REACH - July 2009

JULY 2009 Vol - 17TYO - Canada

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HistoryNational Liberation Movements

National liberation movements are “peoples” move-ments seeking freedom, independence, and/or au-tonomy from what are perceived as oppressive and usually “alien” regimes. They are popular movements supported by whole communities of subjugated people, and depend on the active support of the population, mobilized by a revolutionary party or organisation.

They are not the activities of small groups of isolated individuals, though state authorities opposed to them frequently describe them as such for propaganda pur-poses. They are the struggle of rebellious nations against foreign invaders or the ruling classes of their society, of exploited against exploiters, of the governed against the governors (Taber 1965:151). They are revolutionary movements of the weak against the strong which seek to invert existing power relations3, to put the last first and the first last, and overthrow the existing status quo and replace it with another more just one. They are invariably defensive reactions to oppression and ethno-cide (or cultural genocide - attempts to wipe out their culture through forced assimilation), and patriotism always plays a central part though, again, this is usually ignored by the authorities and media commentators.

They are born out of popular discontent, and emerge over long periods of time not only to combat oppres-sive conditions but simultaneously to express aspira-tions for a different and more just society. In general, national liberation movements seek self-determination. They want to control their own affairs and destiny - economically, politically, socially, and culturally. They seek this in the form of either greater regional autonomy from a strong central government, or outright secession and the establishment of their own new and indepen-dent state or country. Usually, they begin by seeking only greater autonomy, but are then driven into becom-ing full-scale independence movements by intransigent oppressive governments.

Beyond these common characteristics, national lib-eration movements express a tremendous range of ideological diversity. Many are left-wing with Marxist or socialist ideologies. These are very popular because they naturally appeal to poor and oppressed people. But a few are also right wing, for example, they can be “royalist” (e.g. the Zulu Inkatha movement in South

Africa, which seeks to restore their king to power). In some cases class, ethnic and/or religious rivalries are important, in others they are not. Despite the diversity of ideologies expressed in various national liberation movements, the most common or “archetypal” form is a combination of nationalism, socialism, anti-imperialism, and religious and other cultural motivations.

Wars of National Liberation

Every nation people will defend its identity and terri-tory from breakup and eradication. Facing absorption and subjugation, many nations have had no other choice than to militarily resist the colonizing/conquering state. This is a defensive reaction. To defend their na-tions from being annihilated, many peoples have taken up arms and engaged in wars of national liberation. To understand armed national liberation movements, it is necessary to strip away the camouflage terms and ex-planations that states use to hide their true nature. The very thing they are fighting for - the survival of their nation - is the focus of distortion and misrepresentation by state regimes and most journalists and academics (Nietschmann 1987).

Instead of identifying them as patriots or freedom fight-ers battling oppression and injustice and seeking the liberation of their people, they usually refer to them as “terrorists.” Every nation people that has resisted state domination or invasion has been accused of be-ing terrorists. But armed national self-preservation or self-defense is not “terrorism” or “banditry”. This was stressed by indigenous peoples gathered in Geneva in 1985, when they declared that “indigenous nations and peoples may engage in self-defence against state actions in conflict with their right to self-determination” (cited in Nietschmann 1987:4).

Wars of national liberation are not acts of aggres-sion or conquest, they are a defensive response to the aggression of the state. Robert Asprey (1975), in his monumental two volume history of guerrilla warfare, highlights the paradox of conquering states accusing resistance movements of being “terrorists.” He makes the important point that to define and condemn armed struggle by conquered and oppressed peoples as ter-rorism “is to display a self-righteous attitude that, totally unrealistic, is doomed to be disappointed by harsh facts” (1975:279). He notes that this paradox is ancient,

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and uses the Roman Empire as an example. Celtiberian slaves working New Carthage silver mines regarded Roman legionnaires as weapons of terror designed to keep them in the mines:

From time to time, these and other slaves secretly rose to attack the Romans, who, upon seeing a sentry assas-sinated or a detachment ambushed and annihilated, no doubt spoke feelingly about the use of terrorist tactics. But who had introduced this particular terror to this particular environment? The Romans. Had they options? Certainly: they could have kept their hands off the Ibe-rian Peninsula, or they could have governed it justly and wisely.

Instead, they came as conquerors ruled by greed, and, in turn, they ruled by oppression maintained by ter-ror. What options did the natives hold either to rid themselves of the Roman presence or to convert it to a more salutary form? Only one: force. What kind of force? That which was limited to what their minds could evoke. Lacking arms, training, and organisation, they had to rely on wits, on surprise raids, ambushes, massacres. Was this terror or counter-terror? (1975:280. Emphasis in original).

Asprey goes on to note that the same paradox: re-mained very much alive in the imperialist philosophy of even the most advanced Western nations. By devious mental exercises conducted in the spiritual gymnasium of Christianity, colonizing powers defended the double

standard: force used by themselves [to conquer and oppress] became benevolence; counterforce used by natives became terror (1975:281).

Hence, the condemnation of liberation movements for resorting to violence or armed struggle is almost invariably superficial, hypocritical, judgmental, and unfair, and tends strongly to represent another example of the generalised phenomenon of “blaming the victim.” The violence of the situation, the pre-existing oppres-sion suffered by those who eventually strike back, is conveniently ignored. The violence of the oppressed is a form of defensive counterviolence to the violence of conquest and oppression. In no armed national libera-tion movement I know of in history has this not been the case.

To be continued…

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Tamils, supported by a number of non-Tamils, flooded Queens Park on Saturday July 4th to voice the continuous atrocities faced by the Tamils in Northern Sri Lanka. Tamils demanded that the Canadian Government take immediate action to recognize the Tamils’ right to self-determination, to free the Tamils from the concentration camps and to bring the perpetrators of genocide to the International court of justice.

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The Tamil youth of Canada held a vote amongst themselves on July 21 about how they will function in the future. As per the wish of 98% of the Tamil youth, it was decided that there will be no change in the way the youth operate, and that the routines cur-rently followed will continue in the future.

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The Youth Decide…


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Uprising After Rebirth in Australia

“Uprising After Rebirth” was held at Martin Square in Sydney, Australia on July 5th. The event started with the lighting of the common flame and the rising of the Tamileelam National Flag and included a number of dances and dramas. Many passion-ate speeches were delivered by the youth of Sydney about the responsibilities of the Tamil Diaspora in the freedom struggle. The event was concluded with a pledge taken by the Sydney Tamil community to overcome all barriers on our path and achieve Tamileelam.


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The Tamil Youth Organization of New Zealand organized and held “Uprising After Rebirth” on July 5th in Auckland, New Zealand. The event consisted of passionate dances, poems and dramas highlighting the fact that Tamils will not rest until the goal of Tamileelam is achieved. The event was concluded with a pledge that Tamils will continue on the path to Tamileelam until it is achieved.

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Uprising After Rebirth in New Zealand


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The Switzerland Tamils gathered for an “Uprising After Rebirth” event in Basal, Switzerland. The event started with a candle light vigil for the fallen heroes and included many speeches and dance performances.

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Uprising After Rebirth in Switzerland


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Questions??? Ask Your Peers

What does the United Nations state about the right to self-determination?

The right to self-determination is an essential right to fulfill and preserve the autonomous rights of all humans. It is highlight-ed in Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Article 1 states that self-determination is a right of all people and that all people have the right to decide their own political, economic, social and cultural stance. It also states that the international community must ensure that no people are denied this right and that actions respecting and protecting the right to self-determination must be taken.

Why is it important for the Tamils to build a Genocide Museum?

An initiative to construct a genocide museum in Canada was put forth at CTYA’s first public forum in the past month. Being the huge project that it is, a large amount of support is required from the Tamil community in order to make this possible.

A genocide museum is definitely not something new to this world. They exist in many countries across the globe, one of the famous ones being the Armenian Genocide Museum, documenting the lives lost to vicious genocides throughout history through archives, eyewitness accounts, photo collections, etc. In that manner, this new initiative will exist to document the genocide that ruined the lives of more than 50 000 Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka. This is necessary in order to bring to light that such a brutal catastrophe took place in Northern Sri Lanka, and ensure that it is documented in the history of the world. Evidence is essential in proving a point. The Genocide Museum will serve as evidence for the genocide that massacred thou-sands, displaced an endless number of Tamils, and permanently changed the life of Tamil civilians.

Many questions exist among our youths regarding many issues that are affecting our everyday lives. Therefore, we have decided to introduce an “Ask Your Peers” section in our e-newsletter, to assist the youth in overcoming their concerns. Youth needing answers or clarifications can send in questions to [email protected] by the 20th of each month with the subject “Ask Your Peers.” We will keep all of your questions anonymously. Your questions will be answered in the following issue.

1. All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. 2. All peoples may, for their own ends, freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources with-out prejudice to any obligations arising out of international economic co-operation, based upon the principle of mutual benefit, and international law. In no case may a people be deprived of its own means of subsistence. 3. The States Parties to the present Covenant, including those having responsibility for the admin-istration of Non-Self-Governing and Trust Territories, shall promote the realization of the right of self-determination, and shall respect that right, in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.

Courtesy: Office of the High Commission for Human Rights


Join TYOOur doors are always open to new members that are looking to make a difference for Tamils around the world.

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 as well.

Interested in getting involved?

Please contact us at [email protected] visit us at www.canadatyo.org

Speak OutAs 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.

Ignorance is not a bliss.

• Stay updated with recent news

• Write to your local politicians

• Attend rallies

• Enlighten non-Tamil peers

• Write a poem, articles, essay

• Research, understand and recite

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Guidelines: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 August 25th, 2009

o Must be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject ‘Reach- August 2009’

o Please attach a word file or copy and paste your work in your e-mail

For our next month’s issue:

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We appreciate all of your time and effort.

TYO - Canada

WRITEFor the beautiful moments

For the tragic timesWith your heart and no regrets

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REACH - July 2009

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Transcript of REACH - July 2009