As the ship arrived, feeling proud of Canada
by Bob Russell
Working at my desk early yesterday I watched the arrival of the ship of Sri Lankan refugees just as dawn broke.
Passengers of MV Sun Sea crowd the deck after spotting HMCS Winnipeg in open seas. (Photograph altered at source.) MCpl Angela Abbey/DND-MDN Canada
I was quite taken by how small the boat is. Hard to imagine that many people travelling that far on something so small, and across an entire ocean. Who knows how many days they didn't see land?
There was not a sound and the water was like glass reflecting the ship's lights and that of its escorts. From their vantage point, it would have been our lights reflecting across the water toward them when, with the sun starting to rise, the sky was trying to decide what colour to be.
Many on board would have no appreciation of the politics of this whole thing. They'd just be cold, hungry, scared and after a perilous journey, this would be their first glimpse of what they hope to be their new home.
I was quite moved. And very proud to be a Canadian -- something I think we'd all like to feel more often. These people chose us.
Their arrival has prompted yet another debate about our refugee policy and certainly I'm not so naïve as to think that possible Tamil Tiger involvement isn't problematic. But I trust our security forces to do their job.
There have also been reports about how much it will cost us to house these people until their status is settled. But you can't quantify the price these people paid to get here.
I've even heard some people suggesting that the boat should have been turned away, that these people are "queue jumpers." I wonder what these people did to become Canadians.
Their arrival prompted me to want to go down to the shore and say, "Welcome."
Bob Russell
Victoria
Read more: ~ courtesy: Times Colonist ~
27 Comments
Flying kisses and hugs to the Canadian government and to it's people from faraway Melbourne, Australia.
Well done, as my cousin who lives in Vancouver proudly states Canada is the most compassionate planet on this earth, he has rightly hit the nail on the head.
Tamil in Sorry Sri Lanka, are still facing persecution even today those living in a particular suburb had their homes searched and ordered to register themselves at their local police station.
Those who protested were taken into custody.
This and the other daily happenings only expose to the world as to what the reality of a Tamil who lives there really is.
Sorry Sri Lanka, just cannot handle the enquiry panel set up by the UN to enquire into the allegations of war crimes, the loss of the GSP, the likely loss of the American GSP, they raved, ranted and intimidated to no avail.
In frustration, they are taking their revenge on the Tamil people who are forced to live there they tried their pranks with the Tamil Diaspora but as they usual they had mud on their faces.
Who is fooling whom, is the million dollar question. a j.
Bob Russell
Please open your doors to these people and accommodate 500 of them. While doing that please go to the CTV and look at the poll that says 82% of "Proud Canadians" asking the ship to turn away.....
Welcome to Canada, the land of civilized people.
Wishing you all a happy life!
In next 10-15 years, many of these so called board refugees would be living in their own houses, working or having their own businesses and the kids would be studying or graduated from Canadian universities.
Canada should be proud of it!
It is good to see these Refugees reach the shores of Canada, a great welcoming country. But was this journey necessary at all? Why come all the way from Sri Lanka, a land ruled by Racist Sinhala Thugs, aided and protected by Congress Party Goons from India, out to kill and destroy Tamils as a Race.
The current Racist Thug Regime in Sri Lanka is the worst possible swine on the planet. They are supported by an Italian Bandit ruling India called Antonia Maino. This Crook Sonia Will and Must be brought to Trial along with the Rajapakse Brothers. They cannot Hide for long and Will be brought to face Trial in the Hague however long it takes. Last week the UN Elders expressed Dismay and Grief at the happenings in Sri Lanka who are supported by the Indian Thugs.
This Refugee journey was brought about by the displacement of LTTE as a fighting force in 2009. Till 2008 there was Parity with the LTTE and the Sri Lankan forces till the Indian Bandits jumped in. All this to steal the Natural Resources of the Tamils.
There will be more Tamils leaving the Island in the days to come as the Singala forces Plunder and Terrorise the Tamils more and more. The Western Countries are partially to blame for turning a Blind Eye to the killings in Sri Lanka.
As a Tamil from Chennai, i long for Tamil freedom from these Indian Bandits. 63 years have passed under the Slavery of India and we Tamils want out of Indian Rule. We want to see the UN step in and hold a Plebiscite in Tamilnad for freedom for Tamils. Similarly there should be UN held Plebiscites for the freedom of Kashmiris, Assamese and NE States, who all want out of this so called Artificial Entity and Failed State called Hindia or India. It is so very Sad to see Kashmiris being Terrorised Daily by Hindian Thugs. President Obama should step in and free the hapless Kashmiris from these Godammned Indians. Kashmiris have endured enough and deserve better from the Western World.
We Tamils thank Canada for being Generous and taking care of Refugees in their hour of need. Tamils will always be Grateful to Canada for this.
These people obviously had some reason to brave the high seas and flee the country of their birth. If they could do this this legally they would have done so.
We observe that still there is no effort by the Govt to reconcile and rehabilitate the Tamils in the north. Instead the Govt seems hell bent on militarising those areas and ruling at gunpoint. 4000 acres of land have been taken over by the military and people have been denied their legitimate rights to return to their homes.
So it is not surprising that these people have decided to flee from their homeland and seek a better future. As the story goes there is a special hell for Sri Lankans and when any inmate tries to escape the others pull him back by his legs.
Almost every single Lankan Tamil who came here contributed to the Canadian good - something confirmed by the PM, several Ministers of the present and previous administrations. Many of them have a basic knowledge of English and fall into the category of skilled workers. Some of them are technically-trained College graduates, White-collar workers, nurses, clerks and so fortn. The 2nd generation of Lankan Tamil immigrants who came here are, to a large extent, joining the professional ranks having done exceedingly well in the Universities. They are law-abiding, religious and are aware of their role in society. Admittedly, a small number of their youth in the late 90s fell foul of the law and some of those - who held candle-lit vigils and demonstrations at the height of the alleged War Crimes and HR Rights last May/June caused inconvenience to some Toronto motorists during the highly-charged demonstrations.Tamil society groups and leaders in the GTA have profoundly apologised for these aberrations.
It is a matter of satisfaction the Canadian government and Opposition have been responsive to their pleas. In fact, Canada is in the vanguard of friendly countries calling upon the Sri Lankan government to honour the Constitutionally laid down obligations by their own Lankan citizens. It is perhaps not an exaggeration the subsequent changed stance of the Lankan government more favourable to Tamils is as a consequence of the pressure from the global community, including Canada.
Bob Russel's kind expressions and Canada's own credo of "Celebrating Diversity" will mean much to these innocent citizens escaping multiple forms of man-made disaster - completely out of their control. It is hoped the universally known features of Canadian humanism will not escape them.
ISS
I personally ENCOURAGE Canada to take in these members of the future ranks of the FAST FOOD and JANITORIAL SERVICES Industries. Don't worry about the few who will become TAMIL GANG MEMBERS from the Slums of Markham or Scarborough, - the vast majority will serve Canada well in the form of CHEAP, NON-AGITATIVE LABOR.
Now if we can only convince more of these EELAMISTS in Sri Lanka to board boats and head for the Canadian Promised Land....
*** In next 10-15 years, many of these so called board refugees would be living in their own houses, working or having their own businesses and the kids would be studying or graduated from Canadian universities. ***
Yes indeed.... and 500 more Tamils to BLOCK the GARDINER EXPRESSWAY during rush hour in Toronto, preventing Canadians from getting about their daily lives and preventing EMERGENCY VEHICLES from doing their jobs....and 500 more Tamils to BLOCK other MAJOR HIGHWAYS and ROADS to protest for an IDEOLOGY that has nothing to do with the average Canadian Citizen.
That's right Canada, please welcome 500 more people who will SQUAT your PASSPORTS and CITIZENSHIP and take full advantage of your Welfare, Education, Health care and Social Benefits, while actually pledging allegiance to EELAM and pretending to be "CANADIAN".
Victims seeking asylum and coming from Tibet are called Tibetians refugees not Chinese refugees
Victims seeking asylum from Palestine are called Palestinian refugees not Israel refugees
So victims from Eelam might be judiciously identified as Eelam refugees not Srilankan refugees.
An Eelam citizen
Another 500 holiday makers in Sri Lanka next year, with hopefully a Canadian passport, and paid for by the Canadian tax payer. The latter are truly generous.
Our madame ambassador in Ottawa said on BBC TV....
"They are all criminals"..even before their identities were established.Did she include the 45 women and children?
Chill out Devi.F
You are going to kill your self. Some yoga and mediation might help you to lower your high blood pressure.
.
Hi Bob,
Please just ignore the comments by FERNANDO.
His anchestors are from Portugal who arrived Lanka by boat as well.
:-)
When I read Bob Russell's article tears came into my eyes. These people had no one to care for and no whare to seek refuge other than this beautiful country. All those poeple who are very critical about the whole episode of granting refuge to these boat people were at one time or other been desperate like these people. Now they have forgotten their pass. If our country can spend millions and millions of dollars to fight a war in an alien country what harm is to grant refugee status to few hundred of Tamils and spend few thousands to help them now. Canada has granted refugees to 34,000 last year alone to people from various countries. Tamils are hard working people. Where every they went they earned the respect, appreciation and admiration from the people of the host countries. Except few bad apples most of the Tamil in Canada are all law abiding and God fearing people therefore, absolutly there need not be any fear, worry or concerned for the government or the Canadian people about them. Bob you are one of the few people have golden heart and understand the human feelings. God bless you.
"Yes indeed.... and 500 more Tamils to BLOCK the GARDINER EXPRESSWAY during rush hour in Toronto, preventing Canadians from getting about their daily lives and preventing EMERGENCY VEHICLES from doing their jobs....and 500 more Tamils to BLOCK other MAJOR HIGHWAYS and ROADS to protest for an IDEOLOGY that has nothing to do with the average Canadian Citizen. "
Yes they did this to expose your creminal acts and genocide carried out on inocent Tamils in Sri Lanka in a peaceful manner. You use unlimited bombs, multi-barrel guns and aircrafts to kill thousands of Tamils. Your defence minister openly said they used almost equal quantiy of bombs that were used in the second world war over Japan. If you had treated the Tamils as equals without any discremination, there need not have been any blockage or demonstraion held here or anywhere. Mr Fernando this is a truely a free and democatic county not like in Sri Lanka. There are no white van abduction and killing here unlike in your country keep that it mind.
Canada is a land of immigrants and asylum seekers. It is ironical that it is these very same people, forgetting how they came to Canada, want the ship to be turned away. They show an abject ignorance of the discrimination and persecution the Tamils in Sri Lanka have suffered from the time of independence from Britain in 1948. They should before they make a comment make an effort to find out why these asylum seekers are coming all the way from distant Sri Lanka. What we see are the symptoms of the disease and not the root of problem
To prevent more people from coming to Canada, the Harper Govt should make sure that the Tamils in SL are free from persecution and discrimination. Until such time the International Community, including Canada get involved in seeing that the Tamils in SL get some sort of autonomy, the Tamils will continue to flee for safer places.
On average, a Sri Lankan pays $30,000 to the human smuggler to take him/her to Canada. Even if we assume half of this going-rate, 490 people times 15,000 is 7.3 million made by the human smuggler(s). After expenses, he would have netted more than 5 million. Pretty lucrative business.
Several other shipload of people are awaiting in Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Once these Sri lankans are allowed entry into Canada, next ship will depart from South east asia.
There is another little secret. Majority of these people didnt flee from Sri lanka. They are the people who has thier asylum claims turned down in France, Germany, Switzerland and other european countries. These Sri lankans travel to Singapore, Thailand and other SE destinations, and from there board the ships. Agents in Frnace, Germansy and Switzerland will get you a place on this ship upon payment (or a gurantee of payment)-
Allow these people, Canada, you will have another shipload coming..
Pathetic.
Why can't Canada/Australia have a process of providing job visas to SL Tamils for about 5 years. That will help solve these problems.
There was a period where many Sinhalese in Negombo/wennappuwa areas went on similar or more dangerous boat trips to Italy. Now there's a program by Italian govt. which gives job quotas to Sri Lankans.
Canada/Australia should do this without humiliating these mostly economic migrants.
All the above 17 COMMENTS, except 2(both of them are from one person, who is notoriously anti-tamil, (as seen from his comments on other related articles) are in favour of Canada accepting these asylum seekers. after scrutiny to check for any terrorist. I too agree with their favourable comments.
I wonder it this (odd) person who portrays as being very much concerned about Canada, is himself a Canadian, and also in the pay of SL Govt., to come out with such detestable comments. I can understand the High Commissioner's Statement to the BBC, as she is paid to a do a job given to her.
Canada is a free and fair country unlike Sorry Lanka, and I am truly proud to be a Canadian citizen.
How many in SL looking for greener pastures elsewhere - see about Korea
http://www.dailymirror.lk/print/index.php/news/front-image/18693-seeking-greener-pastures-in-korea.html
Scarap the refugee policy and accept evry dick, tom and harry who arrives and feel proud onto your grave.
No job quotas........ please keep them there. its a better life & SL can rid of her tamil problem.
I wonder if Devinda Fernando was a product of the pre PREETHI era, if PREETHI was available in Sorry Lanka he will not be around to torment us with load of hog wash.
This pathetic dude keeps on hugging the Trans-current website and gets his two cents quoted.
He deliberately overlooks the fact that there are thousands of Sinhalese who are claiming and have claimed refugee status including the parents of the great Dr. Rohan Gunaratna, who have sought a protection visas in Australia, the coach of the Sorry Lanka swimming team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and another officer who had served with the navy are personally known to me. All are Sinhalese Buddhists.
Italy, has tons of them, Canada has a lot and at the rate that Sorry Lanka is proceeding, very shortly every Sinhalese and his dogs will seek greener economic pastures. a j.
*** All the above 17 COMMENTS, except 2(both of them are from one person, who is notoriously anti-tamil, ***
But Justice,
You misunderstand me. I too want Canada to Let in those Eelam War IV LOSERS. I was Advocating we send as many as possible, not just the 500 on the MV Sun Sea. The SL Government should charter a Larger Oil Tanker like the EXON VALDEZ and pack as many TAMIL EELAMISTS, NATIONALISTS, GENOCIDE CRYERS, HR WHINERS, UNP Liberals, and anyone else who HATES Sri Lanka, onto it and send them to whereever they want to go, whether it be Canada or UK or whatever WHITE COUNTRY they wish to scrub toilets in. And they should send them FREE of CHARGE.
After all, if we let them stay,. they will only WHINE and CRY and COMPLAIN, and we will have to have our TAX PAYERS foot the Bill for their REHABILITATION, MARRIAGES, SINHALA LESSONS, and FREE HOUSING!
*** If you had treated the Tamils as equals without any discremination, there need not have been any blockage or demonstraion held here or anywhere. Mr Fernando this is a truely a free and democatic county not like in Sri Lanka ***
Hey Marty.
Is CANADA truly Equal for TAMILS? Are these TAMIL EELAM WAR LOSERS on the MV Sun Sea going to get White collar Jobs in Vancouver or are they going to be sweeping the floors of Fast Food Restaurants and Supermarkets during the wee hours of the morning?
You WHITE PEOPLE whose ancestors COLONIZED the planet and then Robbed our countries of their wealth and Resources, while using our people for Dirt Cheap and Slave Labor, are now claiming the Moral High ground when it comes to Equality, Justice and Human Rights... LOL! You make me laugh so much!
You say your country is FREE for TAMILS, that they are ALL EQUAL... but does your CONSTITUTION recognize the TAMIL LANGUAGE as an OFFICIAL LANGUAGE?
Does your School System Teach in the TAMIL LANGUAGE Medium as an option for all Canadian Citizens?
Do your Official Documents (Money, Passports, Government Forms) have TAMIL Writing as well as English?
Are TAMIL People's Religious Holidays (Hindu & Christianity) Recognized and OBSERVED in Canada?
I'm going to venture a guess that they are not... but you see, the funny thing is in SRI LANKA,... all the above and MUCH MORE are true! I bet you did not know that, did you? So what Exactly makes TAMILS so Equal in Canada???? Oh! Wait a moment... I know now... your HARD CURRENCY! Ofcourse! Tamils get PAID More... and while they still remain your 21st Century Socio-economic SLAVES - you claim them to be FREE and EQUAL because they are earning so much more money that we Sri Lankans are...
LOL! MONEY! The GREAT EQUALIZER!
(P.s - I'd be equally interested to see your response to what we both know is true of most parents should their White Canadian duaghter bring home a TAMIL to meet her parents...? )
Canada is civilised better than the Tamils now. But no Native Canadians or People of the First Nations agree. They have tons of stories of murder, arson, rape and the systematic oppression by the Europeans. Praising Canada comes from the people who do not know the history of Canada. The Native children were snatched away by the Christian/Cathlic Churches and abused sexually, physically and in manyways with the help of the then Canadian government. They were banned to use their languages. Later those children were unable to communicate with their own people. Recently Haraper government apologised to those abused by Churches and paid compensation to the abused natives who are still alive. Canadian government and the Anglican Church paid the agreed compensation but the Catholic Church ran away without paying compensation. These are the Canadian affairs.
Canada is the only G7 nation still "import" 250,000 immigrants every year to run the industries here as cheap laborers. So, this 490 LTTE men/women are nothing. If they try to fool around in Canada with their TIGER games, they will be deported.
when I read the news about the ship arriving in Canada my heart went for them and everytime I read this news I weep. I have never been in such situation but dear brothers and sisters remember that with Love of God you can overcome anything. Because oneday someone will be there for you, it never fails. Isn't it selfishness and self-centeredness is the root cause of hatred in every situation, whether in little or big matters. Just step outside the situation and see it with compassion and through the heart of God.