Declining Turnout At Canadian LTTE Events
Supporting the LTTE is still acceptable in Canada, just not as popular. Photo via TYO-Canada
According to DBS Jeyaraj, the latest LTTE meet-up had less than 3,000 attendees, down from 35k in 2004 (and more in protests at the end of war). The is partly due to the declining popularity of violent, distant separatism, and also divisions within the LTTE. Rather oddly, one of the splits seems to be that the Vinayagam doesn’t want to hold a Pongu Thamil until Prabhakaran returns. Presumably with Jimmy Hoffa and the 12th Imam.
Less than 3000 people attended “pongu Thamizh”(Tamil Upsurge)event staged by Nediyavan led faction of pro-LTTE elements in Toronto on Oct 29
While the crowd was large by Canadian standards it was a massive drop in numbers compared to earlier LTTE events conducted at the same venue
A “Pongu Thamizh” event at the same venue QueensPark in 2004 had crowds of 35,000 participating.Other pro-LTTE meetings also drew big crowds
Public rallies described as “Ponguthamizh” (Tamil upsurge) are widely acknowledged as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) sponsored events
The Twittercle is also interesting in that it documents the ongoing infighting within the LTTE, internationally.
Both the NCCT& “democratic” faction of the TGTE are under the overall leadership of Perinpanayagam Sivaparan alias “Nediyavan” based in Norway
The Nediyavan led pro-LTTE elements adopted a low profile & called upon Tamils in Canada to attend on behalf of the “Tamil community & youths”
Attempts by “Nediyavan” loyalists to conduct a “pongu Thamizh” event were strongly opposed by pro-tiger elements from another LTTE faction
This faction is loyal to senior LTTE intelligence leader Sekarapillai Vinayagamoorthy alias”Vinayagam” who now operates from France & Germany
Canadian Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis. Photo via TYO-Canada
And how they’re quite disconnected from the politics and politicians on the ground in SL:
The TNA declined to participate in a “LTTE inspired meeting” & delayed their arrival time in Toronto to 29th midnight to neatly “miss” the event
Despite pressure by LTTE elements the TNA refrained from participating at “Ponguthamizh”. Without the TNA “attraction” attendance fizzled out
Crowds at pro-tiger events in Canada have been dropping in numbers since the LTTE military debacle of May 2009
I should also note that DBS’s style is quite interesting. He’s an old school journalist who’s met everybody important and had a few attempts on his life, including having his legs broken by the LTTE. He’s also taken to Twitter like a fish. I think it’s quite cool how he releases a story as tweets and then puts it all together as a blog.
Crowd was more like 1500~ ….probably 3000 because of protesters from Occupy Toronto (who had no idea or where Sri Lanka is..) …both groups were occupying Queens Park for two useless protests
3000 is still quite a large number. Of course this drop in number would not have been possible if the government didn’t smash the LTTE to smithereens and shock and awe the Tamil extremists. Defeating the LTTE was one of the best things that has ever happened in Sri Lanka. Note also that the extremism overseas seems to be sponsored in part by the Tamil Youth Organisation(TYO) – a group of bigots on a pipe-dream mission.
2009 – 40000 … 2011 – 3000 ….drop it down like its hot!
For an organization that is supposed to be about youth, is nothing about the youth.
VP is no longer in the Tiger attire in the posters held by LTTE supporters. So he has got a humane and benign appearance. How funny eh?
Well, in the second pic the gon tadiya is dressed in military attire and looks as fat as ever.
There are clearly a large number of diaspora Tamils with very genuine grievances and it’s right that they can protest and lobby their politicians just like any other constituents. It’s also right that the politicians if elected to represent them, should do so with vigour.
However, what is not acceptable is for politicians to give tacit/direct support for proscribed groups and their front organisations. Imagine if the groups were fronts for Islamic terrorists? The politicians would kill their careers overnight.
The fact is that the general public in Canada, the US, UK, France, Australia etc really are not aware of the main issues, let alone the complexities of Sri Lanka’s recent history, so these politicians fear only their aggravated constituents. Politicians have a duty to represent those they serve, but they also have a duty to the wider public good and to uphold the rule of law. There have been some notable UK politicians (Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP and Peter Luff MP come to mind) who have spoken out about the LTTE and their front groups, the danger they pose and the extortion rackets, but their voices have been rather lost in the storm.
However, Indi’s article points towards dwindling support in the diaspora itself. One hopes that the rudderless boat of Tamil diaspora finds a new united voice that is transparent, non-violent and constructive… and that the Sri Lankan audience doesn’t ignore them or label them as traitors.
what are the genuine ‘grievances’?
This word has been thrown around a lot and I would just like to know what they are…
Hit Google. It’s very patient with the ignorant.
Still I can’t understand why even 3000 people rally around Prabhakaran.
Don’t they have a better person to rally around for a common cause?
Brainwashing? The Tamil diaspora is a very insular, racist, self-obsessed community in general.