HRW,  Tue Mar 14 20:23:47 EST 2006

    (New York, March 15, 2006) – The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers) subject Sri Lankan Tamils living in Canada, the United Kingdom and other Western countries to intimidation, extortion and even violence to ensure a steady flow of funds for operations in Sri Lanka and to suppress criticism of human rights abuses, said Human Rights Watch in a new report released today.

The 45-page report, “Funding the ‘Final War’: LTTE Intimidation and Extortion in the Tamil Diaspora,” details how representatives of the LTTE and pro-LTTE groups use unlawful pressure among Tamil communities in the West to secure financial pledges. People were told that if they did not pay the requested sum, they would not be able to return to Sri Lanka to visit family members. Others were warned that they would be “dealt with” or “taught a lesson.” One Toronto business owner said that after he refused to pay more than C$20,000, Tamil Tiger representatives made threats against his wife and children.

Full Story


Tamil Tigers feeding off Toronto kinsmen, rights group says

Globe and Mail, March 15. Tamil families in Toronto are faced with extortion from Tamil Tigers of up to $10,000 apiece, and Tamil entrepreneurs up to $100,000 each, according to a new report released by Human Rights Watch.

The New-York-based group says that Tamil Tiger fundraisers are increasingly strong-arming the Toronto Tamil community -- the largest Diaspora group outside of war-torn Sri Lanka — as their island nation once again girds for civil war.

Canadian Tamils who don't give money to the separatist cause, according to Human Rights Watch, face the prospect of being beaten or having family members being abused abroad. “Canada is not actually a democracy because we can't open our mouths against the LTTE,” one Toronto Tamil told Human Rights Watch

Full Story


_________________
- The Academic

I have sufficient experience in living in the UK and Canada.  I know the real hardships faced by Tamils and Sinhalese living especially in Canada (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan etc.) and how difficult it is to earn and save in Canada.  Therefore, it is hard to believe that the money that LTTE collects are donations but something like taxes.  There is a huge difference between donations and taxes.


_________________
agro

I personally knew, that businesses financed by LTTE. When the business rejected to collect money for the "tamil struggle" they had to close.

They have many different businesses, they just need money. I knew one well known Business those days well establioshed and functioned in Maradana or Wellampitiya ( I suppose) moved to Canada, they did not want to have business contacts with sinhala people.

Somebody said some time back that in 1983, the video cameras were not a commodity in Colombo. But, the 1983 riots were well covered by the LTTE. That proves that when they sent the bodies of the soldiers to Colombo, they had planned for the rest of the drama. When they sent these movies to the Tamil diaspora, they beleived that the LTTE is fighting for a true cause. But they did not know that they had been cheated. If the LTTE was genuine, the past 20 years were enough to form a strong democratic party and fight for the Tamil rights. Sri Lankans would have supported it much willingly. Now what have they got for Tamils? They lost their lands, they lost their schools, they lost their freedom of speech, they lost their next generation in cultures foriegn to them, but the leaders are living like kings. Their sons and daughters are going to good universities while the kids of the others are made buffalo soldiers.

Now the Sinhalese can not wash their hands and say, it is a Tamil problem and we should not get involved. We have a duty to do whatever we can to support the democratic movements (not crooks like TNA), who has a genuine desire to work for the Tamils. We should never forget that the Tamil culture has contributed a lot to the Sinhala culture over many years.

I wish all victimized Tamils get more and more strength to fight for their freedom from the brutal, barbarian LTTE.

I'm sure all these pro-Tigers will say that the report is wrong.

On the other hand just like on the Child soldiers matter, they will say not be worried about it as it's their (Tamil's) problem.

Best part is when matter like these comes to surface they become their community problem and not as social or huminatarian problems. DUPLICITY IS ALL OVER.

SUPPORTING TIGERS WHOLE HEARTEDLY IS FINE. BUT I'M SURE NONE OF THESE EXPATS WILL LIVE IN A DECLARED EELAM COUNTRY UNDER THE SUN-GOD.

Oh, perhaps they want to support Sun-God's off spring's to live & study abroad unlike their counter part's in SL.

Any way it's a known fact that 83' riots gave an advantage to all Tamils who were seeking visas to foreign countries. So in different hand supprting the Tigers is not a crime as if not for them many Tamils would not be living in developed countries.

.

Dear Call

Call wrote:

Somebody said some time back that in 1983, the video cameras were not a commodity in Colombo. But, the 1983 riots were well covered by the LTTE. That proves that when they sent the bodies of the soldiers to Colombo, they had planned for the rest of the drama.

Like some of our less-informed diaspora Tamils, you have given a lot of credit to the LTTE where it isn't due.  In 1983 the LTTE had 20-30 members and only about 9 serious members, even though it was well-known in government circles and the Sinhala media.  The Sinhalese in those very early years had very much blown up the LTTE into far more than it really was.  Planning and carrying out that one attack on the army patrol took the combined sum of all the LTTE's resources.  Thus the common belief among the Sinhalese that the LTTE had omnisciently predicted that the 1983 riots would take place after attacking the army and thus prepared video cameras is hogwash.

Call wrote:

Now the Sinhalese can not wash their hands and say, it is a Tamil problem and we should not get involved. We have a duty to do whatever we can to support the democratic movements (not crooks like TNA), who has a genuine desire to work for the Tamils. We should never forget that the Tamil culture has contributed a lot to the Sinhala culture over many years.

I wish all victimized Tamils get more and more strength to fight for their freedom from the brutal, barbarian LTTE.

Your words are very kind for these anti-LTTE Tamils but I have to say that action speaks louder than words.  How come the Sinhalese have never devolved power to at least even Eastern Province where the LTTE was not strong until 1996-2004?  With at least some devolution, the anti-LTTE groups could've mobilized the masses and not have remained mere "paramilitaries."  Now when Anandasangaree, probably the last honest Tamil leader tries to reach out to the Sinhalese, Mahinda and the JVP just ignore and sideline him.  How do you think you'll ever beat the LTTE with this narrow-minded attitude?


_________________
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you will see every problem as a nail.- Abraham Maslow

Dear Taraki,

Taraki wrote:

Now when Anandasangaree, probably the last honest Tamil leader tries to reach out to the Sinhalese, Mahinda and the JVP just ignore and sideline him.  How do you think you'll ever beat the LTTE with this narrow-minded attitude?

Mr. Rajapakse and JVP, IMHO are not sidelining Mr. Anandasangaree. They are only watching whether Tamils truely accept him as their leader. Why should the Government support some democratic leader, if the Tamils feel that he/she is not fit enough to serve them? If Tamils in large numbers show some support and rally round him, of course, first the Sinhalese will support him and then the Government and the JVP will automaticaly come for help. But, the normal Tamils, by their behavior have shown that either they support the LTTE or they are too scared to come out and choose a democratic leader. Any democratic leader can get our support if he/she really works for the rights of the Tamils, not just speak for the Sinhalese and ratify the politicians (maybe at a fee). We Sinhalese have the same problem though we don't shout too much about it. We suffer from this Colombo only policy. We need more devolution of power to remote areas like Hambantota, Monaragala, Anuradhapura etc. Those people are highy discriminated. That is why Southern Sinhalese like JVP. They know the problems at the grass root level.

Dear Call & Taraki,

Quote:

If Tamils in large numbers show some support and rally round him ......

Call may have a point here. If this happens ....then the government and the JVP can jump on the bandwagon.

The problem is it will take an enormous effort from Anadasangaree to achieve this. A majority of tamils are attracted, misguided, forced and pushed towards the goal of salvation that the LTTE has indicated to them - Eelam. If Anandasangaree is to take this majority with him, he should be able to show them an alternative goal. That alternative goal is power-devolution in the form of a federal state. Unless Anandasagaree can convince the tamils that such an alternative is possible, he cannot take the tamils away from the clutches of the LTTE.

If the alternative goal is not there for the tamils to see, how can they be expected to follow Anandasangaree towards a solution within Sri Lanka?

As it is, the alternative offered by the President and the JVP is a unitary state - more of the same of what we have had for 50 years. (If you take some of our nationalists seriously, even during those 50 years, we have been 'giving' the country to the tamils!)

Without the support of the Sinhalese, Anandasangaree will be struggling to achieve his objective. While he is struggling, the LTTE will be eternally out to put a bullet into him.

That bullet may kill the last chance that Sri Lanka has.

I think tamil nation in Sri Lanka is not yet cultured and matured enough for democracy. They still think that they must be governed by facists. Thats why they are still under the iron shoe of LTTE terrorists...

The same thing was on the card at 77 and also in 88/89. But Sinhala mothers and fathers had enough guts to medeate and get their mis directed sons and daughters back to democracy, the path of civilised world.
Unfortunately we can see ignorant tamil mothers still marching on the "Pongu tamil" festivals organised by facist terrorists whiletheir misleaded sons and daugters pointing gun at them....
Alas,, in the north its the tail that govern the body which is paralised... Not enough democratic leaders (there are a few ofcaurse)  to stand on their feet and see this issue which is in the tamil community itself...

There is no point of shedding crocodile tears now.  Do you care for Tamils ?.  We were responsible for the Tamils to leave Sri Lanka and settle in other countries.  Still the Chuvanists say Sri Lanka is not home land of the Tamils.  

It is a shame that you all just pretend to care for Tamils.  Do anyone care how many Tamils are living under the trees and temeroray shed after evacuated from their homes where they lived for generations.  They were displaced by the army for the High security zones.  Do any one of you talk about that or care about them.  

Now you guys are acting like you care for Tamils.  Now you guys are scared of Tigers, otherwise there would have been repetition of July 83 many times.


_________________
Be patriotic .. think of the motherland

the report is partly true. many tamils dish out $$ for the tigers willingly. the point is it is wrong to force thoses who dont support the tamil cause.

hanumanth wrote:

Now you guys are acting like you care for Tamils.  Now you guys are scared of Tigers, otherwise there would have been repetition of July 83 many times.

83 has been repeated many times, you were not paying attention (by both LTTE and SLG).
If you have been running around with 83 in your head all the time, obviously you are a very unhappy person and have allowed LTTE to get under your skin, tax your income to recruit your young ones for war games.

Protectors of Tamils have killed more Tamils than who got killed in 83.  How come you are OK when LTTE kill Tamils?

What has LTTE achieved to you beside insecurity and financial burden?


_________________
.... inspire me

[quote="hardX"]

hanumanth wrote:

"Protectors of Tamils have killed more Tamils than who got killed in 83.  How come you are OK when LTTE kill Tamils?"

Perhaps this is because those who do not support the concept of an Eelam led by Lord P are traitors and not real Tamils?

It is not wrong for liberation movements to raise money among its constituents. However, if the approach is threat and intimidation, the whole premise of 'fighting and sacrificing for the people' goes down the drain.

Historically, LTTE had two fatal weaknesses that have been crippling the LTTE.  

The first one is tactics used to raise money. Once the bank robbery phase (done by all militant groups in the '80s) was over, other militants started depending on governments or agencies of India (ENDLF, EPRLF, TELO, PLOTE and may be Karuna now) and Sri Lanka (almost all 'democratic militant groups who are unable to drop the name Eelam on their title -ENDLF, EPRLF, TELO, PLOTE, TMVP (Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal- Karuna Group) etc. As a price, they have been handicapped by strategic and tactical interests of these countries and their agencies.

LTTE saw Tamil Diaspora as a revenue stream in perpetuity. This provided them an opportunity to distance themselves from geopolitical intersts of other countries. But, some local actors among the diaspora thought-just as they did in Northeast-  threat and extortion paid quick dividends. The risk in this approach is the possibility of killing the goose (diaspora) that lays golden eggs. Now, all stars are aligning for the Government of Canada to come hard on  LTTE – without a political price to pay.  And the LTTE is on the cusp of crippling its largest Diaspora,therby creating an unnecessary complication.

The second weakness is child soldiers. Ever since the LTTE ran into human resource challenges, it is unable to shake off its dependency on children to fight the war. The most notorious warlord Karuna who did the most of these conscription is on the GoSL side now and criticizing LTTE for its child soldiers. (Surprisingly he realized the immorality of child soldiers only after he crossed swords with his former boss due to his allerged financial misappropriations)

Until and unless the LTTE rethinks its whole approach to fundraising and make the Diaspora develop a sense of ownership of the homeland, LTTE will not win their heart and wallets of this unlimited resource. (One does not develop a sense of ownership when the 'protectors' threaten them with "we will not allow you to go to Northeast"). And it will risk a ban in the countries where tamil diaspora lives.



Last edited by Serendipity on Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:52 pm; edited 3 times in total

HardX

I condemn killings from all sides.  I condemn LTTE as well.   What I was trying to say is, some people pretend to care for Tamils to get their messages around, but not with the intention of really caring for Tamil.  If we all do care for Tamils as our brother citizens of Sri lanka, there would have been peace long ago.  LTTE survive because of the Hard Line or Hard X Sinhalese.  We have to win the hearts of Tamils both in Sri Lanka as well as in other countries not through false propaganda.  The Tamil people in Canada as well as other foreign country jnow what is true. They don't need to get the reports from HRW or any other organizations.  Do the propaganda by real facts and try to win the support of Tamils and thereby crush the LTTE to zero.


_________________
Be patriotic .. think of the motherland