By Roy Ratnavel
(March 24, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) The freedom we enjoy in Canada is precious to me. I state this at the outset, because I grew up in a country where freedom is a rare commodity, and the slaughter of innocents is common.
I lived almost half of my life in Sri Lanka, and spent three months of that time in jail. There, I suffered various forms of unspeakable torture at the age of 17, for no other reason than that I was a member of the country’s Tamil minority.
Days after my release, with the help of my father, I went to the Canadian High Commission in Colombo and was granted an interview with an immigration officer by the name of Robert Orr (not to be confused with the hockey player, as I always stress when telling this story). Mr. Orr asked me if I could provide evidence of my incarceration. I took my shirt off and revealed my upper body, and there was plenty of evidence. I will spare readers the details, but it was enough for him to grant me a visa to Canada.
I am ecstatic that this great nation has given me a rebirth. I am Canadian first; my loyalty is non-negotiable. Yet the constant suffering of the people and the families I left behind troubles me.
Tamils who were present at the Toronto protest on Monday — an event criticized in a recent National Post editorial (“Terrorism Double-Standard,” March 18) — were very emotional. Many have their own personal stories of tyranny. Some have family members who have been killed recently, or know of someone imprisoned in what can only be described as concentration camps. They cling to the hope that Canada will listen to their cries.
While we debate about which protestors were waving which flags, lives are being lost: According to the United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, at least 2,800 Tamils were killed by the military offensive conducted by Sri Lanka within the past few months alone.
Sri Lanka, it should be mentioned, is also a friend of Iran and Pakistan. In April, 2008, Sri Lanka gave a red-carpet welcome to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — a Holocaust denier and an ardent supporter of the elimination of Israel. It’s true in politics, as in life, that people can be judged by the company they keep.
It is high time for Canada to exert political and economic sanctions against Sri Lanka for its inexcusable and ongoing contribution to large-scale humanitarian misery. Regardless of how one feels about the Tamil Tigers, Canadians must speak up against Sri Lankan government savagery. It is the only position that is consistent with our own democratic ideals.
April 18, 1988, is a date I will never forget. My father peered through the glass and waved his final goodbye to me at the Colombo airport. His facial expression forever will be etched in my memory. Like me, he was no doubt experiencing a complex mix of emotions at the time. I bet he was happy for me, fearful for his own life and angry that, finally, it had come to this.
Following my departure, he was shot dead at the age of 53, right in front of my mother — a horrible incident my mother can’t let go and that I keep reliving. When I heard the news of his death, I sobbed while clinging to the kitchen counter-top like it was a life preserver.
For the sake of the Tamils still living in Sri Lanka, I hope that Canadians will spare them a thought, and force our government to raise its voice against an ongoing tragedy.-Sri Lanka Guardian
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Canada's Tamils are still nursing the wounds of 25 years ago and spewing venom and hate. Emotionally, this is understandable and they cannot do anything else. But we live in the suburbs of Colombo, and we Sri lank an Tamils have to make our lives work. So let the exp-patriots manage their own lives, and leave us alone. We want to get RID OF THE LTTE. Then we would have less problems and we will not be treated like the Japanese living in Canada during world war II (fortunately, we are treated far better than how Canada treated its Japanese Canadians).
This is nonsense...With the Tamil diaspora we cannot discriminate fact from fiction any more, as many of them have become such pathological liars.
We know that many Tamil refugees (and refugees of other ethnic groups as well) have wounds that are self-inflicted in order to convince immigration authorities of abuse.
We also know that LTTE dress up in SL Army unifroms and go kill people especially in front of family in order to create hate against Sri Lanka and to get them to submit to the "cause".
Why is this person speaking up now if not as part of the last ditch LTTE effort to save itself?
There is so much lying going on these days by Tamils in the diaspora it is mind boggling that they are capable of such falsehood.
There will be hope for the Tamil people when they stop LYING, CHEATING, SMUGGLING, RACKETEERING, and become honest citizens once more. They owe it at least to the countries they are now making their adopted homes, if not Sri Lanka,the country that gave them their Free Education. The writer of this article could not possible have learnt the English language after coming to Canada!
SRI LANKAN ARMY'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH MR RATNAVEL'S ARREST AND HIS FATHER'S SHOOTING INCIDENT.
Sorry to read this writer inaccurately and falsely blaming the Sinhalese for his misfortune.
Firstly he says he left Sri Lanka in 1988 and his father was shot just after he left the country.So according to his account these things happened in 1988.
In 1988 North and East was totally under CONTROL of the Indian Peace Keeping Force as per the Indo Lanka accord, signed in July 1987 and Indians were fighting with the LTTE at the time.
And don't forget the Indians were invited by the LTTE in the first place and they were welcomed,garlanded and was given King Coconut to quench their thirst in thousands.
During this period the Sri Lanka Army was strictly confined to the barracks by the Indians and did not venture out at all and never took part in any anti terrorist activities.
It was LTTE everywhere and EPRLF and other minor groups operating from Indian camps.
So this writer was definitely arrested and tortured by the Indian Army or their allied local Tamil militant groups and was tortured for three months. After his release he left Sri Lanka and immediately lost his father as well.
HE WAS NEITHER ARRESTED NOR TORTURED BY THE SRI LANKA ARMY AND HIS FATHER WAS NOT HARMED BY SLA SOLDIERS.
This is another good example of BOGUS PROPAGANDA generated by the so called diaspora people to generate sympothy for a ruthless blood thirsty terrorist organisation AT ANY COST DISTORTING THE TRUTH.
All these people supporting LTTE is breeding terrorism.
They don't blame LTTE for not allowing evacuation from LTTE areas in Mullativu. They go blind on civilians get killed while escaping from that area. They don't see the humanitarian efforts taken by Srilanka government for the well being of those refugees staying in varios camps.
The tamils in Srilanka wants to live with other communities peacefully but Tamils living in Canada and Europe who are day dreaming for aseperate state in SL fund money to ruthless LTTE to divide SL.
How come the LTTE supporters raise flag of LTTE and carrying placards of Ruthless Prabhakaran when LTTE is banned in Canada. Respective governments has to pay immediate attention to this and has to prevent this happening again.
These heartless Canadian Tamils are hell bent on destroying Sinhala to get a piece of land. They glorify death by suicide bombers and let cyanide swallowing kids to do their donkey work. And yet they live in comfort in Canada. These people are unfit to govern themselves let alone creating another Somalia in Sri Lanka.
Just another pack of lies to elicit sympathy. The writer says his father was shot dead after seeing him off at the airport. Does that mean he was shot at the airport ? The lies are getting interesting and confusing.
2.5 million Tamils living with sinhalease peacefully, No any protest from them. Government of Canada, please think about it and study the real situation insteard of getting cheat from terrorists supporters in Canada.
Mr. Roy Rathnawal,
Creative writing.. Very sad story nicely compiled.. You haven’t mentioned why you were put into jail ? Is it that you break houses ? I hope not. its because of LTTE isn’t it ? You were LTTE suspect don’t you ? or else are you saying that 1.2 million Tamils in Sri Lanka were put it jail because they are Tamils ? Why Lie ?
You are saying your father was killed. But you haven’t say by whom. But the way you have written the post it implies as if it was done by the Sri Lankan forces. But again you haven’t mentioned why. Do you think its too much of detail to mention that ?
Yes most of the Tamils in Canada support LTTE. This is why they are in Canada. If not LTTE they will be farming in North. Do you think they want to go back to farming Onions? Yes they have a reason. You and I both know that most LTTE member’s families are there. Being a LTTE terrorist is a free International Visa.
Why Tamil people undergoing this hardship? If there is no LTTE, will they face this hardship? If There is no LTTE will there be ‘Indiscriminate Bombing to Tamil people’ as you say?
LTTE is fighting for a dream which now it shattered. You and I both know about it. Demanding one third of Sri Lanka as a mono ethnic Tamil homeland has driven the Tamil people into this misery. If you are truly concern about Tamil civilians stop helping terrorists. Ask The LTTE terrorists to give up their civilian Human shield if they can’t fight with the forces. Don’t pretend that you are so concern about Tamil Civilians. What you are really worried about is the LTTE Terrorists. And that’s why you and most Canadians upset.. You cant hide it any more.
Comm-on Roy be truthful.. 1987-1991 SL north-East was under the direct command of the Indian Army and the SL defense forces were banned from those areas . During that time SL army was fighting bloody communist uprising in southern Sri Lanka. So obviously you may have been either harassed by Indian Army or by one of the other military groups for supporting one of their rival groups or they may have been self inflected .Could you pls clarify where your beloved father was killed ? … .. You have a talent for creative writing , keep it up and think of the education and all other support you got from your motherland .. remember it takes lots of energy to lie … use it for a good cause.. Cheers mate.. good luck in all your endeavors .. be a man , get a life . Would you like to say a few words about crimes committed by LTTE as well , mostly targeting progressive tamils, probably you can write a book .
Lot has been said.He stands for LTTE(Liars(l),terminators(T)of Tamils(T)in Eeelam(E)
Good Bye
Mr. Ratnavel,
You have written this article and not once mentioned the LTTE, the massacres of innocent civilians, suicide bombing, bombing civilian targets, creation of mono ethinc enclaves.
This is your (LTTE supporters) problem. See it in only one angle, and out to show the world in that same angle... the oppressed and the liberators. Good luck!
What we are witnessing today is the tragedy of perpetual hate brought about by lying, cheating etc. by the LTTE Tamil supporters like you, Mr Ratnavale. If we ferret out the truth, all the
lying you did/are doing was to somehow go abroad,
preferably to a country like Canada which looks after refugees very well. A poor country like Sri Lanka which served your purpose for free education & health care while you were a boy (and for your father too), has been cast aside and crushed under a pack of lies. The damage the likes of you do to the country of your birth is incalculable. The least you can do now is to back off from your LTTE membership, and help look after the IDPs who have been used quite cruelly over many years by the LTTE. No more lies & cheating, please ! We have all had enough of it.
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