April 2010 REACH

APRIL 2010 Vol - 23 TYO - Canada

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TYO Press Release 345 - 99

11 - 1210

HistoryYouth Events

May Massacre

Get InvolvedYouth Reflection

To work towards the enhancement of the

Tamil Nation and to provide an avenue

for the betterment of Tamil youth in canada

TYO

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The 2009 May Massacre was ghastly and indisputably a defining moment in our historical struggle for an independent nation-state. The humanitarian crisis that struck the Tamil minority was so graphic and concealed, that only few would ever take the time to fathom the truth behind the atrocity. Thousands of Tamil people were tortured and brutally slaughtered. The failure of the international community in responding to the cries of the Tamil people resulted in a devastating amount of loss. Tamil youth in Canada and across the world, must never forget the struggle of our people. We not only have a duty to voice their cries for help, but we also have the responsibility to remember and

commemorate the many lives that we have lost along the way. Let us not forget that Tamil people in Sri Lanka are still being victimized. We must remember that by being informed, driven, and united, change is possible. Opportunity is present; it is our choice to take it or let it slip.

– Tharch.V

In Solidarity,TYO - Canada

“History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity.”

– Cicero

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Tamil Youth Organization - Canada marks May 2010 as a month of remembrance and commemoration.

April 29, 2010

CANADA - May 2009 was marked by the height of the genocidal onslaught committed by the Government of Sri Lanka against the Tamil minority. With the failure of international bodies to uphold human rights, tens of thousands of Tamil civilians lost their lives in May 2009 alone. The slaughter of Tamils reached genocidal proportions in Mullivaikal, where 50,000 Tamils were slaughtered in cold blood within forty-eight hours. Following the massacre, 300,000 Tamil civilians were illegally forced into Sri Lankan government-run detention camps and denied their civil liberties. Currently, over 100,000 Tamil Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are still languishing in the Sri Lankan government run, in-adequately managed, poorly fed, military guarded, and over-crowded detention camps. TYO further recognizes that the 150,000 IDPs who were released from seven months of enforced detention had been dumped in places outside their traditional villages, in towns like Vavuniya, Mannar, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kandy without any form of assistance in regards to food, shelter, clean water, medical treatment and social reinforcement. Furthermore, most of the homes belonging to the IDPs in the North have been illegally occupied by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and their families. While forcefully displaced Tamils are languishing in tents and under the trees, the Sri Lankan government is in the process of acquiring their lands to colonize it with majority Sinhalese settlements.

TYO calls on the Tamil-Canadian youth and the broader community to mark the month of May 2010 as a month for remembering and commemorating the lives lost at the height of the Tamil genocide and understanding that the suffering of the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka continues. TYO acknowledges that it has always been the historic task of the youth to take leadership in moments such as these and calls on the full participation of the Tamil Canadian youth in community organized events that will take place from May 3rd 2010 to May 18th 2010. TYO further reminds the community to withhold from organizing and participating in events and gatherings not associated with remembrance or commemoration as a show of respect for those whom have perished.

– TYO Canada

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Martin Luther King, Jr. was a man of destiny, an apostle of peace who had risen to the lofty heights of spiritual awareness, a towering hero and historical role model whose mission in life was to serve others, one of only a few genuine prophets produced by Western Civilization. His wisdom, words, commitment, deeds and dreams for a new cast of life were intertwined with the noblest of human aspirations; everything in his life joyous, and full of hope. He was a charismatic figure who held the capacity to attract people with the magnificence of his concepts, and the brilliance of his insights.

His visions and goals were simple, yet astonishing in their scope, the complete liberation of mankind and the elimination of injustices. Laws which generally inhibited or prevented these objectives, simply had to change, this was the unfinished agenda, and challenge for Western democracy.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a preacher, moralist, a decent human being, recipient of the Noble Peace Prize. He is one who would not bow his head in apathy or still his voice while his nation strayed from its professed reverence for justice and human life. His contributions were so dramatic and significant that the universe applauds and appreciates. The entire world is the beneficiary of the efforts of this outstanding leader who brought millions of neglected and downtrodden people hope for living, and in so doing challenged the moral conscience of all people. Part of his universal appeal was that his philosophy of life was accessible, easily understood, recognized, and accepted by humanity. He challenged those committed to negativism to look inside themselves and to make brotherhood and equality a new possibility, and for others a meaningful reality.

Martin Luther King, Jr. is a compassionate, honest, warm and wise individual with a clear sense of purpose, self-definition and internal balance; even today it is difficult to appreciate the magnitude of his greatness. He had many gifts, including an eloquence of speech that reached out to millions of people the world over. He was dearly loved by the oppressed, and despised by those who opposed him. He called a nation, and its people, to live out the true meaning of its existence and its heritage and thereby infused his people with pride and the necessary determination to change their world. He made the oppressed feel that they were not alone, he gave hope to the

poor, friendship to the lonely, understanding to the ignorant, and helped the lost find their way. His views and perspectives were thought provoking; however, comprehendible. His vision spanned the whole of human conduct, and he had strength born of humility; he was a man of his times, for all times, and all nations.Martin Luther King was an eloquent and powerful speaker whose words were infused with a poetic majesty that both stunned and uplifted his audience. All who heard him speak took pride in their own self-worth, their commitment to social change and justice was rekindled and greatly deepened. A young activist described his reaction to a speech Martin Luther King gave in Boston in 1963.

‘I left the hall to walk back down the avenue to catch a bus home, I was so filled with pride and enthusiasm, I felt as if my feet were barely touching the ground as I moved along, it was a pro Martin Luther King was born into a country where practically every southern state was segregated, a divided and unequal system made up the educational, economic, political and social landscape of the Old South. Schools were segregated, restaurants were off limits to black people, and hotels had no vacancies when a black face appeared. Theatres, housing, waiting rooms, lavatories, drinking fountains, public accommodation, the queues for purchasing a dog license were segregated. This within a nation which called itself the hope for the oppressed of the world, which had declared all men equal, which had promised freedom, and equal protection for all, a nation which had built its wealth upon the backs of slaves.’

– Article by Nish

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“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.


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Canadian Tamil Sports Association (CTSA) held its 6th annual Awards Night on April 3rd 2010. The event was organized to recognize youth who excel in sports and athletics. Five hundred awards were given out to youth for their accomplishments in various sports and athletics. CTSA’s Awards Night has become an important date on the calendar in the community and this has been seen in attendance. Hundreds of youth and people from the community participated in the event to make it successful.

– Vijay.T

Photo’s courtesy of Arul.M


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Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) held their Annual General Meeting on Sunday, April 04, 2010 from 10 am - 4 pm at Bahen Center, University of Toronto, and St.George Campus. The event was started with opening ceremonies, adoption of agenda and 2010 visioning session. They introduced the five different councils of CTYA and importance of the creation of a democratic forum for Canadian Tamil Youth. The Elections for the Board of Directors of CTYA (2010-2011) were took place. The chair of the election was Krisna Saravanamuttu and the chief returning officer was Siva Vimalachandran. The election for the new Board of Directors was conducted in a democratic way.

Following are the names and titles of CTYA’s Board of Directors (BOD):

General Committee Arts and Culture Council - Directors- Geanany Rasanathan- Sayi Rajakumar- Sivajith Thanigasalam Athletics Council - Directors- Brindan Ramalingam- Buvanesh Balachandran Education and Career Development Council - Directors- Gauthamy Puwanakumar- Rumini Nanthakumar- Chalini Anantharajah Human Rights Advocacy Council - Directors- Krishanthy Shanmuganathan- Jenega Sellathurai Tamil Nation Development Council - Director- Gopika Somaskandarajah

Executive Committee

President- Jenit Jey Vice President Finance- Chenthuran Ganesh Vice President Communication- Mathusha Senthilmurugan Vice President External- Kajananth Thiru Vice President Membership Development- Suganyan Ketheeswaran

The current group of members and Board of Directors are strong individuals who have proven to unite and help break down various barriers in order to achieve great successes. As a strong alliance, CTYA will work towards uniting and empowering Canadian Tamil Youth to become outstanding leaders and citizens in our society.

– CTYA

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CTYA AGM


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TYO Public Forum

On Sunday April 18th 2010, Tamil Youth Organization of Canada (TYO) held their public forum for the public to come out and voice their opinions on the stands of TYO’s decisions and their initiatives. TYO took this opportunity to announce the Tamil public about the TYO’s stands on current community events that were taking place. As the main aspect of this public forum TYO members spoke about the TYO’s May month initiative: ‘Remembering May Massacre’, the important of the May month and TYO’s key role in initiating and conducting the May moth of 2010. All the questions rose by the public reading community events and TYO’s future plans where answered clearly by the TYO members in a professional manner. Hundreds of Tamil people came out and made this Public form a successful event

– Vijay.T



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Our soldiers are to be remembered and never to be forgotten. The memorial held to commemorate the great Brigadiers Theepan, Vidhusha, Durga and Manivannan and the rest that have sacrificed their lives for the love of their motherland was a remarkable event. The Tamil community had come together collectively to commemorate the loss of the great heroes and to pay respect. The people’s feelings and emotions were depicted through traditional stage based performances and heart felt speeches. The lost of these Brigadiers were phenomenal and irreplaceable; it is a great loss for our freedom struggle. Our freedom fighters and the innocent people that perished to the ground believed in a free Tamileelam and that will be the ultimatum ‘a free Tamileelam’ for all eternity. The freedom fighters will always remain in the heart and soul of Tamils as fire that guides us closer to the goal. Until and after such day is born shall we share the ambition, passion and the vision that these great ones cherished. A free nation of Tamileelam was their only vision and they fought true to that until their last breath. These great ones will remain to guide us in the path to seek a free nation of Tamileelam. Once again they shall all be reborn in our beloved motherland and will help create history. History can never be destroyed it only continues…Tamileelam will always remain to be the land of Eelam Tamils; ‘Em Maaveerar Kanavu Palikkum-Tamileelam Viraivil Malarum’. - in memory of Maaveerar

– Thamayanthy.R

In Memory Of Great BrigadiersYo

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May, a Month of Remembrance

The month of May is a month of remembrance, whether it is remembering the innocent lives lost in the Mulivaikal massacre, or let it be remembering the Maveerar who lost their lives fight-ing for an independent state which we will forever call, Tamil Eelam. Many of the innocent lives we have lost include the thousands of lives lost to rape, torture, kidnapping, and murder! Most of the casualties occurred on May 18th, 2009, which is the day that the war was declared over. We made history as we ran up the Gardiner Expressway, we held non-stop protests, now it is important for us youths to take initiative to remember these events, and start to make changes which will help the Tamil community succeed in the future, as well as, bring the dreams of those people and children who were not able to live it, to life!

In the present, the Sri Lankan Government believes they have the whole country, Sri Lanka, un-der their control, and their objective is to erase Tamil identity within that very country, as well as around the world. It is up to us youth to be involved and unite as one, to never leave and forget our identity as Tamils. Even though we may have been brought up outside of our homeland, Tamil Eelam, we should never forget that this is our origin, this is where our people come from, and we shall unite as one, as Tamils with one ambition, making the dream of Tamil Eelam uprising, a reality!

Thamilarin Thaagam, Thamil Eelam Thayakam!

– Pammy.K

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Annai Poopathy

Our Annai Poopathy became one of the roots to our Eelam strugle, she fought against the Indian Goverment to withdraw the Indian Army, who were killing innocent civilians in thousands. Annai Poopathy potested this injustice against our people by commiting herself to a Ghandian form of protest. Annai Poopathy fasted for 31 days without consuming food, and sacrificed her life to ignite the freedom fire in the lives of the youth.

In Berlin 18/04/2010, Tamil youths arranged the 22nd Annual Memorial Day event. The event consisted of: moment of silence, poems, and freedom songs were contributed to the Annai Poopathy by Tamils from Berlin, Germany.

– TYO Germany


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can’t help but remembercan’t help but crycan’t seem to move on, from the voices and lieseach day, each second..each sunset and sunrise..i remember our efforts,everything that we’ve triedtheir suffering, their massacre, their slaughtered livesour tears for their bloodour chants for their screamssleepless nights, in vane from their paininsane from their sufferinglinked arms, while they held handstook streets, to protect our landtheir guns with our voice words and pensour flag soaredour demands ignoredand to this day as i walk through the streets we took,i hear the haunted strain in the voices that once screamed along the sidewalksI see invisible dents of where we once sat, and occupied.and the sunlight dimmed itself as i walked by..and shadows danced, a sad funeral piece..as my insides hardened and began to grieve....i had lost my voice before from non-stop chantsbut without even a word this time, my throat clogged upunable to speak, memories came to life..once upon a time, we all united..once upon a time, we were all we hadday and night, and night and day..the cold and heat, the frost bites and sweatthe sleep deprivation, and uncontrollable emotionsthe anger frustration, the sorrowed depression..the mourning, and uprise..and where, where are we all tonight?

– enna da


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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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Reach Designer - Shiyamdev.SReach Editor - Arul.M


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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 MAY 25th, 2010

o Must be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject ‘Reach-MAY 2010’

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

For our next month’s issue:

Submit your written work based on

‘what’s on your mind?’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

WRITEFor the beautiful moments

For the tragic timesWith your heart and no regrets

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April 2010 REACH

Documents

tamil minority

tamil civilians

tamil nation

thousands of tamil people

betterment of tamil

tamilcanadian youth

government of sri lanka

sri lankan government