Marking the Sri Lankan independence day as the 'Day of Mourning', thousands of Tamils across Canada protested against what they alleged "genocide".
Marking the Sri Lankan independence day as the 'Day of Mourning', thousands of Tamils across Canada protested against what they alleged "genocide" in the island nation amid fighting between security forces and LTTE.
Canadian Tamils took out candle light vigils across the country to protest against the aggravating humanitarian conditions of the civilians in the north of Sri Lanka. They termed the conflict as "genocide" of civilians. The protest took place for the second time in a week. On Friday last, thousands of Tamils had made human chain protests here.
Meanwhile, Canada's top diplomat yesterday pressed for a ceasefire in the restive north of Sri Lanka to allow civilians to escape fighting between government forces and rebels.
"Canada calls for the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to declare and honour an immediate ceasefire to allow full, safe and unhindered access; the evacuation of the sick and wounded; and the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to civilians," foreign affairs minister Lawrence Cannon said in a statement. Cannon said, Canada "strongly condemns" the recent shelling of a hospital in Puthukkudiyiruppu, according to local media reports.
Candlelight protests were also held in prominent Canadian cities like Ottawa, Winnepeg and Vancouver yesterday. Thousands of Tamils observed Sri Lankan independence day as 'Day of Mourning', on Wednesday.
A crowd estimated to be between 1,500 and 2,500 showed up outside the country's consulate at Yonge and St Clair. The protest threw he bustling intersection into chaos at the height of rush hour.
On Friday last, thousands of members of Toronto's Tamil community had formed a human chain in downtown Toronto, to protest the Sri Lankan government offensive aimed at crushing the Tamil Tigers.
The protesters had gathered along several kilometres of slushy sidewalks in the downtown core, chanting slogans such as "We want peace" and "Help us, Canada."
Protesters had said, that in recent days, more than 800 Tamil civilians have been killed in the offensive in Sri Lanka, while government officials say the number is closer to 300.
"We're out here to tell Canada to take a stance with us," said University of Toronto student Shya Theba. "The last I heard from any of my family members was one month ago when they called for two minutes.
They were telling us they didn't have any money to buy food, and if we send money there's no way it will reach them.
"They're pretty much stranded."
Eleven-year-old Kajena Ravindra was at the protest with her entire family. "The government needs to take action. There are bombs falling on little children. They want food but they cannot afford it."
The LTTE was declared a terrorist organisation by the US in 1997 and by Canada in 2006.
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