One Letter

To: ‘margolis@foreigncorrespondent.com’

Cc: ‘editor@tor.sunpub.com’

Dated: 2006/08/29 11:33 AM (GMT-05)

Dear Eric Margolis,

Re: Don’t provoke Tigers

First of all I would like to thank you greatly for understanding our struggle against oppression.

It is very unfortunate that not many Canadian journalists recognize the truth behind our struggle. In addition, many journalist now seems to portray Tamils as “Terrorists” as the Muslims have already been labelled. Tamils are fighting against the Sri Lankan government, which is 99% Sinhala, the majority ethnic group. The so called “Democratic” Sri Lanka has much greater hand on demonizing our struggle against oppression, and control the media. Since it is a government that Tamils are fighting, Tamils’ voice is less heard on the international media.

Tamils never did any “terror” acts in Canada, and never will. The media seems to portray Tamils as terrorists and dangerous people. When young Tamil Canadians were arrested and deported due to gang violence, Tamils stood by the Canadian government and they still do. I still don’t understand why all the nations that once fought with arms to get freedom now calls LTTE as a “terrorist organization”. In a way, Canada is also the cause of the recent violence in Sri Lanka. The outgoing chief of Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission, Brigadier General Ulf Henricsson, has said the ban by EU on LTTE has contributed to the collapse of the peace process. It is Canada’s decision to ban LTTE provoked EU’s decision. [See: Departing ceasefire monitor chief slams EU in gloomy Sri Lanka outlook ]

If I may, I would like to point out that Rajiv Gandhi was not a PM when he was killed. He was a candidate from the opposition party at that time.

I urge you to shed some light onto our freedom struggle in Canadian media and the publics and once again thank you very much for your understanding.

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CAPital

Dated:  2006/08/29 01:32 PM (GMT-05)

Right you are about Rajiv. Thank you.

Best Wishes

Eric Margolis

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To:  Fax: +41 22 917 9022

23 August 2006

Mr. Kofi Annan,
Secretary General
United Nations

Dear Mr. Kofi Annan,

“No task is more fundamental to the UN than the prevention and resolution of deadly conflict.” – Kofi Annan, 21 March 2006.

This week, on 14 August 2006, the Sri Lankan Army under the directions from His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka sent Kfir jets which dropped sixteen (16) bombs on the Sencholai Orphanage run by the LTTE.  As a result of this deliberate targeting by the Sri Lankan Government, sixty-one (61) schoolgirls were killed and more than one hundred girls were injured.

I plead with you, Sir, there should not be any further senseless and cold-bloodedness killings in Sri Lanka.  The United Nations can no longer stand on the fringe and look on the carnage as a spectator nor give legitimacy to the Sri Lankan Government by giving her member a permanent voice in the UN Council.

I urge you to:

(i)    Send your UN representatives to Sri Lanka so as to prevent and resolve the deadly conflict in Sri Lanka between the Sri Lankan Government and the Tamil people;

(ii)    Sanction the Sri Lankan Government for their latest atrocity on the Tamil people using the powers available to the UN.

The ferocity of the 14 August attack indicates that the objective of the Government was to cause maximum possible casualties and the targeting of children demonstrates the intent of the Government was not merely atrocious and inhuman but genocidal.  The UN can no longer play blind, dumb and deaf to the long series of atrocities by the Sri Lankan Government.  Otherwise, the legitimacy of the UN as a whole is inarguably redundant.

(iii)    Offer the LTTE a legitimate representation on the United Nations Council so that the other party to this conflict will be addressed in order for a solution to bear fruit.

The Sencholai Orphanage is a well-known Humanitarian Zone.  The Sri Lankan Government has insisted that the Orphanage was a front for LTTE rebels.  However, UNICEF and the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials have visited the Orphanage and have confirmed that all casualties were unarmed and innocent children.

Yours truly,
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CAPital

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To:  CustServ@nationalpost.com, hrwnyc@hrw.org

Dated:   2006/03/15 12:12 AM (GMT-05)

Dear Sir/ Madam:

RE: Tamil Tigers on fundraising drive to finance renewed civil war

I have read the article titled “Tamil Tigers on fundraising drive to finance renewed civil war” on Canadian newspaper National Post dated March 15, 2006.

I’m a Tamil living temporally in Ville Saint-Laurent, QC. I was living in Ottawa, ON before. My relatives live in Toronto, ON. To the extend of my knowledge there was no incident like you have described anywhere. I am deeply concerned about how much damage your article is going to do to our [Tamils] freedom struggle.

Freedom fighters never force people to finance. There are situations where people willingly finance. You must get the opinions of many Tamils, instead of interviewing only few of those hardcore Sri Lankan government/ Sinhalese supporters. Majority of Tamils live in Toronto within 3,00,000 Tamils in Canada. I urge you to see the big picture of our freedom struggle.

I have read the report Human Rights Watch. It talks about LTTE is asking money to visit Tamil Eelam. What is LTTE does different than any other democratic countries do? Isn’t it we have to pay to get visa to other countries? Even though Canada is the neighbouring country and partner in NAFTA, we still have to pay for visa if you are not Canadian citizen. Even if a Tamil from France has to visit Canada, Canadian government needs a reference letter from the Canadian. UK needs a security deposit. In all cases, there are some form of precaution. The people who are returning from Canada, holding a Canadian citizenship, to another country [Tamil Eelam], have to pay to stay in another country [visa]. What HRW has suppressed is that no money was asked if they hold a Sri Lankan passport. What is wrong in that?

Also read about meeting LTTE representatives inside Tamil Eelam. When a Canadian goes to Sri Lanka, they have to go to Canadian embassy before returning to Canada. So again, what does LTTE do different than a democratic country [Canada] does? The process of meeting LTTE representatives and getting “visa” for the period of stay is the same process that people take before going into another country. Since Tamil Eelam doesn’t have embassies around the world yet, that process is now happening inside Tamil Eelam.

In conclusion, I feel that HRW have missed many realities of Tamil Eelam and the struggle. USA had fought British to get freedom and I can list so many. The point is, as somebody said, “Its okay, if you do not help; but at least do not do any damage”. Financing could have been done in Canada, but it’s absolutely not a forced financing.

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CAPital

No Responses »

To: Bulletin board at Canadian Environment Assessment Agency (CEAA)

Dated: (around) 2005/02/02 12:17 PM (GMT-5)

(La version française suit)

Dear Colleagues,

Recent media coverage has shown us the devastation caused by the Tsunamis in Asia and the challenges hundreds of thousands of people in that part of the world continue to face.

I am especially aware of the hardships the people are now facing, because I moved to Canada from Jaffna, which is in the North part of Sri Lanka, in 1995 and many of my family members still live throughout the costal areas of that country. I consider myself lucky to have lost only one of my relatives, while many are not that fortunate.

Many organizations are collecting relief funds, such as community groups, news agencies, embassies, churches, universities and national organizations like the Red Cross. I personally support the Tamil Students’ Union at Ottawa University which is collecting funds for the Tsunami Relief and Development Fund for Sri Lanka, a charitable organization. Information about this charity, including their registration number, can be found on their web site: http://www.srilankatsunami.org/ . If you would like to make a donation to this fund, you may either contact me or refer to the above web site.

I invite you to make a donation to help people affected by the Tsunami. There is an immediate need for funds and rebuilding will take years. Please give generously. It’s not too late to help.

Thank you,

Chers collègues :

La couverture médiatique récente des Tsunamis qui ont frappé l’Asie nous a montré l’ampleur de la dévastation qui en a résulté et les défis que des centaines de milliers de personnes dans la région doivent relever.

Je suis particulièrement sensible aux difficultés que ces personnes éprouvent présentement, parce que j’ai déménagé au Canada de Jaffna, dans le nord de Sri Lanka, en 1995 et plusieurs membres de ma famille habitent toujours dans les zones côtières de ce pays. Je suis chanceux de n’avoir perdu qu’un seul membre de ma famille, tandis que plusieurs autres personnes n’ont pas eu la même chance.

Plusieurs organismes ramassent des fonds d’aide, par exemple des groupes communautaires, des agences de presse, des ambassades, des églises, des universités et des organismes nationaux tel que la Société de la Croix-Rouge. J’offre mon soutien à l’Union des étudiants Tamil qui ramasse des dons pour le fonds d’aide et de développement pour le Sri Lanka, un organisme caritatif à but non lucratif. Vous trouverez des renseignements sur cet organisme, y compris le numéro d’inscription, sur leur site Internet au : http://www.srilankatsunami.org/. Si vous aimeriez faire un don, vous pouvez communiquer avec moi ou vous référer au site Web ci‑haut.

Je vous invite à faire un don afin d’aider les personnes touchées par le Tsunami. Il existe un besoin immédiat de fonds et la reconstruction prendra des années. S’il vous plaît soyez généreux. Il n’est pas trop tard pour aider.

Merci,

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CAPital

Note: Special thanks to “Communications” of CEAA

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To: info@eusc.org, cdt@cdt.eu.int, public.info@consilium.eu.int

Dated: 2005/09/29 04:11 PM (GMT-5)

To Whom It May Concern:

I have heard on the news that EU is planning to mark the Tamil organization in SL, namely LTTE, as a terrorist group. I am very much in shock to hear this news. I would like to let you know my disappointment to this movement.

I understand the world is on a roller coaster ride with terrorists groups. Nevertheless, LTTE is not an organization of terrorists. I am a Sri Lankan Tamil living in Canada. LTTE is our sole representative. I am sure you have heard why the LTTE is formed and grown to this stage. If there was no oppression against Tamils living in Sri Lanka, then there would not have been countries let Tamils of Sri Lanka in Open Visa during 1985. More or less, the situtaion continues, but the blood shed is not done publicly as it was during 1985.

Therefore, I beg you not to name LTTE as one of the terrorist groups. LTTE do not mercilesly kill just for the sole purpose of threatening, as other world terrorist groups do.

Thank you for your understanding on this matter.

_____
CAPital

Dated: 2005/10/03 10:39 AM (GMT+1)

Dear Mr __________,

Thank you for your email of 29/09.05.

We have noted your comments.

Sincerely,

Jolanda Bruynel
DG F – Information to the public
Secretariat General of the Council of the European Union
Tel.: +32-2-285.5650
Fax.: +32-2-235 4977
e-mail: public.info@consilium.eu.int

2 Responses »

To:  enquiries@plymouthrec.org

Dated:   2005/11/17 08:21 PM (GMT-5)

Dear Sir/ Madam:

As I heard the news, a kidney transplanted man is going to be deported to Sri Lanka, my heart was broken.  Now, the war seems inevitable after the election, I can only pray for his welbeing if he ever returns back to a racial government.  I sincerely hope your organization will look into his appeal once again.

Thank you.

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CAPital

No Responses »

To: ‘news@rediff.co.in’

Dated: 2006/08/04 10:37 AM (GMT-05:00)

Dear Editor,

I have gained a lot of knowledge about the India’s stay in Tamil Eelam after reading your articles titled “India’s Vietnam”. I would also like to show my objection to the statement below in your link http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/mar/23lanka.htm

“The entire IPKF operations were politically guided and intelligence oriented. The armed forces had little or no say. Or else, a full-scale military operation without the basic support arm, the artillery, would have never been launched. Tanks and APCs were not used. There was no air cover. Much later, an odd armed helicopter was brought in. ”

I was living in the Jaffna peninsula while the IPKF’s stay in Tamil Eelam. The first day IPKF rolled into our villages my mother, and I protested against the IPKF along with the villagers. We sat in front of a Tanker. Prior to this, I only saw Tanker as a form of a sticker in chocolate named Kandoz. I was very much excited to see the Tanker.

Later when LTTE was fighting with IPKF, we heard the sound of supersonic jets across our skies. This is the first time we were introduced to these kind of very high tech weaponries. By the time we hear the sound and look outside where it is, the jet would have been gone.

Addition to that, the sound of the firering helicopter brought dreadfulness to all our hearts. These helicopter’s had multi barrel machine guns on both sides. We were able to judge that these helicopters were far more dangerous than the ones Sri Lankan Air Force had.

It may be true that IPKF didn’t use the state of the art weaponries, but the weaponries used are never we encountered prior to the IPKF.
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CAPital

No Responses »

To: ‘webmaster@asiantribune.com’

Dated: 2006/07/05  12:35 PM  (GMT-05:00)

Dear editor:

I sincerely thank you for publishing my article in your website. I have also amended a note, which you may post as comment.
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/923

Amendment I:

There was a report about child soldiers in LTTE. Before you start to think its bad, think why it happens. Why children go to work? Its not that they go there and play. The root cause is poverty. Now, think about NE areas. Even though the “poverty” reason cannot be ruled out, the majority of the cause is that they were affected by SLA. Children lose their father, mother, or relatives by the SLA firings/ bombings. Then they become LTTE to take revenge. So the welfare of the people should be elevated in the NE areas and the damage done to civilian families should be eliminated. This is evident if you look at Tamil children from other areas, where they do not join LTTE.

Hence, it is not wrong to say it is SLA and GoSL that compels people to become LTTE.

______
CAPital

No Responses »

To: ‘Nigel.Chapman@bbc.co.uk’; ‘bernard.gabony@bbc.co.uk’

Dated: 2006/06/05 1:58 PM (GMT-05:00)

Dear Bernard Gabony,

I’m deeply disappointed with the Tamil news service, that is part of BBC, namely BBC Tamil Voice. Worldwide BBC has the people’s trust on news for its integrity and neutrality among other qualities. As part of the well known name, BBC, our Tamil service is heard by the Tamils around the world. In an effort to shed some light on to our freedom struggle in Sri Lanka, Mr. Idaikadar, a British citizen and recently re-elected Harrow Councillor, is also chair of the newly-formed All party Tamil Councillors and Associates, is doing a hunger strike for 101 hours. The so called “BBC Tamil Voice” has not addressed this remarkable effort by Mr. Idakadar on the news.

Being part of a name that we trust in news, BBC Tamil Voice should not behave biased on this matter. Moreover, BBC Tamil Voice seems to only address Sri Lankan state supported news and hence breaking the neutrality of the BBC.

My family, friends and I were deeply hurt and request BBC to address its neutrality in its subsidiary “BBC Tamil Voice”.

Thank you

You may read more about the hunger strike at the following URL:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=18392

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CAPital

Dated: 2006/06/06 8:52 AM (GMT-05:00)

Thanks for your communication. I want to reassure you that the BBC takes coverage of events in Sri Lanka very seriously. The BBC is the only international broadcaster with a permanent presence there and we cover the country more extensively than any other foreign broadcaster. I would like to reinforce to you that the BBC seeks only to report events in Sri Lanka and their surrounding context, in as fair and impartial manner as possible. We have reported recently on a wide range issues in Sr Lanka including Sri Lankan military activities,Tamil Tiger activity and the Norwegian sponsored peace process.

This is a difficult conflict to cover. Information and events which take place without journalists present are difficult to verify. All we are able do is to report the different accounts given by the different parties involved and where possible, give some assessment of their validity. For example the recents deaths on the Kayts islet emerged slowly over a number of days, but they were reported by both the Tamil and Sinhala services and then by the BBC Correspondent in Sri Lanka and BBC Online. The BBC has subsequently covered in detail the calls for an inquiry by the Monitoring unit, our correspondent Dumeetha Luthra went to Kayts itself the following week and reported for radio and online from there.

Nigel Chapman
Director, BBC World Service

Dated: 2006/06/06 9:14 AM (GMT-05:00)

Thanks for your prompt response. I really appreciate what BBC does and have no doubt that BBC will cover news unbiased. Our concern is about the BBC’s subsidiary “BBC Tamil Voice”, which broadcasts only Sri Lankan state supported news. For example, the hunger strike outside Britain’s Parliament done my Mr. Idaikadar’s has not been reported yet.

The 55-year old has triggered a veritable flood of support from our community. All our community people are disappointed by the BBC Tamil Voice’s stand on this issue. As I have noted in previous mail, not only this issue but BBC Tamil Voice has acted biased supporting Sri Lanka’s state supported news.

Nevertheless, thank you for your time and understanding our community people’s urge.

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CAPital

No Responses »

To: ‘amills@thestar.ca’

Dated:  2006/06/23  9:15 AM  (GMT-05:00)

Dear Andrew Mills,

I thank you for your visit to Sri Lanka and reporting on the issue of freedom struggle of our people. If I may, I urge you to visit SL Army occupied Tamil Lands and see yourself the peoples’ fear of SL Army. Our children are in fear to go to schools, since SL Army has occupied the schools itself or have sentry points in front of schools. These places should have been evacuated as it was agreed on the 2002 ceasefire agreement.

Thank you in advance.

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CAPital

No Responses »