David Chan, National PostCanadian Sri Lankans rally in front of Parliament Hill to demand an end to terrorist fundraising.
Saturday, June 17, 2000
Sri Lankans protest on HillIan Jack
National Post
|
David Chan, National Post Canadian Sri Lankans rally in front of Parliament Hill to demand an end to terrorist fundraising. |
The peaceful protest brought together demonstrators from Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, who waved placards and listened to speakers calling on the government to take a tough line with Canadian groups allegedly linked to the Tamil Tigers, a terrorist organization seeking the independence of northern Sri Lanka.
About 10 RCMP officers watched over the protest, held on the walkway and steps leading to the Centre Block of Parliament. Five Tamils gave out pamphlets accusing the Sri Lankan military of committing atrocities and saying funds raised in Canada by Tamils go to help Sri Lanka's war victims.
Richmond Peiris, of Montreal, an organizer of the Sri Lankan demonstration, said, "We never say Tamils are terrorists. We say Tigers are terrorists. Tamils are not terrorists. They are our brothers."
The group wants Parliament to pass legislation to curb fundraising by groups with links to terrorist organizations. Lloyd Axworthy, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said the government is determined to stop fundraising for terrorist purposes and is studying the Criminal Code.
A series of reports in the National Post has chronicled alleged connections between Tamil organizations in Canada and the Tigers. A coalition of Tamil groups, including one of the organizations cited in the Post reports, said it plans to sue the newspaper for its coverage.
"Paul Martin, Maria Minna, We Have Votes Too," read one of the placards, referring to a fundraising dinner attended by two cabinet ministers for the Federation of Associations of Canadian Tamils. The group has been identified by the U.S. State Department and the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service as a front for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.