First, we would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to appear before this Committee on a topic that is of grave importance to the 300,000 Tamil Canadians across this nation. We appear before you not only as members of the Tamil community who are deeply concerned about the plight of Tamils in the NorthEast of Sri Lanka, but more importantly as Canadians who share in promoting our national values of peace and justice around the world.

For over 60 years, Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka have faced oppression, discrimination and violence unleashed upon them by successive Sri Lankan governments. Today, the 25 year armed conflict has reached a crossroads. Due to intense fighting that resumed after the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) unilaterally broke a six year old ceasefire in January 2008, over a quarter of a million Tamils are entrapped within a small sliver of land in the midst of the conflict zone between the GoSL and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Thousands have been killed due to arbitrary shelling by the GoSL into so-called “safe zones”.

Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people, mostly women and children are on the brink of starvation. Hospitals have been deliberately attacked by shelling, and convoys transporting the sick and wounded have been targeted. Human rights defenders, aid workers, and journalists are at risk for speaking out against human rights abuses perpetrated by the GoSL.

Despite calls for an immediate ceasefire by the highest officials of the United Nations such as Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, and the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, international NGOs, and foreign governments such as Canada, the GoSL has refused to consider a ceasefire and is vigorously pursuing an aggressive military campaign against the Tamil population in an effort to “wipe out the Tamil Tigers” – in effect, they are wiping out the remaining Tamil population in the Northeastern Sri Lanka.

Not only has the GoSL rejected the international calls for a ceasefire, the
government is also blocking international humanitarian aid from reaching civilians
trapped in the conflict area in direct violation of international humanitarian law. In
September 2008, in preparation for its military onslaught in the Tamil areas, the
GoSL ordered all international aid workers to leave Tamil areas with only the ICRC and World Food Programme remaining today.

With the escalation in violence the ICRC has stated they are prevented from effectively operating in the area. The GoSL is also accusing international aid groups operating in Sri Lanka, such as CARE International of supporting terrorism and perpetuating the armed conflict as reported on the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defense
website.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian catastrophe in Sri Lanka is deteriorating each day leading to gross and systemic human rights violations. The ICRC has stated in its latest operational update dated March 17, 2009, that “tens of thousands of people confined to a rapidly-shrinking area have headed for the coast to escape the fighting, in search of safety, food and medical care. But numbers in the coastal belt held by the LTTE have increased drastically over recent weeks, and clean water is scarce. The area is affected by shelling every day, and the cramped conditions and the lack of water and proper sanitation are putting people at risk of epidemics.”

The Government Agent for the Mullaithivu District stated in a letter requesting much needed food rations, dated March 5, 2009 that “Everyday the IDPs come to us and are pressurizing us for the food, but we are not in a position to give them a correct answer. These innocent people including children and women are in a pathetic condition and very soon they will die due to starvation. The Regional Director of Health Services, Mullaitivu has informed us that 13 people have already died due to starvation.”

The breakdown of the rule of law in Sri Lanka is also apparent. According to the UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, Sri Lanka has the highest number of disappearances in the world next to Iraq. The former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.
Mangala Samaraweera was quoted in the Sunday Leader, admitting that a person is abducted every five hours in Sri Lanka. He went on to state that “Kidnappings, abductions and killings have become common incidents.”

Sri Lanka is also ranked the most dangerous place in the world for journalists and media workers. Amnesty International reports that 15 journalists have been killed in Sri Lanka since 2006. The most recent attack on the media occurred last month with the so called “arrest” of Mr. N. Vithyatharan, the editor of the only functioning Tamil daily in Northern Sri Lanka who continues to be detained to this day. Mr. Vithyatharan has a brother living in Canada and was recently in Canada last fall speaking out about the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka.

This is the bleak reality that faces Tamils in Sri Lanka. Each passing day, as we hear the news of more deaths and destruction on the island, Tamil Canadians are at a loss as to what to do. Debate about the Sri Lankan-Tamil conflict is not simply an academic or political exercise for the Tamil Canadian community. These are not just statistics and numbers for our community, rather these are our loved ones, our family and friends who are suffering immense hardships, day in and day out.

Over the past several months Tamil Canadians from all walks of life, from infants, to senior citizens, from Vancouver to Halifax have taken part in demonstrations, rallies, human chains, and vigils to bring awareness of the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka and to call for an immediate ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid to reach those entrapped in the conflict zone.

During the Committee proceedings on Monday, several members referred to the role of the Tamil Diaspora in this conflict. The role of the Tamil Diaspora, in particular Tamil Canadians, is vital. However, there is a deep sense of frustration amongst Tamil Canadians. We were able to leave the brutality and persecution that we faced back home and seek refuge and safe haven in the welcoming arms of Canada.

Those we have left back home are silenced and voiceless. We are here today to carry their voices in the hopes that the international community will take action. Our voices have not gone unheard. The Canadian public is well aware of the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, thanks to local media coverage. Canadian parliamentarians are also listening. During the Emergency Debate held in Parliament on February 4th this year, Honorable Members from all political parties denounced the violence perpetrated against Tamil civilians in the NorthEast. Today in this Committee room, you are hearing our pleas.

We are here today to plead for greater Canadian involvement in order to prevent an already catastrophic humanitarian situation from escalating further. Canadian influence in international forums such as the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations are necessary to pressure the Sri Lankan government to conform to international humanitarian and human rights laws.

Why Canada? Canada is a leader in promoting international human rights and peacebuilding. Canadian doctrines such as “human security” and “responsibility to protect” (R2P) are the driving force for international human rights discourse.

Renowned Canadians such as Louise Arbour, Steven Toope, Alan Rock, and Steven Lewis are at the forefront of the international human rights movement. If there is any one nation that can make a significant difference in brining about a solution to the Sri
Lankan conflict, surely it is Canada.

The GoSL lacks the political will to initiate a negotiated solution on its own accord. History shows this is the case, from the rejection of repeated attempts to politically negotiate settlements to the conflict, from the Bandaranayake Chelvanayakam Pact to the India-Lanka Accord, to the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA), to the Post-Tsunami Operational Management Structure (P-TOMS), all of which were abrogated by the various Sri Lankan governments. However, with increased international pressure, including economic isolation such as trade sanctions, Sri Lanka can be compelled to find an alternative to the war against Tamils.
A quote that comes to my mind is that “peace is not the absence of war, but the presence of tranquility”. According to this definition of peace, there has been no peace in Sri Lanka for decades. Long before the LTTE even existed there was political turmoil and oppression of the Tamil minority. Even during the ceasefire period, the threat of the resumption of violence loomed overhead.

What Tamils in Sri Lanka and around the world yearn for is a lasting and just peace; one that takes into account the legitimate aspirations of Tamils in their homeland to determine their own political destiny.

In this regard, the Canadian Government can take the following measures:

1. Urge the GoSL to immediately suspend military operations directed at civilians, undertake a ceasefire and return to the negotiating table to mediate a peaceful resolution to the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.

2. Urge the GoSL to immediately allow the free flow of humanitarian aid to the conflict zone and allow international aid workers unimpeded access to affected areas.

3. Urge the GoSL to allow journalists into the conflict area to report on the current situation in the North and East and to respect press freedom

4. Urge fellow Commonwealth Member States to consider removing Sri Lanka from participating in and receiving any benefits from being a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.

5. Impose economic and diplomatic sanctions against the GoSL for violations of the Geneva Convention and gross human rights violations.

An entire generation of Tamil children and youth has grown up knowing nothing but war and violence. Over a million Tamils have been externally displaced around the world, while another million remain internally displaced. This armed conflict has claimed over 80,000 lives, the vast majority Tamils killed by the Sri Lankan government. It is our hope that together we can prevent another generation from being lost in this conflict.

Before I conclude, I would like to invite you all to attend a powerful exhibit “Understanding Sri Lanka’s War” being held here on Parliament Hill on April 1st, in the Commonwealth Room (Rm. 238) from 2pm to 6pm in order to obtain a more thorough understanding of the Sri Lankan-Tamil conflict.

Considering the current deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka, this powerful exhibition serves as a much needed reminder of the tragic circumstances that led over 300,000 Tamil Canadians to uproot their lives from Sri Lanka, leave their friends and family, and embrace Canada as their home.

Thank you.