Ottawa, Canada: Tamils Take Protests to Harper's Front Door

http://www.embassymag.ca/page/view/chatter_house-4-8-2009

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/News/Rush+hour+protest+ends+peacefully+traffic+r...

Rush-hour protest ends peacefully, traffic resumes
Traffic comes to halt as hundreds demand Sri Lanka ceasefire
By Katie Daubs, The Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA-The hundreds of Tamils who protested against what they call genocide in Sri Lanka were apologetic about snarling Ottawas rush-hour traffic, but said they had no other choice.

Its a little tough with whats happening at home, said Anthony Kirupal, who came from Toronto with 50 others. I know we created a disturbance, but weve been peaceful for four months, and nothing happened, so what else could we do?

A civil war between the Sri Lankan army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has been ongoing for more than two decades, with the Tigers fighting, they say, to protect the countrys ethnic Tamil minority.

In recent months, pressure for a ceasefire has increased, as government forces encroach into territory held by the Tigers.

The protesters in Ottawa were calling for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and want the Canadian government to intervene to protect the Tamil people, who they say are being targeted.

Please try to understand, were only asking for a ceasefire so innocent people can be saved, Kirupal said.

As buses lined the westbound Transitway behind the Rideau Centre, commuters were not so understanding.

They want our help and they create chaos? It shouldnt be allowed, Sandy Craig said. It angers me. Im for helping people but there should be a better way.

Bettina Serventi called the effort immature.

Why disrupt the city when you can do other things?

She said she didnt have a clue about what was going on in Sri Lanka, but yesterdays protest did not make her want to know.

Nathalie Bernard was just trying to get home after a long day of work. Its pissing me off, she said as she stared at the buses. I dont care what theyre doing, theyre disrupting my sleep.

Tuesdays protest was part of a worldwide effort to bring attention to the rising death toll in Sri Lanka.

In London, police arrested six protestors at an illegal demonstration by thousands of angry Tamils. Ottawa police Sgt. Mark Hayes said there was no violence here, and no arrests were made.

At 6:30 p.m., a line of 30 police officers slowly walked toward the protesters, forcing them out of the intersection to let the buses through. Protesters reluctantly moved back, and one protester with a megaphone shouted for co-operation to avoid a riot.

Many in the intersection called the need for their protest frustrating and said they didnt want to block buses. We have no choice, said Vany Siva. We have to do this.

Last night, as protesters staked out a place in front of Parliament Hill, Wellington Street was blocked between Metcalfe Street and Rideau Street. Police said they were prepared to stay as long as the protest continued.


"Ottawa streets blocked during Sri Lankan war protest"
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/04/07/ot-090407-tamil.html

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[DUTTYWINE1TIME69]

you retard they are terrorists they go and bomb in the heart of srilanka its all for land wake up and also the govt kills tamil babies and rapes lil girls being a tamil i really dont support the tigers but i hate singhalese ppl

[ranjistudent]

if tamil tigers are terrorist then why did those 32 countries lifted the ban on ltte betweeen 200-2003? Norway wen tto peace talk and asked the fishery export rights for 100 years ltte refused now there is war,