tree planting happened this year. Trees were planted at Cedarvale park. TYO members were also able to see the trees planted last year. It was seen as a motivation to enroll into more environment related activities by our members.
Press Releases Youth Response to Tamil IDP Crisis
YOUTH Actions
TYO- Canada appreciates Students of Tamil Nadu for uniting hands together as ‘Tamils’
October 28, 2008
October 17, 2008 In light, to the recent class strike that was held by the students in all over Tamil Nadu, Canada Tamil Youth Organization (TYO – Canada) proudly takes this opportunity to show gratitude to all Tamil Nadu students for taking the step forward, to voice out for their brothers and sisters living in the North-Eastern part of Sri Lanka. As Tamils from all over the world units to condemn against the assault and corruptive abuse of International laws committed by Sri Lankan government, Tamil Nadu students initiated and participated in the strike to pressure the Indian government to cease any support given to obnoxious Sri Lankan government. The Tamil students took part in the strike, by not attending or conducting any of their classes in most of the district schools in Tamil Nadu. Read more canadatyo.org/media.php
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The alarming growth of the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka in the northern Tamil populated areas have reached unprecedented levels leaving more than 240, 000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs). Current state of affairs has left people in dire living conditions without even the basic necessities such as food, water, shelter and medical supplies. The humanitarian and social infrastructures, already in a dreadful state due to the threedecades-old conflict have further deteriorated. Tamil Youth Organization of Canada (TYO-Canada) and several community partners have launched a campaign to bring awareness to the issue of the Tamil IDP crisis in an attempt to ensure immediate International humanitarian intervention.
TYO - Canada
OCTOBER 2008
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
Thrilling Dance Competition in Germany Tamil youth in Germany successfully held their first Dance competition in Oberkavusan city on October 10, 2008. The competition started with a houseful of eager audience at 1:40 PM after paying tribute to the warheros. Dancers were seen competing under 5 divisions and were able to dance for their choosing of Western music, Eelam songs or Indian Cinema songs.
Youth Around the World
In the midst of the competition, special guest Immanual Adikalar gave an outstanding speech which received a standing ovation. The sensational but energized event ended with prize giving and youth singing the famous Tamil song “Nambungal Thamil Eelam Naalai Pirakkum�
24 Hours in support Tamil youth in Switzerland protested for 24 hours continuously without sleep in order to bring awareness about the current IDP situation in Sri Lanka. They also extended their support to the students in Tamil Nadu for raising voice for the Eelam Tamils during this crisis. The protest ended with emotional speeches from the youth and their parents.
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Vol - 8
OCTOBER 2008
TYO - Canada
Vol - 8
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
The Time Is Now
We are afforded the right to go to school, the freedom to complain about it, and the privilege to call Canada our homeland – but we can never forget our motherland. We need to remember that we have other obligations as well. We need to support our Tamil people back home. If there was ever a time for us to take action it is now. If there was ever a time to unite, to mobilize, and to spread the plight of Tamil people, it is now. The humanitarian crisis is worsening, and we cannot afford to let it continue. On September 5, 2008, all UN workers were told to leave Sri Lanka. There are
YOUTH Subimssions
As students, we often get caught up in our own lives. Between school, work, and volunteering, the crisis taking place back home is not always in the forefront of our minds.As we walk into our crowded exam rooms, cursing our professors for making our lives miserable, our brothers and sisters back home are filing into crammed refugee camps. As we sit in our cafeterias, munching down our favourite meals, our
brothers and sisters are being denied access to food. As we sit at our computers, struggling to finish our assignments, our brothers and sisters are being denied access to education.
now concerns that without any international monitors, the already deteriorating situation will become worse. Although the aid workers did not want to leave, fearing the escalation of violence towards Tamil people, they were forced to do so for their own security. More than 260,000 people have been displaced from the endless fighting and the devastating tsunami of 2004. To make matters worse, the rainy season is fast approaching. With inadequate housing and shelter already a problem, the rain will only make conditions worse and spread illnesses. Thousands of people have been left without medicine, food, and other essential items. In the past three months alone, hundreds of Tamils have been killed. Aerial bombing and artillery shelling have affected civilians of all ages. Teachers say they spend more time counselling the children after these attacks rather than teaching them. As students and young adults, we have the power to make tremendous differences. To know that our own people are suffering the way they are is disheartening. But we need to use that pain to motivate each other and educate as many people as we can. We have loud voices, strong steps, and a fierce presence. There are over 250,000 Tamil people in Toronto alone. Just imagine the power, the force, the strength we have together. Let us use the freedom of speech we have been given in Canada. Let us use the freedom of assembly that is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to shed light on the Tamil IDP crisis. Let us act now. By: Anuba Thiagarajah
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TYO - Canada
OCTOBER 2008
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
Tamil IDP Crisis
TAMIL IDP CRISIS
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Vol - 8
AWARENESS WEEK www.TamiliDPCrisis.org
NOV
3-7 AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
NOV
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MEET YOUR MP
NOV
5-7 72 HOURS IDP VIGIL
TYO - Canada
OCTOBER 2008
Vol - 8
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
“Open your eyes for HART” Tamil Youth Organization of Canada (TYOCanada) and several community partners have launched a campaign to bring awareness to the issue of the Tamil IDP crisis in an attempt to ensure immediate International humanitarian intervention.
Tamil IDP Crisis
“Open your eyes for HART” Campaign is set to take place in the week of November 02nd to November 09th, 2008 across the Greater Toronto Area. Canadian HART (Humanitarian Appeal for the Relief of Tamils) is a community wide coalition formed to highlight the IDP crisis.
Phone: 416. 838. 9637 E-mail: info@tamilidpcrisis.org
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November 3 to November 7, 2008 Awareness campaign Distribute information brochures, participate in the post-card campaign, and speak or write to your fellow Canadians about the Tamil IDP crisis. November 4, 2008 Meet your MP Meet with your Member of Parliament, NGOs, Media and other policy makers to inform about the Tamil IDP crisis and to urge immediate Canadian intervention. November 5 to November 7, 2008 72 Hours Tamil IDP Vigil Participate in the Vigil aimed at highlighting the sufferings of over 300,000 displaced people.
OCTOBER 2008
TYO - Canada
Vol - 8
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
“There are times, young fellah, when every one of us must make a stand for human right and justice, or you never feel clean again.” - Lord John Roxton in The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Speak Out - Tamil IDP Crisis As Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of the suffering of the Tamil people. Understanding is crucial. And with understanding comes awareness, the most essential step in the path to progress.
Get Involved
- Facebook Profile Pictures change (please add the IDP-Flyers to your respective accounts and create awareness. www.tamilidpcrisis.org) - Brochure Distribution (Pick up brochures from Canadian HART and distribute it at your schools, work, and in your neighbourhood. Explain what it’s about.) - Write (Publish your written work on your school newsletters and also send us a copy to news@tamilidpcrisis.org) - Create Videos (Upload your personal concerns regarding the plight of the Tamil people on www.tamilidpcrisis.org website.) - Endorsement Letters (Speak to other human rights/ political organizations and ask them to support this campaign)
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
OCTOBER 2008
REACH
Official Newsletter of TYO - Canada
For our next month’s issue: Submit your written work based on
‘A change you’d like to see for the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Vanni area.’ 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 November 20th, 2008 o Must be e-mailed to reach@canadatyo.org with the subject ‘Reach-Nov 2008’ o Please attach a word file or copy and paste your work in your e-mail
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Vol - 8
www.dropfees.ca Wednesday, November 05, 2008 (10:00 am)
Supported by: TAMIL YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF CANADA TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UTSC TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UTSG TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ MCMASTER TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ YORK U TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UOIT TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ RYERSON U TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ BROCK U TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UTM