REACH - Oct 2008

REACHOfficial Newsletter of TYO - Canada

TYO - Canada OCTOBER 2008 Vol - 8

Dear treasured youth,

Wakeup young souls, the sun sets only to rise brighter than ever the next

morning. As such, REACH is once again shining right your way with the lat-

est news and issues in our society.

REACH can only be as bright the readers that support it, and for that we

thank you for your commitment with the newsletter and TYO. This month’s

topic of the current situation in Sri Lanka is on page 6 of this issue.

On pages 2 and 3, we’ve given you a brief history of genocide that happened

around the world. Important information regarding the Tamil IDP Crisis are

on pages 6-9. We hope you get involved on pages 10 and 11.

To ensure you receive all e-mails from REACH, please add

[email protected] to your address book or list of safe senders.

In solidarity,

TYO – Canada

To cherish great men and make them his own, is the most difficult of all difficult things

- Thirukkural (Verse 443)

To work towards the enhancement

of the Tamil Nation and to provide

an avenue for the betterment of the

Tamil youth in Canada

- TYO’s Vision

Historical View p. 2

INSIDE - REACH

Message from TYO - Canada

YOUTH Actions p. 4

YOUTH Submissions p. 6

IDP Crisis - Campaign p. 7

Get Involved p. 10


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What is genocide?The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted by the United Nations Gen-eral Assembly in December 1948 and came into effect in January 1951. It defines geno-cide in legal terms, and is the culmination of years of campaigning by lawyer Raphael Lemkin, who coined the term by reference to the Simele massacre, the Holocaust, and the Armenian Genocide. All participat-ing countries are advised to prevent and punish actions of genocide in war and in peacetime. The number of states that have ratified the convention is currently 140.Article 2 of the Convention defines it as:Any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a na-tional, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such:- Killing members of the group;- Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;- Deliberately inflicting on the group con-ditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;- Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;- Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

1. Armenia

Large scale, mass atrocities of a genocidal level occurred when Armenian national-ists began to demand greater autonomy under the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the nineteenth century. Veiled from the international community by the chaos of World War I, the Ottoman government intentionally destroyed over 1 million Ar-menians from 1915 - 1923.

2. Holocaust

As Adolf Hitler’s Nationalist Socialist re-gime pursued its policies of Aryan suprem-acism, the Nazi regime began to eliminate all “undesirable” races: the Jews, the Slavs, gypsies, political and religious dissidents, homosexuals and the disabled. Businesses were looted, targeted populations were deported en masse to concentration camps and, ultimately, 6 million Jews and 5 million “undesirables” lost their lives in

a series of targeted exterminations and massacres that still haunts the minds of survivors today.

3. Cambodia

As Pol Pot came to power in the 1970s, the Khmer Rouge began to take over the majority of Cambodia. Because the United States’ bombing campaign during the Viet-nam War weakened Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge was eventually able to enter the capital to institute a new, authoritarian regime. All opposition to the regime was exterminated in a genocidal campaign. Be-tween 1975 and 1979, over 2 million Cam-bodians were targeted for destruction.

4. BosniaWith the death of Josip Tito, Bosnia’s long time authoritarian dictator, the combina-tion of the emergence of nationalist poli-tics and the militarization of Serbia and Croatia sparked the eruption of a three-

HISTORY REPEATINGArticle 2 of the Convention defines genocide as:

... acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial

or religious group. ’‘

More than 1,000,000 deaths (1915–1917)

6,000,000 deaths of Jews; 5,000,000 deaths of Poles, Roma, communists and other “undesirables” (1938–1945)

Cambodia: 2,000,000 deaths (1975–1978)



sided civil war between the Bosnian-Serbs, Bosnian-Croats, and Bosnian-Muslims. Within this war, Bosnian Serbs attempt-ed to ethnically cleanse strategic regions in Bosnia to accomplish their mission of creating a “Greater Serbia.” The scale of atrocities committed against the Muslim populations in various areas of Bosnia by the Serbs was genocidal. Over 200,000 Muslims have been killed or starved and tortured to death in concentration camps between 1992 and 1995.

5. Rwanda

Tensions in Rwanda between the once-dominant minority Tutsis and the majority Hutus periodically erupted in anti-Tutsi vi-olence since the Hutus gained power after independence from Belgium in 1962. After a civil war between exiled Tutsi rebels and the Hutu government ended in a cease-fire and power-sharing agreement, Hutu extremists within and outside the govern-ment began to prepare a Tutsi extermina-tion campaign. On April 6, 1994, the Hutu President’s plane was shot.

Bosnia: 200,000 deaths (1992–1995)

800,000 deaths (April 6-July of 1994)

SRI LANKA

The gross, consistent, and continuing violations of the rights of the Tamil people, by the Sri Lankan government and its agencies during the past sev-eral decades, include grave breaches of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Geno-cide Convention, and the Geneva Conventions relating to the humanitarian law of armed conflict.

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Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_the_Prevention_and_Punishment_of_the_Crime_of_Genocidehttp://www.genocideintervention.net/educate/genocide



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More picturescanadatyo.org/gallery.php

TYO- Canada appreciates Students of Tamil Nadu for uniting hands together as ‘Tamils’

October 17, 2008

In light, to the recent class strike that was held by the students in all over Tamil Nadu, Canada Tamil Youth Organization (TYO – Canada) proudly takes this opportunity to show gratitude to all Tamil Nadu students for taking the step forward, to voice out for their brothers and sisters living in the North-Eastern part of Sri Lanka. As Tamils from all over the world units to condemn against the assault and corruptive abuse of Interna-tional laws committed by Sri Lankan government, Tamil Nadu students initiated and participated in the strike to pressure the Indian government to cease any support given to obnoxious Sri Lankan government. The Tamil students took part in the strike, by not attending or conducting any of their classes in most of the district schools in Tamil Nadu.

Press Releases

Read more canadatyo.org/media.php

Tree Planting

Youth Response to Tamil IDP Crisis

October 28, 2008

The alarming growth of the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka in the northern Tamil populated areas have reached unprec-edented levels leaving more than 240, 000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs). Current state of affairs has left people in dire liv-ing conditions without even the basic necessities such as food, water, shelter and medical supplies. The humanitarian and social infrastructures, already in a dreadful state due to the three-decades-old conflict have further deteriorated.

Tamil Youth Organization of Canada (TYO-Canada) and several community partners have launched a campaign to bring aware-ness to the issue of the Tamil IDP crisis in an attempt to ensure immediate International humanitarian intervention.

Our tree planting event took place on Sunday, Ocotber 5th. from 10am-1pm. This was our second tree planting happened this year. Trees were planted at Cedarvale park. TYO members were also able to see the trees planted last year. It was seen as a motivation to enroll into more environment related activities by our members.



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Thrilling Dance Competition in Germany

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Tamil youth in Germany successfully held their first Dance competition in Oberkavusan city on October 10, 2008. The competition started with a houseful of eager audience at 1:40 PM after paying tribute to the warheros. Dancers were seen competing under 5 divisions and were able to dance for their choosing of Western music, Eelam songs or Indian Cinema songs.

In the midst of the competition, special guest Immanual Adikalar gave an outstanding speech which received a standing ovation. The sensational but energized event ended with prize giving and youth singing the famous Tamil song “Nambungal Thamil Eelam Naalai Pirakkum”

24 Hours in support

Tamil youth in Switzerland protested for 24 hours continuously without sleep in order to bring awareness about the current IDP situation in Sri Lanka. They also extended their support to the students in Tamil Nadu for raising voice for the Eelam Tamils during this crisis.

The protest ended with emotional speeches from the youth and their parents.



As students, we often get caught up in our own lives. Between school, work, and volunteering, the crisis taking place back home is not always in the forefront of our minds. As we walk into our crowded exam rooms, cursing our professors for making our lives miserable, our brothers and sis-ters back home are filing into crammed refugee camps. As we sit in our cafeterias, munching down our favourite meals, our

brothers and sisters are being denied ac-cess to food. As we sit at our computers, struggling to finish our assignments, our brothers and sisters are being denied ac-cess to education.

We are afforded the right to go to school, the freedom to complain about it, and the privilege to call Canada our homeland – but we can never forget our mother-land. We need to remember that we have other obligations as well. We need to sup-port our Tamil people back home. If there was ever a time for us to take action it is now. If there was ever a time to unite, to mobilize, and to spread the plight of Tamil people, it is now. The humanitarian crisis is worsening, and we cannot afford to let it continue.

On September 5, 2008, all UN workers were told to leave Sri Lanka. There are

now concerns that without any interna-tional monitors, the already deteriorating situation will become worse. Although the aid workers did not want to leave, fearing the escalation of violence towards Tamil people, they were forced to do so for their own security.

More than 260,000 people have been displaced from the endless fighting and the devastating tsunami of 2004. To make matters worse, the rainy season is fast ap-proaching. With inadequate housing and shelter already a problem, the rain will only make conditions worse and spread illnesses. Thousands of people have been left without medicine, food, and other essential items. In the past three months alone, hundreds of Tamils have been killed. Aerial bombing and artillery shelling have affected civilians of all ages. Teachers say they spend more time counselling the children after these attacks rather than teaching them.

As students and young adults, we have the power to make tremendous differ-ences. To know that our own people are suffering the way they are is dishearten-ing. But we need to use that pain to mo-tivate each other and educate as many people as we can. We have loud voices, strong steps, and a fierce presence. There are over 250,000 Tamil people in Toronto alone. Just imagine the power, the force, the strength we have together. Let us use the freedom of speech we have been given in Canada. Let us use the freedom of as-sembly that is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to shed light on the Tamil IDP crisis. Let us act now.

By: Anuba Thiagarajah

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The Time

Is Now



TAMIL IDP CRISIS

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3-7AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

AWARENESS WEEKwww.TamiliDPCrisis.org

NOV

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YOUR MP

NOV

5-772 HOURSIDP VIGIL



November 3 to November 7, 2008 Awareness campaign Distribute information brochures, participate in the post-card cam-paign, and speak or write to your fellow Canadians about the Tamil IDP crisis.

November 4, 2008 Meet your MP Meet with your Member of Parlia-ment, NGOs, Media and other policy makers to inform about the Tamil IDP crisis and to urge immediate Cana-dian intervention.

November 5 to November 7, 2008 72 Hours Tamil IDP Vigil Participate in the Vigil aimed at high-lighting the sufferings of over 300,000 displaced people.

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Tamil Youth Organization of Canada (TYO-Canada) and several community partners have launched a campaign to bring aware-ness to the issue of the Tamil IDP crisis in an attempt to ensure immediate International humanitarian intervention.

“Open your eyes for HART” Campaign is set to take place in the week of November 02nd to November 09th, 2008 across the Greater Toronto Area.

Canadian HART (Humanitarian Appeal for the Relief of Tamils) is a community wide coalition formed to highlight the IDP crisis.

“Open your eyes for HART”

Phone: 416. 838. 9637E-mail:[email protected]

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Speak Out - Tamil IDP CrisisAs Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of the suffering of the Tamil people. Un-derstanding is crucial. And with understanding comes awareness, the most essential step in the path to progress.

- Facebook Profile Pictures change (please add the IDP-Flyers to your respective accounts and create awareness. www.tamilidpcrisis.org)- Brochure Distribution(Pick up brochures from Canadian HART and distribute it at your schools, work, and in your neigh-bourhood. Explain what it’s about.)- Write(Publish your written work on your school newsletters and also send us a copy to [email protected])- Create Videos(Upload your personal concerns regarding the plight of the Tamil people on www.tamilidpcrisis.org website.)- Endorsement Letters(Speak to other human rights/ political organizations and ask them to support this campaign)

Join TYOTamil Youth Organization is always looking for hard-working, dedi-cated youth who would like to join in serving the Tamil community.

As an organization with the interests of Tamil youth at heart, TYO provides opportunities for Canadian Tamil youth to network, con-tribute, and develop their skills in various areas.

Interested in getting involved? Please contact us at [email protected] visit us at www.canadatyo.org

“There are times, young fellah, when every one of us must make a stand for human right and justice, or you never feel clean again.” - Lord John Roxton in The Lost World by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle



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 November 20th, 2008

o Must be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject ‘Reach-Nov 2008’

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

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For our next month’s issue:

Submit your written work based on

‘A change you’d like to see for the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Vanni area.’

Please follow the guidelines below.

Don’t forget to add [email protected]

to your e-mail safe list.

We appreciate all of your time and effort.

TYO - Canada

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Wednesday, November 05, 2008 (10:00 am)

www.dropfees.ca

Supported by:TAMIL YOUTH ORGANIZATION OF CANADA

TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UTSCTAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UTSG

TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ MCMASTERTAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ YORK U

TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UOITTAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ RYERSON U

TAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ BROCK UTAMIL STUDENTS ASSOCIATION @ UTM

REACH - Oct 2008

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