Tamil community protesters say they will not stop blocking the Gardiner Expressway...

[masterchief]

Farmers and truckers have also tied up our roads within the last two or three years and I don't recall such vitriol.

The difference there was that their protest was limited to Queen’s Park which for most people is where protests against the local government occur. Not to mention they announced the day weeks in advance and coordinated with local police to be able to drive their tractor convoy into and out of the city with minimal impact on drivers.

That is different than running ramshot on the city streets waving terrorist flags and illegally disobeying the police and occupying a highway.

 

[masterchief]

And NO warning.....believe you me, this "spontaneous" event was planned...

Of course it was planned.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/632776

 

[kevdidit]

quote in the Star

"If the Tamil community doesn't see affirmative and decisive action taken by the Canadian government in regards to the Sri Lankan issue, you can definitely expect more protesting. Of what sort, what kind, of what outcome, I really couldn't tell you," said 21-year-old Ghormy Theva.

sounds like a terrorist threat to me.

 

[fuji]

I am honestly less bothered by the temporary street closings than I am by the fucking terrorist flag they wave around.

If they weren't waving that terrorist flag I guess I would understand that when your relatives are being killed you feel like you need to do something extreme. I'd still expect the police to move them out--but OK, I would have some sympathy.

I don't have ANY sympathy for assholes who wave that fucking LTTE flag around though.

 

[Barca]

"If the Tamil community doesn't see affirmative and decisive action taken by the Canadian government in regards to the Sri Lankan issue, you can definitely expect more protesting. Of what sort, what kind, of what outcome, I really couldn't tell you," said 21-year-old Ghormy Theva.

sounds like a terrorist threat to me.

WE WILL FORCE YOU TO DO WHAT WE WANT YOU TO DO!!!

Idiots. They are hurting their own cause, not helping it.

As for the Teflon dude...calm the fuck down. Not every immigrant sponges off of the system...lots of "whites" do too. Stop being so ignorant.

People have been taking vacations and now unpaid leave from work to mobilize, said Senthan Nadaraja, spokesperson for the Coalition to Stop the War in Sri Lanka.

Sounds to me like lots of these people aren't on welfare or pogey. If they would protest properly, I wouldn't have a problem with them like you do. However, this blocking traffic and interering with society has to stop.

 

[bishop101]

How long has this been going on for, and how many protests have taken place thus far?

 

[The LoLRus]

I'm possibly one who would normally be considered somewhat racist, but this latent hatret of these Tamils exhibited by just about everyone here on Terb and elsewhere is pretty eye opening.

Farmers and truckers have also tied up our roads within the last two or three years and I don't recall such vitriol.

Make no mistake, I think that anyone who protests and gets in the way of anyone else going about their business whether it be a farmer saying he doesn't get paid enough for his milk or a union bully blocking someone else from trying to get to work should be charged with a criminal offense.

Criminal Mischief if nothing else.

But I'm really surprised at the latent hatred I'm feeling ....

One protest and I wouldnt have too much of a problem with them

But its what, 3 or 4 protests now???
They're tying up traffic and practically holding the city hostage. Yeah you bet, I'm slowly gathering hatred for them. Not because of their color, but of what they represent and how they're conducting themselves.

Can we all have protests then?? Whenever there's injustice around the world we can all protest downtown??
It would be anarchy everywhere, you really want that??

 

[KBear]

It would be anarchy everywhere, you really want that??

They do, unless their demands are met. They don’t seem to have any consideration for democracy, the greater community, the laws, the rights of others, or anything else.

I thought their human chains where good/interesting, but the blocking of roads and highways, and putting children between them and police is something totally different. I don’t think the police were prepared for that.

Have to wonder if the people surrounding the Tiger leaders in Srilanka are also volunteers blocking the military forces. The protesters should be demanding that the Tigers surrender, and stop the war.

 

[The LoLRus]

Talk about the cops being outnumbered...LOL

 

[raj_sekar_100]

If the Tamils protest like this at home, maybe that's why the Sri Lankan government is hard on them.

The Sri Lankan governemnt stripped the Tamils of their SL citizenship and denied opportunities in job and education. Saying that they are hard on them because of the way they protest is turning the issue upside down.

 

[The LoLRus]

@ raj_sekar_100

So what exactly is it you want the U.S and Canadian govts to do??
Can you explain your cause in less than 100 words, please??
(I have a really short attention span)

 

[raj_sekar_100]

Personally, I'm getting fed up with all these guys. Tamils, Hindus, Muslims, whatever. To me they're the same and are the ones always causing shit here in Canada and the rest of the world. If they experience racism, it's because they're bringing it on themselves.

Wow, that is some solid hatred there.

It is because immigrants come here and fill up the middle/lower layer of the pyramid, that most white guys are able to move to the top of the pyramid. I have seen this time and time again. Lot of white guys are not as sharp as to occupy the position they are in. If you hate immigrants and want them out of Canada, be prepared to fall 2 or 3 level down in the pyramid.

 

[raj_sekar_100]

@ raj_sekar_100

So what exactly is it you want the U.S and Canadian govts to do??
Can you explain your cause in less than 100 words, please??
(I have a really short attention span)

Lolorus - I am not with the protestor and I do not identify myself with the Sri Lankan Tamils. I am just trying to put things in perspective. The way the SL Tamils are protesting is WRONG.

Canada, US and the rest of the world should do exactly what they would do if there is a humanitarian crisis on some part of the world. Pope Benedict said yesterday that we should always remember the holocaust so that we never let something similar happen again. Holocaust victims were Jews and the perps Nazis. Canada and US were third party to that issue. SL civil war victims are Tamils and the perps the SL Army. Canada and US are third party to this as well. As fellow human being, what do you think we should do?

 

[raj_sekar_100]

Lolorus - I am not with the protestor and I do not identify myself with the Sri Lankan Tamils. I am just trying to put things in perspective. The way the SL Tamils are protesting is WRONG.

Sorry, I noticed that I did not reply to your qn. These are some of the options for Canada and rest of the world -

1. Pass a UN resolution condemning the humanitarian crisis perpetuated by the SL army

2. Send UN monitors to assess the ground situation. Obviously something fishy is going on there. SL Government expelled 3 BBC journalist on May 10 on charges of tarnishing their image. Read - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8042341.stm

3. Set up UN refugee camps in SL.

4. Set up no-fly zone over tamil areas in Sri Lanka so that SL Airforce cannot drop bombs on civilians.

5. Get LTTE to surrender arms on above terms

6. Make SL restore full citizenship rights to Tamils so that Tamil refugess from Canada, Germany, UK etc can return to their home. If SL fails to do so, put trade embargo.

 

[islandman4567]

"If the Tamil community doesn't see affirmative and decisive action taken by the Canadian government in regards to the Sri Lankan issue, you can definitely expect more protesting. Of what sort, what kind, of what outcome, I really couldn't tell you," said 21-year-old Ghormy Theva.

sounds like a terrorist threat to me.

if you don't give me what I want , I can't be held accountable for what you've forced me to do.

that seems like what they're saying, and it sounds like they're going to try to raise the stakes in this.

 

[raj_sekar_100]

raj,

are you suggesting that Canada send our soldiers there?

No, I think we have spilt enough Canadian blood in Afghanistan. We can take up the initiative in UN to get the UN stamp of approval to intervene. There are other countries from the South Asian region or elsewhere that can chip in with soldiers.

 

[masterchief]

Sorry, I noticed that I did not reply to your qn. These are some of the options for Canada and rest of the world -

1. Pass a UN resolution condemning the humanitarian crisis perpetuated by the SL army

They’ve tried under the UN security council, but it’s been vetoed each time by China who is in the midst of a deal with Sri Lanka in setting up a naval base there. As a sitting member they’ll veto an actions towards Sri Lanka.

Funny though, I never see the Tamils protesting the Chinese consulate on St. George St though.

2. Send UN monitors to assess the ground situation. Obviously something fishy is going on there. SL Government expelled 3 BBC journalist on May 10 on charges of tarnishing their image. Read - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8042341.stm
3. Set up UN refugee camps in SL.
4. Set up no-fly zone over tamil areas in Sri Lanka so that SL Airforce cannot drop bombs on civilians.

Once again these are all actions that must be approved by the UN security Council. With the veto of China the hands of the world are tied. Furthermore China has stated that any intervention in Sri Lanka would be looked unfavorable by them….do you really want to piss of one of the worlds largest military forces?

Also, this is still a internal matter in a democratically elected sovereign nation, so the UN cannot go in without being invited or unless there is some sort of proven violation of international law

As well there are many NGO reports that much of the artillery fire landing in the Civilian safe zone is being fired from both sides; and that the LTTE has begun to mine the area…in violation of international law.

5. Get LTTE to surrender arms on above terms

They’ve tried, but the LTTE has refused any offers to surrender, instead they are asking for a ceasefire so that their leadership can be smuggled out of the warzone with any civilians that are being held hostage by the LTTE. The LTTE has repeatedly stated that they will never surrender.

I mean they’ve entrenched themselves in a civilian area.

6. Make SL restore full citizenship rights to Tamils so that Tamil refugess from Canada, Germany, UK etc can return to their home. If SL fails to do so, put trade embargo.

Once again, Sri Lanka is a sovereign nation, and we have no right to enforce such a concept. What right do we have to tell any nation how to deal with it’s own citizens. Are you really ready for the slippery slope that will happen if something like this ever did happen.

You are very naïve to the ways of the world and of global diplomacy.

 

[raj_sekar_100]

OK I might be naive about global diplomacy. Is there any practical solution that you can think of?

 

[The LoLRus]

Ever notice a lot of these 3rd world countries hate the West (and America).
Until they need our help, then suddenly we're everyone's daddy!!

 

[curious newbee]

Wow, that is some solid hatred there.

It is because immigrants come here and fill up the middle/lower layer of the pyramid, that most white guys are able to move to the top of the pyramid. I have seen this time and time again. Lot of white guys are not as sharp as to occupy the position they are in. If you hate immigrants and want them out of Canada, be prepared to fall 2 or 3 level down in the pyramid.

I disagree with you...I don't think it's a hatred towards immigrants....it's frustration at the fact that they take for granted the freedom they have here. They come here for a better life but keep bringing with them, the problems they ran away from. The illegal protests and threats of escalation if they don't get what they want understates the lack of intelligence held by these 'sharper' immigrants.

Before you start slamming me, I am an immigrant as well and even though I'm not white, I take offence to your statement about 'lot of white guys are not as sharp'. There's an equal amount of idiots at the top and they come in all colours. If anything, some of the non-white guys hold these high posts only because they're non-white and raised shit about not enough visible minorities in management instead of working hard to get there using their own skills and intelligence to move up into management.

I do sympathize with the loss of life in SL but I don't sympathize with the terrorists hiding behind human shields...both in SR and in Toronto. The attention this has brought to the issue in SR is negative. Is this what you hope to gain?

We are all frustrated at everyone bringing their battles here. If immigrants come here to get away from things such as this, and to create a better life for themselves and their families, great, you're welcome to be here. If you have to bring your wars with you and abuse the legal rights you do have, then, please, do us all a favour and go fight your battles where they are currently raging.