Bob Rae Calls for Canadian Leadership on Sri Lanka
Pointing out the “continuing fighting and terrible loss of life in Sri Lanka,” Mr Rae, former Ontario Premier and an advisor to an earlier round of peace talks, said in a media release issued in Canada’s Liberal party website that “The world can’t just sit back and let this death and destruction happen. This is a humanitarian disaster and must be met with a concerted response,” and that “Canada should put conflict prevention at the top of its foreign policy agenda. We can’t be indifferent to this tragedy.”
Full text of the media release follows:
The continuing fighting and terrible loss of life in Sri Lanka should arouse Canadian foreign policy from its slumber, says Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae.
“The world can’t just sit back and let this death and destruction happen,” said Mr. Rae. “This is a humanitarian disaster and must be met with a concerted response.”
This past week at least a hundred people have died as a result of fighting between government troops and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Mr. Rae said Canada should be working with a group of like-minded countries to press for a complete ceasefire and a return to full-scale negotiations on the constitutional future of the country.
As Chairman of the Forum of Federations, Mr. Rae acted as an advisor to an earlier round of peace talks. His recommendations included that the LTTE had to abandon terrorism and that the government of Sri Lanka had to accept the need for a political response to the crisis rather than a simple military one.
“Canada should put conflict prevention at the top of its foreign policy agenda. We can’t be indifferent to this tragedy,” said Mr. Rae. [liberal.ca]
Murthi said,
April 27, 2008 @ 9:15 am
Everyone should understand that L.T.T.E. want war at any cost, and without war it is impossible for them to survive as a force, militarily or politically. First, the international community should take actions to isolate the L.T.T.E. and have them drained of any resources. Then only the L.T.T.E. could be tamed. I have a feeling that the international community sometime try to save the L.T.T.E. from being defeated at the war front whenever they become weaker. Violence cannot be justified for any reasons or for any goal. It should be noted that most of the Tamil people prefer to live outside the L.T.T.E. controlled areas. They would rather live in the Singhalese dominated areas than live in the Wanni region. Those who live in the Wanni region at present have no alternative but to live there. I have visited the Wanni areas twice during the ceasefire time, and found most of them did not like the L.T.T.E. and their claim to be representative of the Tamils.
Michael Antony said,
April 28, 2008 @ 10:56 am
The problem in Sri Lanka is not the LTTE but “SInhala-Buddhism”. I often wonder as to whether a person could really state “Sinhala-Buddhist” as his or her identity in Sri Lanka.
A recent study of the DNA has shown that the blood of the Sinhalese is more closely connected to the blood of people South India. The blood of Tamils of North East is less connected to the blood of the people of South India. It may be shocking to any Sinhalese who brands himself as a “Sinhalese” but the scientific truth is undisputable. Therefore, Sinhalese have a Dravidian origin, not Aryan, as often falsely portrayed !!
Therefore, Sinhalese have more South Indianness and less Sri Lankanness than Tamils of North East.
Looking at Buddhism, I am not a Buddhist but from the bit I have read about Buddhist History in Sri Lanka, King Devanabiya Tissa was a non Buddhist and a lover of hunting animals. Asoka, who was a Buddhist missionery, told the king that it was wrong to kill animals and converted him to Buddhism.
If Asoka came today to Sri Lanka, he would shout and screem at the entire Buddhist clergy and Mahinda Rajapakse saying that it is completely wrong to kill Tamils. He will preach real Buddhism and convert a “Buddhist” to be a real Buddhist.
Strangely, contrary to Buddhist fundamentals, Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka openly support war and killing, indicating that they are not Buddhists. Therefore, what we find in Sri Lanka is not Buddhism but a religion called “Budddhism” and people take advantage out of it.
Resultantly, in “Sinhala- Buddhist” culture, we find those who call themselves “Buddhist Clergy”, have become a brood of vipers, openly violating the basics of Buddhism on killing. Sinhala Historiansn are full of falsehood. Sinhala politicians are dishonest, untruthful and break away any political promises and agreements. Does this not make anyone shameful to say that he is a “Sinhala- Buddhist”? Can the non “Sinhala-Buddhist” ever co exist with such degraded culture?
Ram the 2nd said,
April 29, 2008 @ 2:50 pm
Way to go Bob.
First try to topple the Harper gov, perhaps then you can try to meddle with other countries affairs.
N said,
April 30, 2008 @ 12:09 am
“First try to topple the Harper gov, perhaps then you can try to meddle with other countries affairs.”
Why such comments? Are you afraid of Canadian leadership on this issue or do you feel that the Canadian government is incompetent?
Ram the 2nd said,
April 30, 2008 @ 4:29 pm
comment#4 .”Why such comments?”
Hello N,
Most of these western politicians consider themselves above the leaders of the developing world act like they are the guardians of the world.
Bob Rae should fight to get a fair treatment to the Native americans in Canada before putting his finger in more complex issues in Asia.
The poverty and misery is synonimous with first nations reserves.
Recently a police station in one of the reserves was closed due to no running water and lack of other services as police station.
This is Canada, A G7 country, once touted as the best GDP in a G7 country.
If he can not fight for his bretherens rights first what makes you to believe he is genuine for the rights of the others many thousands of miles away.
He is just another politician, commenting without facts.
He should keep a correct count on innocent civilians kiled in SriLnaka..
Sam said,
May 1, 2008 @ 3:03 am
Mr. Murthi,
It is time for you to wake up. It appears that you do not really understand what is going on in Sri Lanka.
It is an ethnic cleansing since 1956.
Negotiations, pacts and Satyagraha were all failed and that is why L.T.T.E took-up arms for defending the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
We, tamils are peace loving people with a strong culture and traditions.
If you happen to have THORN in your feet you have to use a THORN to remove.
Our humble Tamil Politicians explained and proclaimed inside and outside of Parliament to make the Sinhalese to understand.
They knew all these but all Sinhalese Politicians are Power hungry and blood thursty.
In Sri lanka, if you say that you would kill all Tamils, then you would be the executive President of Sri lanka in the next electrician.
This is the trend since the Britishers left Ceylon.
So, what L.T.T.E does is correct.
Ratnam Ganesh said,
May 1, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
Bob Rae is not speaking of Tamils alone.His satement came after the Muhamalai incident.It is about the people who are killed Every day.Be it Tamils or sinhalese.It is a disaster and it is important all Sri Lankans to encourage him to raise awareness in the international community and the Canadian Government to persuade the Sri Lankan Govt. and the LTTE to arrive at a political solution.
Devinda Fernando said,
May 2, 2008 @ 8:24 am
*** The problem in Sri Lanka is not the LTTE but “SInhala-Buddhism”. I often wonder as to whether a person could really state “Sinhala-Buddhist” as his or her identity in Sri Lanka. ***
Michael Anthony. Plain and simple. You think all these decisions to go to war with the LTTE are based on Sinhala Buddhism? Why don’t you try picking up a newspaper or even a History book on Sri Lanka before making such IDIOTIC comments?
It is the LTTE that continue to fail to negotiate. They have used Peace Talks as a Ruse for rearmament and resumptions of Hostilities. That is the Truth and only Deluded people like you try to paint this as some Mon-Ethnic &Religious conspiracy towards Tamils. It is not Sinhala Buddism that is the cause of this round of fighting, it is your Blind Faith in a freedom fighting organization that has corrupted and transformed into a Terrorist outfit.