PEACEFUL CANADIAN SRI LANKANS HOLDS UNIQUE SOLIDARITY PROTEST
Posted on March 24th, 2012
MEDIA RELEASE REPORT FROM CANADIAN SOUTH ASIANS FOR PEACE AND UNITY FORUM
CANDIAN SRI LANKANS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS HOLDS A LARGE PEACEFUL SOLIDARITY PROTEST RALLY FRONT OF THE USA CONSULATE IN TORONTO, CANADAƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ON FRIDAY MARCH 16 2012. [PICTURES ATTACHED] ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢¢”š¬…” 2nd Update: March 24 @ 2:00 pm.
Canadian Sri Lankans from across the country along with prominent Sri Lankan community organizations, joined by African, South Asian, and South American community leadersƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ held a non partisanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ large protest rallyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ front of the USA Consulate in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Friday March 16 2012 starting from 2pm to 5pm in solidarityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ with the island ofƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lanka to protest against the UNHRC resolution to be tabled against Sri Lanka and also regarding the unnecessary pressurized interference in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s sovereignty and internal affairs which would impact the peace and stability of Asia.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ TheƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ large contingent of peaceful demonstrators sent a strong moderate message asking the USA to keep their ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Hands off Sri Lanka and to give peace and unity a chanceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.
Dewitt Lee, 2010 and future Toronto Mayoral Candidate were among the many community leaders whoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ in solidarity condemned USAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s initiative, he also emphasized that the current prevailing situation surrounding Sri Lanka is a global issue that needs to be addressed in unityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by all communities in Canada and around the world and not just by one member State in the United Nations.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ President of Sri Lanka United National Association of Canada (SLUNA) Mahinda Gunasekera stated to CBC, CP24 and local television stations that there is no need for interference in Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s internal affairs as the LLRC report was submitted by a Government Commission that needs time to be addressed locally in an efficient mannerƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and any outside objections or resolutions towardsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri LankaƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢sƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ action plan was seen as redundant.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Kirthi Perera secretary of Socialist Left Alliance of Canada totally condemned the UNHRC resolution and made the media aware of USAƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s hidden motives in the past and for the future of Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Community leaders presentƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ requested from the Sri LankanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Diaspora to join hands in solidarity in unity with her friends during this crucial hour as well as in the future.
The Toronto Sri Lankan Students Alliance (TSLSA) comprising of GTA Universities, Colleges and AlumniƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s along with Professor Wallo Judah, Freedom Times Magazine and the African/Caribbean community launched a world wide solidarity movement for Sri Lanka and the developing world in the name of, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Peace, Unity and One LoveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ this was echoed through Jamaican international recording artist Charlie Bobus song ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Use Your ExperienceƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ At the rally Canadian South Asians for Peace and Unity Forum board of director, J. K Banwait applauded and welcomed this initiative as it was seen asƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ a breakthrough progressiveƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ move by a vibrant Sri Lankan community and the youth that has a long standing successfulƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ peaceful history in Canada.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ At the end of the protest rally theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ organizers and community leaders like Asoka W, Daya H, and Mahinda G thanked the; Sri Lankan Diaspora, solidarity nations, community organizations, non Sri Lankan community leaders, Toronto Police and The Royal Canadian Police for their supportƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ enablingƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the peaceful demonstration to go down in Canadian Sri Lankan history as a very highly successful one.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The latter Canadian Sri Lankan community initiativeƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ was transparent at the forum held backƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ on March 2nd in Scarborough,ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ through strategic discussion and open dialogue with the community organizations and members a movement was launched by the people for the people and will continue to expandƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and unite everyone through, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Peace, Unity and One LoveƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ itƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ is currently in full swing around theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ world in various ways and also through social media.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This was the very ideal that was executed precisely at the protest rally without choosing any other ulterior motives, which deserves an applause for modesty and transparency by the undercover special forumƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ journalist who was present across the street hidden away from the Diaspora during the, unique solidarity protest.
Report Submitted by CSAFPAU Media Correspondent.
Report analyzed and verified by the CSAFPAU Board: csafpeaceunity@gmail.com
PICTURES FROM THE PROTEST RALLY:
