Canadian Tamils warn of civil war in Sri Lanka

May 30th, 2009 TORONTO - Hundreds of Tamils protested at the Sri Lankan consulate here Friday against the attack on the Canadian high commission in Colombo earlier this week. Scores of Sri Lankan protesters had ransacked the Canadian mission Wednesday to protest against what they called Canadian "support" for Tamil Tigers.

May 23rd, 2009 TORONTO - More than 20,000 Canadian Tamils descended on the Ontario assembly here in black to mourn "innocent civilians killed in the genocide by Sri Lanka". In their speeches Friday, Tamil leaders vowed not to rest till "Tamil Eelam (homeland) is achieved".

May 23rd, 2009 TORONTO - More than 20,000 Canadian Tamils descended on the Ontario assembly here in black to mourn for "innocent civilians killed in the genocide" in Sri Lanka. In their speeches Friday, Tamil leaders vowed not to rest till "Tamil Eelam (homeland) is achieved".

May 10th, 2009 TORONTO - After a lull of a few days, more than 5,000 Tamils and their non-Tamil supporters took to the streets here Saturday to protest the alleged genocide by Sri Lankan forces in the name of eliminating the Tamil Tigers. Waving the flags of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE), hundreds of protesters gathered near the American consulate before starting their march through the main streets of downtown Toronto.

May 6th, 2009 TORONTO - Canadian academics have launched a campaign to seek their government's intervention in Sri Lanka to end the conflict between government forces and the Tamil Tigers. In a letter to Canadian prime minister, a group of academics - called Canadian Academics for Tamil Rights - has urged the government to put pressure on Colombo to end the bloody conflict.

April 30th, 2009 TORONTO - Acting tough for the first time with Tamil protesters here, police arrested 15 of them Wednesday as they tried to push their way towards the American consulate. Waving Canadian and LTTE flags, thousands of Tamils have been protesting outside the consulate since Sunday seeking US pressure on Sri Lanka to stop its offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

April 28th, 2009 TORONTO - Sri Lankan Tamils who staged night-long protests here Monday have warned of a civil war on the island nation if Colombo does not reciprocate to the Tigers' call for a ceasefire. In a strongly worded letter to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper Monday, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) said: 'Tamil Canadians are fearful that in the next 24 to 48 hours a civilian bloodbath will ensue if the government of Sri Lanka does not reciprocate the LTTE's (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) offer to a ceasefire.' Calling for immediate and strong action by the Canadian government, CTC president Sri Ranjan said in the letter, 'Canada must force the government of Sri Lanka to reciprocate the immediate ceasefire by cutting all diplomatic and economic relations with Sri Lanka.' The Tamil organisation also urged the Canadian parliamentarians to put pressure on the government to intervene in the conflict immediately.

April 24th, 2009 BERLIN - About 1,500 Germany-based Tamils demonstrated Friday near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin for a halt to the fighting in Sri Lanka, where civilians are caught in the cross-fire in a government offensive against Tamil rebels. A spokeswoman said: 'We are demonstrating again to press for the German government to do more to help Tamils in Sri Lanka.' The Brandenburg Gate is a central-city landmark which is much visited by tourists.

April 22nd, 2009 OTTAWA - In one of the biggest demonstrations at the Canadian parliament, thousands of Tamils protested outside the House Tuesday to seek Canadian intervention to end the 'carnage' of civilians in Sri Lanka. Though the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) put the number of demonstrators at about 33,000, Tamil leaders said more than 40,000 protesters were present at the demonstration.

April 13th, 2009 OTTAWA - Protesting Tamils in Canada have sought Sri Lanka's ouster from the Commonwealth and international trade and travel embargo against it for the 'genocide' of innocent civilians in the conflict zone. The Tamils, who have been protesting outside parliament for the past six days, have also launched a hunger strike to draw attention to the 'use of chemical weapons by Sri Lanka to wipe out the community from the island nation.'' They have vowed to continue their sit-in till the Canadian government and the global community take concrete steps to end the war in Sri Lanka.

March 17th, 2009 TORONTO - More than 50,000 Tamils jammed the streets of downtown Toronto Tuesday demanding international intervention in Sri Lanka to stop 'genocide'' of innocent people. Beating dhols and holding placards, they formed a human chain across the major artery roads of the city from 1 p.m.

February 16th, 2009 TORONTO - Refuting a United Nations report from Colombo accusing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of stopping civilians from leaving the conflict zone and killing those who tried to flee, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) said Monday such statements only helped Sri Lanka in its genocide against Tamils. ``In the past, the UN has denied such statements.

February 12th, 2009 TORONTO - The powerful Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) has again called upon Canada to put pressure on Sri Lanka to stop 'genocide' against the civilians in the conflict zone. 'For far too long, the Sri Lankan government has operated with impunity, violating international human rights law and international humanitarian law, resulting in untold loss of lives, separation of families and psychological and mental suffering for the Tamil population,' CTC spokesman David Poopalapillai said Thursday.

February 3rd, 2009 TORONTO - Tamils in Canada will march on the nation's parliament and take out candlelight vigils across cities to mark Sri Lanka's Independence Day Wednesday in protest against ``genocide'' in the island nation. Top political leaders are likely to address the rally being organized by the Canadian Tamil Congress and supported by 70-odd national bodies.

January 30th, 2009 TORONTO - In their biggest show of strength in the western world till date, over 50,000 Tamils took to the streets here Friday to protest against the 'genocide of innocents in Sri Lanka's conflict zone.' Carrying banners, placards and shouting slogans in icy conditions, the protesters formed a human chain in downtown Toronto from 12 noon to 6 p.m to highlight the 'plight of innocent Tamils' at the hands of Sri Lankan forces. Extended over many kilometres, the human chain jammed the city centre and threw traffic into chaos.