NOV. 16 ELECTION INDO-CHINA RELATIONS Sri Lankans Go to the Polls on Nov
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Justin Trudeau will be returning to the prime minister’s did not materialize but the party does have enough seats to hold office, but this time he will head a Liberal minority government. the balance of power in a Liberal minority government. The The Bloc Québécois will enter the 43rd Parliament with a far Conservatives increased its share of the popular vote and its seat stronger presence. The NDP surge some pollsters anticipated count, and it continues to be the official opposition.
...SEE PAGE 4 TAMILS’ VOTES COULD AFFECT JINPING’S VISIT HELPS NOV. 16 ELECTION INDO-CHINA RELATIONS Sri Lankans go to the polls on Nov. 16 to elect a new president. The recent visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to India helped The election is widely expected to be a tight contest, with the countries to move forward to resolve some irritating issues. significant implications for peace and stability in the country. The meeting between the two leaders comes after Beijing sharply A record 35 candidates have filed nominations for the Nov. 16 criticized New Delhi’s recent actions in India-administered polls, with former Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa of the Kashmir and supported India’s rival Pakistan. Xi Jinping visited Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) a front-runner, according India on Oct. 11-12 for an “informal summit” with Indian Prime to local reports. Minister Narendra Modi in the southern coastal city of Chennai. ...SEE PAGE 5 ...SEE PAGE 4
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FATE Whatever is not conferred by fate cannot be preserved although it be guarded 6. Things not your own will yield no good, howe’er you guard with pain; with most painful care; and that, which fate has made his, cannot be lost, Your own, howe’er you scatter them abroad, will yours remain although one should even take it and throw it away voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 3 From the Editor-in-Chief
Voice for Justice is pleased on this 25th issue of publication, and proud to announce that we are stepping into our third year of publication. To mark the beginning of our third-year anniversary, we are printing an extra 5,000 copies FOR JUSTICE in English to be circulated among south Asian communities, which will be separate from the current bilingual newspaper that will be circulated 10,000 Together, we can change society! copies as before. This could not have been accomplished without the support of our contributors, readers, and advertisers. We strongly urge our well-wishers, readers, supporters, and business Mission establishments to support us financially so we can sustain the publication, With the view to providing a voice to expose acts of injustice against which is the most important of the fourth world, and important to highlight individuals or communities, whether they be unfair, discriminatory, illegal the plight of the voiceless people. Like all oppressed people around the world, or unjust, “Voice for Justice” stands firm on the ground that there can be no we are trying to do our bit to build a just and fair society. Voice for Justice can be heard only through the resources and support of literate and concerned freedom without justice. Your support is needed to achieve this. Together, people like you. We need your support. We urge you to subscribe to this we can change society! newspaper by paying $12 per year for 12 issues or $20 for 24 issues (2 years). If you can afford to pay more, please do so. We will issue receipts for the amount you pay. Every single penny you provide to Voice for Justice will be helpful for us to produce a quality publication and increase the quantity. Objectives Voice for Justice is a monthly publication. Our first publication came out “Voice for Justice” represents the unheard voices of voiceless people the on Nov. 1, 2017. Our goal is to keep world communities aware of the problems world over living under extremely difficult political, social and economic faced by indigenous groups and oppressed people living throughout the world. Voice for Justice will highlight the right to self-determination of oppressed conditions, conditions not of their making, that need to be exposed. peoples who are at the mercy of dominant governments or dictatorships. The Impoverishment, exploitation and marginalization lead to injustices vast majority of the indigenous peoples in the world live below the poverty line without access to goods and services to fulfill their very basic needs, needs to the voiceless, devoid of education, good health and decreasing life that the western world generally takes for granted. Innocent people’s social expectancy with their children fast becoming the underclass of the and economic conditions have progressively deteriorated due to increasing underprivileged. impoverishment, exploitation, and marginalization leading to their economic and social isolation. Devoid of education, good health, and a decrease in life It is extremely difficult to describe the miseries that these peoples have expectancy, the children of the oppressed are fast becoming the underclass to endure, and they have little hope of calling attention of their plight. of the underprivileged. There are hardly words in any language to describe the miseries that these peoples have endured and continue to endure in their It is in this context that some freelance amateur journalists and oppression. Their voices remain unheard. professional academics have banded together to undertake the ambitious The world media is owned largely by conglomerates that control and task of making a dent in the print media to educate and inform the world, influence public opinion. A media free of control by vested interests is a which has little or no knowledge of the voiceless half around the world. rare phenomenon. It is in this context that some freelance journalists and The journal is also intended to provide a forum for these people to freely professional academics have banded together to undertake the ambitious task of making use of the print media to educate and inform the rest of the world express their views. of the issues these voiceless people face. The journal is also intended to provide a forum for these people to freely air their views. This publication is not As a result of questions as to how we could be of assistance to these intended to pursue a particular ideology or to be a critique of governments, people, we have decided to dedicate our time and energies to a publication institutions, or any group. The Voice for Justice journal has no affiliation to that focuses on these people whose rights and justice are being denied. any group or organization and is not motivated by any political consideration. The prime objective is to be a catalyst to sensitize the rest of the world by This publication is not intended to pursue a particular ideology or to drawing their attention to the problems and injustices. In other words, we be a critique of governments, institutions or any group. “Voice for Justice” want to be an outlet for those distant and voiceless peoples. has no affiliation to any group or organization and is not motivated by any It is important to revisit what happened in October 2019 in Canada. As more political consideration. The prime objective is to be a catalyst to sensitize the than 60% of the eligible voters cast their votes on Oct. 21, 2019, Canadians rest of the world by drawing their attention to the problems and injustices. have once again voted mostly for the Liberals under the leadership of Justin We believe those distant and voiceless voices must be heard. Trudeau for the second consecutive term to form a minority government. Although 170 seats are needed to form a majority government, the Liberals We invite you to contribute articles and papers and participate in other won only 157 seats while the Conservatives won 121, Bloc Quebecois won ways, including financial support, in making this newspaper venture a 32, the New Democratic Party (NDP) won 24, and the Green Party won just 3 seats. The independent candidate, Jody Wilson-Raybould, also won success. We will initially start off with a monthly publication. As we get who was a former Liberal MP and minister of justice and attorney general of more support from readers and commercial establishments, we will make Canada from 2015 until Jan. 2019, and then as minister of veterans affairs it bi-weekly and then weekly. from Jan. 2019 until Feb. 2019 before the SNC-Lavalin affair led to her dismissal from the Liberal caucus. Together, we can change society! It is a litmus test for Justin Trudeau’s government, since he needs the support of 13 seats in order to implement any programs. It is impossible for the Liberals to get the support of Bloc Quebecois or the Conservative Party, which is the main Opposition party that has completely opposing views from Disclaimer the Liberal ideologies and election mandates. However, NDP will have to “Voice for Justice”, your free monthly bilingual (Tamil and English) be the lifesaver of the Liberal government for the next four years. Although Trudeau dismisses possibilities of coalition with the NDP, it is unprecedented tabloid, is published in Toronto and circulated in Canada. that NDP has to save the Liberals if the Liberals want to remain in power We are determined to publish an unbiased and informative journal. so the NDP has already put forward a demand that the Liberal government should fulfill NDP’s election mandates. The mandates of NDP are greatly “Voice for Justice” prides itself on its professional team of journalists, important and helpful for the middle and lower class people. Setting aside writers, researchers, and academics from a cross section of communities unwanted expenses, the Liberals can obviously implement more than half of around the world. the demands of NDP. 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You may miss a celebration but never miss a funeral nrhy;ypg; NghfNtz;Lk; nfhz;lhl;lj;jpw;F> nrhy;yhky; NghfNtz;Lk; Jf;fj;Jf;F gf;fk; | PAGE 4 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
JINPING’S VISIT HELPS ... Continues from page 1
exchanges. After their development for several He also called on the two countries thousand years, India and China have to jointly advocate and push forward both become important emerging dialogue and exchanges among economies, Modi said, stressing that different civilizations, so as to inject enhancing exchanges and cooperation more lasting driving force into the bears great significance to the two countries and will promote global On Oct. 11, Xi Jinping and during the 7th and 8th century and development of bilateral ties and progress and prosperity. Narendra Modi agreed to promote includes Arjuna’s Penance, Panch continue to produce new glory for exchanges and mutual learning Rathas, Shore Temple, and other Asian civilizations. Accompanied by Modi, Xi watched among civilizations to achieve joint monuments. The two leaders held Modi told Xi that the Group of Bharatanatyam and other Indian development and prosperity. an extensive talk during the tour on Monuments at Mahabalipuram is classical dances, which represent The two leaders held their second dialogue and mutual learning among an outstanding example of India’s ancient Indian civilization. informal meeting in the southern civilizations. cultural heritage and architecture, In the Shore Temple on the coast of Indian city of Chennai following Tamil Nadu, a maritime transit and witnessed India and China’s the Indian Ocean, Xi and Modi talked their first in the central Chinese city hub for cargoes in the ancient Silk civilization exchanges and historical about the domestic development of Wuhan in April last year. Road, has a long history of exchanges connections for more than a dozen of China and India and exchanged During Xi’s trip from his hotel to with China and close connections centuries. experience in state governance. Mahabalipuram in the state of Tamil with China on maritime trade since Nadu, people from all walks of life, ancient times, Xi said. including young students, lined the Both as ancient civilizations with LIBERALS FORM ... streets waving Chinese and Indian several thousand years of history, national flags, with young men and China and India have carried on their Continues from page 1 women in Indian traditional costumes exchanges and mutual learning till The Liberals lost support Québécois won enough seats to hold singing and dancing to welcome the this day, he said. and lost seats, but they didn’t lose the balance of power. Here’s a look at Chinese president for his visit. The two countries’ ancestors have government. The Bloc Québécois what Justin Trudeau’s government and Receiving Xi at the entrance, Modi overcome various obstacles to carry and Conservatives made gains, but its potential parliamentary partners also extended a warm welcome to the out extensive exchanges and promote only the Bloc is likely to be satisfied may have in store for Canadian Chinese president. the development of literature, art, with them—the Bloc might hold consumers. the balance of power going forward, Xi recalled his successful meeting philosophy, and religion, which have Child care: The Liberals promised greatly benefited both sides, Xi said. while the Conservatives will go back to increase the Canada Child benefit with Modi in Wuhan last year, which to the opposition benches. brought China-India relations into Noting that China-India cultural by up to $1,000 more for kids under a new stage, and said he is delighted and people-to-people exchanges bear The New Democrats managed to the age of one. Trudeau has also to come to Tamil Nadu in southern great potential, the Chinese president win enough seats to potentially have promised to create up to 250,000 India to further learn about the urged both countries to take the an important role in the House of more before-and-after child care country. 70th anniversary of China-India Commons, but the party took a big spaces for kids under 10. A recent hit in Quebec, where the bulk of Modi gave Xi a guided tour diplomatic relations next year as an Statistics Canada report said 48% opportunity to conduct broader and the seats that changed hands were of parents paid under $200 a month of the Group of Monuments at located. Mahabalipuram, which was built deeper cultural and people-to-people ...SEE PAGE 5 Both the New Democrats and Bloc
7. Save as the ‘sharer’ shares to each in due degree, Even those who gather together millions will only enjoy them, as it has been To those who millions store enjoyment scarce can be determined by the disposer (of all things) voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 5
TAMILS’ VOTES COULD...Continues from page 1 He has been backed by incumbent Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil areas. Leaders of the Ilankai Tamil Lanka’s north and east, along with the President Maithripala Sirisena’s Sri Wickremesinghe have also stood out Arasu Katchi (ITAK), Tamil Eelam Muslim and hill country Tamil votes, Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). in an overall picture of a government Liberation Organisation(TELO), played a major role in dislodging Another strong contender is Sajith in drift. The country’s economy has People’s Liberation Organisation of then President Mahinda Rajapaksa Premadasa, housing minister in the vastly underperformed, while the Tamil Eelam (PLOTE)-which are by backing common candidate current governing coalition and government came under fire, too, constituents of the Tamil National Maithripala Sirisena. Their support deputy leader of the ruling United for a series of security failures that Alliance (TNA)-along with the proved crucial to the President National Party (UNP). For the first contributed to April’s terrorist attacks. Tamil Makkal Koottani (TMK) and Sirisena - Prime Minister Ranil time in Sri Lanka, neither a sitting It is the first time that the SLFP, the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Wickremesinghe combine’s ascent to president, prime minister, nor leader the country’s second-largest party for Liberation Front (EPRLF) signed the power. of the opposition will contest the more than 60 years, from which former document. Today, the Tamil constituency and election for the highest office in the presidents Chandrika Bandaranaike The Tamil National People’s Front leadership are disillusioned. While country. Kumaratunga, Mahinda Rajapaksa, decided to stay out of the exercise. Its acknowledging the incremental gains Rajapaksa’s victory is not a and Sirisena emerged, has not fielded leader Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam made in the last five years, they point certainty. His brother Mahinda a candidate in a major national accused India of backing the initiative to the many failed promises of the Rajapaksa’s presidency between 2005- election. in order pressure Mr. Gotabaya for incumbent government. The average 2015, was bedeviled by allegations In a show of strength and its own interests in the Island, in Tamil voter may yet not to be ready to of rampant corruption and human solidarity, five Tamil parties recently countering China’s. The TNPF also cast a vote for a Rajapaksa-who brings rights abuses, which could still play came together and put down their called for a boycott of polls, arguing back memories of fear, surveillance on minds of voters this time around. expectations of presidential candidates that choosing a candidate solely to and repression-but the other options Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is widely seeking their support in the election. defeat Mr. Gotabaya weakens the do not seem particularly enticing, Tamils’ bargaining power with little either. accused of genocide and war crimes. The initiative, led by students certainty that the alternative will However, the Tamil vote-about Gotabhaya Rajapaksa is unpopular of the University of Jaffna and the deliver. in Tamil majority areas in the north Eastern University in Batticaloa, 18%-could make a difference. and east of the country over his culminated in a 13-point proposal The position of the TamilAnd that is why some worry that a handling of the civil war. that has now become a talking point leadership, particularly the TNA-the boycott-like the one enforced by the ahead of polls. main political formation representing LTTE in 2005-would strengthen Mr. Premadasa, who also has Tamils of the North and East in Gotabaya’s bid, much like it did his considerable political pedigree as the The demands include evolving a Parliament-is being closely watched. brother’s then. son of former President Ranasinghe political solution through a federal Premadasa, who was assassinated arrangement, with a recognition of The TNA has not declared support On Oct. 28, Executive Director of in 1993, may mop up a higher a “separate sovereignty” status for for any candidate explicitly until the Election Monitor People’s Action for proportion of the Tamil and Muslim the Tamils and their right to self- last of October. According to its leader, Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) minority votes, which make up a determination, rejecting a “unitary R. Sampanthan, the demands broadly Rohana Hettiarachchi noted that quarter of the electorate. state;” conducting an international reflect the contents of earlier, historic violence and conflict in Sri Lanka are probe of war crimes; repealing the agreements on the national question at a low level compared to that of the Incumbent President Sirisena signed by the Tamil leadership with last presidential election. has decided not to seek re-election. draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act; stopping Sinhala-Buddhist popular Sinhalese leaders, such as the Speaking to media, he said there is His winding-down presidency Bandaranaike-Chelvanayakam Pact, has been marked by unfulfilled “colonisation” of the north and east; a reduction in election violence this and enabling investments from Tamil Dudley Senanayake-Chelvanayakam time but misuse of power and state expectations of good governance, Pact, and the Indo-Lanka Accord. ethnic reconciliation, and economic diaspora to enhance development properties is observed. progress. Political differences between and employment in the war-affected In 2015, the Tamil vote from Sri
LIBERALS FORM ... Continues from page 4 while 52% paid $200 or more on a secondary education free and part of on cell phone and internet bills, and year. Those buying a new car, boat or monthly basis. the public education system. also require that companies offer plane, meanwhile, may have to pay as The NDP pledged to invest $10 Housing: The Liberals pledged unlimited wireless data options at much as $10,000 more. billion over the next four years to to move ahead with the new First- “affordable rates” to avoid surprise The NDP promised to raise the create 500,000 new child-care spaces Time Home Buyer Incentive, which bills. top marginal tax rate on income over in Canada, with prices capped at $10 would provide home-buyer subsidies Wages and employment insurance: $210,000 by two percentage points per day. of 10% on their first home and an Both the Liberals and the NDP to 35%. It also vowed to put in place Education: The Liberals pledged increase in the value of homes that proposed a federal minimum wage a 1% annual wealth tax for Canadians to give full- and part-time students would be eligible. of $15 per hour. The Liberals also worth more than $20 million. up to $1,200 more per year through The NDP’s plan is to re-introduce said they will extend employment Seniors: Trudeau said his increased Canada Student Grants. 30-year terms for mortgages insured insurance sickness benefits, which government would increase Old The party also said it would change by the Canada Mortgage and pay temporary disability benefits to Age Security by an extra 10% once the rules so that graduates won’t have Housing Corporation, in which eligible workers up to a maximum of seniors reach age 75, which the to repay student loans until they homebuyers have put down less than $562 a week as of Jan. 1, 2019, from Liberals said amounts to as much as make at least $35,000 and, if their 20% down payment. 15 weeks to 26 weeks. $729 each year. The Liberals also said income slips below that threshold, Technology: The Liberals said they Taxes: The Liberals said they they plan boost the Canada Pension their payments would be paused. plan to help cut the cost of cell and would raise the basic personal tax Plan survivor’s benefit by 25%. wireless services by 25% over the next amount—the amount for which The NDP pledged to make two years by “using the government’s Canadians do not pay income the Canada Caregiver Tax Credit The NDP’s plan is to work with tax—by almost $2,000 by 2023 provinces and territories to cap and regulatory powers” over Canadian refundable. telecom companies. for people earning under $147,000 reduce tuition fees over the long a year, which Trudeau says would term, with the goal of making post- The NDP proposed a price cap save the average Canadian $292 per
Desist arguing with a gifted speaker nrhy; ty;ytid nty;yy; mupJ gf;fk; | PAGE 6 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 AFTER EASTER BOMBINGS, HOW TO REDUCE RISKS OF FUTURE VIOLENCE IN SRI LANKA Five months after Easter Sunday’s officers might have discounted the blaming Muslims collectively for after the end of Sri Lanka’s bloody devastating jihadist bombings killed possibility of mass jihadist violence growing “extreme.” civil war, Easter Sunday’s Islamic more than 250 and injured roughly in a country that had never seen it The government has allowed twice as many, the situation in before. And national security agencies militant Sinhalese groups purportedly Sri Lanka has only become more caught in an ugly political tug of defending Buddhism to ramp up dangerous, the International Crisis war between President Maithripala their post-war anti-Muslim campaign Group says in a report. Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil of economic boycotts, media It says, although the small group of Wickremesinghe almost certainly pressure, and organized violence with Islamic State-inspired militants was suffered from too little coordination impunity. and too much politicization. clearly at the far fringes of Muslim The months since the Easter society, and although no evidence What has happened since the bombings have seen island-wide suggests that any remain at large, Sri attacks is as concerning as what boycotts of Muslim businesses, Lanka’s peaceful Muslim population happened before. The government vigilante attacks on women wearing State-inspired bombings shook a now confronts a significant backlash. has done little to address the hijabs, and old and new media rumor country struggling to find its way Sinhalese Buddhist nationalists dysfunction that likely obstructed campaigns by Sinhala nationalist toward a stable peace. have waged a campaign of violence police and intelligence services from groups alleging Muslim plots to and hate while a weak and divided making deductions that could have sterilize Sinhalese women. Two days The peaceful transition of power political leadership has either stood prevented the attacks. of devastating riots targeting Muslim in 2015 from the authoritarian idly by, or worse, egged on the abuse. Worse still, with senior politicians businesses and mosques in mid-May presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa to the administration of his Meanwhile, political divisions refusing to take meaningful raised fears of an island-wide pogrom democratically elected, reform- within government have obstructed responsibility for the attacks, public like the July 1983 anti-Tamil riots oriented successor, Maithripala efforts to reform dysfunctional police anger has focused on the nation’s that led to all-out war. Sirisena, raised hopes that the country and intelligence services that failed to nearly two million Muslims, whose Yet, instead of condemning might be ready to turn the page on a head off the attacks, despite warnings leaders are accused of not foreseeing the attacks and investigating the fractious and divided past. from foreign partners. or preventing the radicalization of perpetrators, President Sirisena Zaharan and his cadre. But, after an initial period of Foreign intelligence services had chose instead to release from important reforms, hopes for Sirisena warned their Sri Lankan counterparts In fact, Muslim community prison a prominent extremist and the “national unity” coalition of a significant imminent attack on leaders, and at least some politicians, monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara he led with Prime Minister Ranil churches weeks before the bombing, repeatedly rejected Zaharan’s Thera, who promptly joined anti- Wickremesinghe have disappeared. even naming the radical Salafi preaching and warned police and Muslim protests, issued threats, and As the country’s economy has sagged preacher, M.C.M. Zaharan, who government leaders several times rallied other monks to demand “a amid high external debt and large helped organize the attacks. about the growing threat he and his government that will protect the followers posed. Sinhalese.” budget deficits and pledges to root Not all of the small group of out corruption have gone nowhere, Nonetheless, the post-Easter The use of emergency laws to jihadists involved in the bombings the government’s popularity has backlash against Sri Lankan Muslims arrest hundreds of Muslims on flimsy were identified in advance, but waned. Most of the government’s has been harsh and dangerous. or fabricated grounds has seen the Sri Zaharan was known to Sri Lanka’s key commitments made to the UN Nationalist politicians and religious Lankan state, for the first time, move police. Human Rights Council in 2015 and leaders from the majority Sinhalese from failing to protect Muslims to the transitional justice agenda built Senior leaders might have had Buddhist ethno-religious group have actively violating their rights. suspicions about the sources of the on it remain unfulfilled. used the Easter attacks and the fears Coming almost exactly ten years intelligence. Police and intelligence they provoked to reinforce a narrative GOTA’S TRIAL IN INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL HUMAN SKELETAL REMAINS COURT DEMANDED UNEARTHED IN MULLAITIVU Tamil families of the The demonstration was held disappeared staged a outside the Jaffna branch of the Human skeletal remains were uncovered demonstration in Jaffna on Oct. Sri Lankan government’s Office in Mullaitivu last month, in yet another 22, demanding the arrest and for Missing Persons, which the discovery of potential graves in the North- trial of former defense secretary families termed as useless in and presidential candidate their campaign for justice for East. The remains were found in the Gotabaya Rajapaksa. the disappeared. Swaddapuram area in Puthukudiyiruppu, Chanting the slogan, “Where The protest follows several Mullaitivu.Authorities concerned did not are our children?”, the families across the North-East in make public enough information in this called for Rajapaksa to be recent months, with families taken before the International of the disappeared demanding regard, mentioning Sri Lankan police Criminal Court to answer accountability amid Gotabaya have launched an investigation in this for their forcibly disappeared Rajapaksa’s election campaign connection. relatives. for the next presidential election.
8. The destitute with ascetics merit share, The destitute will renounce desire (and become ascetics), if (fate) do not make If fate to visit with predestined ills would spare them suffer the hindrances to which they are liable, and they pass away voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 7 ‘DON’T FORGET THE TAMIL GENOCIDE’: LEE RHIANNON Victims of decades of racist in the Struggle for Tamil Eelam,” she Tamils’ struggle that they perceived of racism and xenophobia to win votes pogroms, state violence, and military argues the need to stand in solidarity to be simply “reactionary bourgeois and consolidate power, these refugees occupation, the Tamil minority has with Tamils who have faced genocide nationalism.” In responding to this of genocide are in immediate danger long fought for liberation in Sri Lanka. by the “exclusivist, chauvinist Sinhala- claim, she notes the revolutionary of deportation. We should not ignore their struggle, Buddhist state.” ideology of the Tamil Tigers and the The risk to Tamils who return to Sri writes former Australian Senator Lee Rhiannon maintains that the post- steps they took in eradicating gender Lanka is real. In 2017, the UN special Rhiannon. war years have not been of peace but violence, the caste system, and in rapporteur on human rights and In an article published in Jacobin are effectively a “silent genocide.” In empowering women. counterterrorism maintained that the Magazine on Oct. 21, she writes the recounting her visit to Sri Lanka in “The Tigers resolved to abolish use of torture “remains today, endemic annihilation of an ethnic or national 2013 as a federal senator she states; the dowry system, opening the way and routine.” Rhiannon writes in her group is inevitably accompanied “Military bases were scattered for greater freedoms for individuals, article that more than “one hundred by rape, sexual humiliation, along the east coast where there once particularly women, to enter unconvicted prisoners reportedly disappearances, mass murder, and sat fishing villages, Hindu temples, relationships on their own terms.” remained in detention” under the torture. Victims’ suffering is acute, and schools, and other public facilities. In While she noted criticism levied at Prevention of Terrorism Act, which survivors’ trauma lasts generations. the north, the occupation was more the LTTE with regards to tactics, she the Sri Lankan government had stated Few crimes are more shocking or intense. Forced Sinhalization has also stood by the rights of all people to it would repeal. abhorrent. But, if we are to eradicate seen the military running preschools. resist occupation under international The article further refuses to draws these injustices and help survivors Thousands of Tamils have been law. the connection between the Sri Lankan rebuild their lives and their societies, pushed from their traditional lands She further critiques Australia’s genocide and the plight of Tamil genocide needs to be examined, not in in the north and east of the Island to refugees stating: If self-determination terms of individual evil, but in terms response to Tamil asylum seekers make way for state-aided Sinhalese noting: “There are thousands of Tamils were won in Tamil Eelam and Tamils of the historical and structural evil of colonization.” were safe there, they would not have to colonization. living in Australia under temporary In her critique, she also lambasts protection visas—and thanks to the risk their future and their lives fleeing Drawing upon Ben Hiller’s new the Sinhala left for not standing by the conservative government’s cynical use to other countries. book “Losing Santhia: Life and Loss EU DEPLOYS ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION TO SRI LANKA
In response to an invitation by the appointed Marisa Matias, member for Sri Lanka to continue making core team of nine EU election Election Commission, the European of the European Parliament, as chief progress on its path of reform and analysts arrived in Colombo on Union has deployed an EU Election observer. national reconciliation.” Oct. 5 and will stay in the country Observation Mission to Sri Lanka High Representative/Vice- The chief observer, Marisa Matias, until the completion of the electoral to monitor the presidential election, President Federica Mogherini declared: “It is a great honor for process. The core team was joined scheduled for Nov. 16 this year. stated: “The European Union values me to lead this EOM. I believe it is by 30 long-term observers who were The EU has a long history of its partnership with Sri Lanka. important for the EU to continue deployed across the country, and will accompanying the electoral process Deploying an Election Observation observing elections in Sri Lanka as a for the election week be joined by an in Sri Lanka and has deployed EOMs Mission for the upcoming presidential form of support for the Sri Lankan additional 30 short-term observers. on five previous occasions, the last in election confirms our continuing people and their efforts to strengthen Shortly after Election Day, the 2015, which reflects the EU’s long- engagement and commitment in democratic institutions. I am hopeful mission will issue a preliminary term commitment and partnership support of democratic processes in that our observation will provide statement and hold a press conference with Sri Lanka. the country. I am confident that the an important contribution to this in Colombo. A final report, including Federica Mogherini, high deployment of an EU EOM under election and, through its follow-up, recommendations for future electoral representative for Foreign Affairs the leadership of Chief Observer to efforts to further strengthen the processes, will be presented at a later and Security Policy/vice-president Marisa Matias will contribute to an electoral processes and institutions.” stage, after the finalization of the of the European Commission, has inclusive, credible and transparent The Election Observation Mission electoral process. election. This election is important SL NAVY CLANDESTINELY EXTENDS OCCUPATION OF COASTAL LANDS IN BATTICALOA Land encroachment by Sri Lankan concerned. With a letter coming from the SL 2007. forces in Tamil areas is still unabated, The SL Navy too has not obtained Defense Secretary in Colombo, the The SL Army was occupying the according to local media. necessary permissions from the civil SL Navy had approached the Sinhala cashew farm during the war and its The occupying Sinhala military’s authorities at the district or divisional Provincial Land Commissioner in aftermath. the East in 2015. naval detachment in Batticaloa, level, informed administrative The SL Navy established its Naval “SLNS Kashyapa,” has silently sources said. The encroachment took place much Deployment in September 2010. extended the appropriation of lands later, the officials said on condition Meanwhile, residents in the Later, it was upgraded as at Kirimichchai, a coastal cashew area have witnessed accelerated of anonymity. The only person farming area located 44 km north of questioning this encroachment was a “Regional Security Center” construction activities inside the with detachments functioning Batticaloa City. military zone. It is not known TNA Parliamentarian Seenithamby Yogeswaran, they said. in Kathiraveli, Vaalaichcheanai, The military land grab has been whether the SL Navy is converting Katkudaa, Kaluvaangkeani, Dutch going on for the last ten months the coastal stretch into a military- Kirimichchai Junction was the Bar, Koduvaamadu, Batticaloa, without the military obtaining operated tourist resort or an industry, SL Army point when the LTTE Naduththurai, and Katkudaaveli. permission from the authorities they said. controlled the Vaakarai region before
Laziness learns to compromise Nrhk;Ngwpf;F thiog;gok; NjhNyhNl gf;fk; | PAGE 8 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
TOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES FAILING FAMILIES OF DISAPPEARED
The leading candidates in Sri in the North and East, under both been arrested after being accused of tweeted that he had “clearly told Lanka’s forthcoming presidential UNP- and SLFP-led governments. harboring a suspect and threatening families of the disappeared that the election seem to have less sympathy a witness in a pending court case issue of the surrendering and now for the Tamil families of disappeared, disappeared persons is high on the and election campaigns have already OMP list of priorities.” The first marked their step-motherly attitude interim report of the OMP in August toward these families. 2018 also promised “prioritization At an election rally in the middle of the cases of persons who were week of October, United National reported to have surrendered to Party (UNP)/New Democratic Front the military in May 2009 and then (NDF) candidate Sajith Premadasa disappeared.” But for families, there referred to questions by a journalist have been few or no results. to his main opponent, Gotabaya So far, the 2019 presidential Rajapakse of the Sri Lanka Podujana election campaigns have not offered Peramuna (SLPP) in relation to any hope for Sri Lanka’s families Tamils who surrendered to the army of the disappeared. Three of the at the end of the war and disappeared. top four candidates (Sajith, Anura Instead of dealing with the war and Mahesh) are backed by civil criminals responsible, Sajith turned society formations, which seem to Many families of disappeared— have failed so far to convince their them into “war heroes” and used the related to disappearances and an question to attack Gotabaya. For Sinhalese and Tamils—believe favorite candidates to make clear the Sri Lankan military and allied army commander who was in charge commitments about the disappeared him, like Gotabaya, the substance of of the unit that handled the surrender the questions raised, or the despair paramilitary groups are responsible and their families. Even the only for the disappearance of their loved of Tamils who later disappeared. Are female presidential candidate has not and struggles of families searching these the “war heroes” that Gotabaya for loved ones, didn’t seem to matter. ones. Some families are even able to come out in support of families of the name persons and units. wants to release if he becomes disappeared—one of the country’s Earlier in the week, Gotabaya had president and Sajith wants to defend? tried to evade the questions put A special committee of the Human strongest victim-led movements in to him, but eventually, he denied Rights Commission has found The disappearance of hundreds recent times. it and tried to show it was a past evidence of disappeared persons of Tamils after surrendering to Families of those disappeared— issue, ignoring that the search for having been taken into custody by the army at the end of the war is especially of those who surrendered disappeared loved ones is very much the army and no evidence of them probably one of the most blatant and disappeared—have waged an issue of the present and future. being released or detained elsewhere and largest incidents in Sri Lanka’s desperate but determined and tragic history of disappearances, Essentially, both Gotabaya and or that they are alive. courageous struggles to find out what with absolute impunity despite happened to their surrendered sons, Sajith blamed others and avoided the One of the first convictions compelling eyewitness testimonies. question of what they would tell the for disappearances was of army daughters, husbands, grandchildren, Habeas corpus cases are still pending etc. They have met presidents, families of those disappeared, who personnel for disappearing a group in courts. are also Sri Lankan voters. of Sinhalese students in Embilipitiya ministers, UN officials, and foreign during Sajith’s father’s presidency. Gotabaya appointed post-war diplomats, spoken to countless According to the government, commissions of inquiry such as the journalists and researchers, and filed there have been more than 65,000 A lot of evidences implicating Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation cases in courts. complaints of disappearances to army and navy personnel were Commission (LLRC) and the More than 50 have passed away government bodies. In the late 1980s, presented to courts in connection Paranagama Commission have both many Sinhalese youth disappeared with disappearances that happened since the beginning of continuous recommended investigations into roadside protests—now nearing in the context of the second JVP when Gotabaya was defense secretary these. insurrection under the UNP under his brother’s presidency. 1,000 days. Others are ailing and In June 2018, the chairman of the more may die without knowing what government. Since the 1990s, many The Chief of Defense staff had Tamils disappeared in context of war Office of Missing Persons (OMP) happened to their loved ones. HUMAN RIGHTS MUST BE AT THE HEART OF NEXT PRESIDENCY IN SRI LANKA: AI Amnesty International last month policies. The authorities have made suffered grave human rights Amnesty’s statement also called on Sri Lanka’s next president slow and limited but important violations must not be forgotten. The highlighted Sri Lanka’s “dismayingly to put human rights at the heart of progress when it comes to addressing suspected perpetrators must be held slow progress” on their 2015 their policies. human rights violations and abuses accountable,” the AI official said. commitments to “pursue truth, The rights watchdog has urged the including the areas of truth, justice, “The next Sri Lankan president justice, reparations and guarantees presidential candidates to protect key reparations, and guarantees of non- must represent all people living in of non-recurrence for victims of the human rights issues, repeal repressive recurrence. To move on, the wounds Sri Lanka. That means standing up 26-year-long internal conflict that laws such as the notorious Prevention of the past must be redressed. That is for the human rights of people from ended in 2009. of Terrorism Act (PTA), protect civic only possible if these gains are built every background, regardless of their “The next Sri Lankan president space, abolish the death penalty, upon,” said Biraj Patnaik, South Asia religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faces a test: Will they have the and protect religious and sexual Director at Amnesty International. or any other characteristic. It means political will to allow people to speak minorities. “The families of the disappeared, protecting them from those who wish protest and organize freely or will “Human rights must be at the heart the victims of torture and sexual them harm and holding accountable they go the way of weak demagogues of the next Sri Lankan president’s violence, the people forced off anyone suspected of violating their who choose to silence criticism by their land, and others who have rights,” Biraj Patnaik added. using fear?”
9. When good things come, men view them all as gain; How is it that those, who are pleased with good fortune, trouble themselves When evils come, why then should they complain? when evil comes, (since both are equally the decree of fate)? voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 9 TOP SL NAVY COMMANDERS COMPLICIT IN SERIOUS CRIMES: ITJP
The International Truth and “The Trincomalee 11 abduction detainees to be brought in and out of justice. At one point, Sri Lanka’s most Justice Project (ITJP) last month case was supposed to be the great this site, for so many people to have senior military official was alleged to called for a review of all naval success story of Sri Lankan justice been interrogated, fed, and guarded, have hidden a key suspect in naval cooperation with Sri Lanka after but tragically it’s become emblematic without the naval command structure headquarters while police issued it found a large number of top Sri of failure. Many senior naval officers being complicit, argues the report. Interpol notices; then he allegedly Lankan navy commanders were in the command structure in charge “It is time the Sri Lankan Navy attempted to abduct a material complicit in torture, disappearance of naval intelligence or stationed is sanctioned until, at the very witness. From jail, naval officers and murder that occurred inside at Trincomalee haven’t even been minimum, the institution cooperates have been threatening the life of the naval sites from at least 2008-14. questioned, alleged perpetrators fully with the police investigation chief investigating police officer. All “The Sri Lankan Navy: Turning have been protected and promoted, and stops rewarding the suspects in but one of the suspects have been a Collective Blind Eye,” published and the living victims never even this case. International partners are released on bail and several have by the ITJP, compared documents interviewed,” said the ITJP’s now on notice and can no longer been promoted, despite the serious from a decade-long police Executive Director, Yasmin Sooka. turn a blind eye to the Sri Lankan allegations outstanding against them. investigation inside Sri Lanka into Senior officers must have known Navy’s criminality.” The ITJP was the first organization the disappearance of 11 men in about the activities of the Special “The Sri Lankan Navy: Turning a to publish the GPS coordinates of the Trincomalee naval base, with Intelligence Unit—a black ops unit Collective Blind Eye” describes lurid the Trincomalee underground site eyewitness testimony from survivors established personally by the then- details it says would be worthy of a in July 2015. Later that year, a team and insider witnesses. It identifies commander of the Navy within thriller were they not so intensely from the United Nations visited serious investigative shortcomings, naval Intelligence. Members of painful for the victims and their the locations and corroborated the conflicts of interest, and political the Special Investigation Unit are families who are still waiting for existence of underground cells. interference in the Sri Lankan case. It alleged, among other things, to have also notes the violations committed operated an underground torture by the Navy did not stop with the site in the country’s most secure end of the civil war in 2009 and naval base, where scores of prisoners IPKF MASSACRE AT JAFFNA torture was not confined to one naval were detained in dungeons over base alone. many years. It was impossible for HOSPITAL COMMEMORATED Staff and family members last Dr. A. Sivapathasuntharam, Dr. month marked the 32nd anniversary K. Parimelalahar, and Dr. K. PREMADASA VOWS TO PROTECT of the Indian Peace Keeping Force Ganesharatnan. (IPKF) massacre at the Jaffna Hospital A former hospital employee told SRI LANKAN MILITARY by holding a commemorative the BBC his account of the atrocity. ceremony. The UNF-led alliance’s candidate Tens of thousands of Tamil “I could hear gunfire and staff At least 68 civilians, including 21 Sajith Premadasa during his election civilians were killed by the Sri shouting as they were being shot medical personnel, were killed by campaign last month said that he Lankan military in the final stages dead,” he said. “I saw the men. They Indian troops as they stormed the was ready to take responsibility on of the armed conflict on the Island were Sikhs, wearing turbans and hospital building, throwing grenades any allegations made against the Sri more than a decade ago. Indian army uniforms.” and firing indiscriminately at staff Lankan Security Forces and suffer Several reports, including from the and patients. The building had been In 2017, retired Indian Major any punishment for them. United Nations, detailed those final shelled by artillery before the raid. General Sheonan Singh, who served Speaking at a rally in Wattegama months, which saw the military shell with the IPKF in Jaffna, visited the The following morning, staff on Oct. 19, Mr. Premadasa said he hospitals and execute surrendering site of the massacre. There he told members who tried to surrender were was not a coward and was ready to Tamils. the BBC, “I was unaware of this fired upon before more IPKF soldiers incident. It seems information about take full responsibility and confront But Sri Lankan governments so stormed the building and ordered ten it got suppressed and people didn’t any allegation made against the far have not taken any action against members of staff out of the building. know of it... It is unfortunate, but forces. the military officials who are involved Among the 21 doctors, nurses and wherever military operations occur, “One cannot be a State leader if he in genocide. hospital staff who were massacred these things happen.” is a coward,” he said. were three leading medical specialists, SRI LANKA CLAIMS BRIGADIER FERNANDO ENTITLED TO DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY
In response to the retrial of attached to the Sri Lanka High distress” toward three complainants Court Act 1980, which began on Brigadier Priyanka Fernando case, Commission in London, is entitled when he was shown to have made Oct. 18 in Westminster Magistrates’ which is adjourned until Nov. 19 to diplomatic immunity as per the a slit-throat gesture toward Tamil Court. in Westminster Magistrates’ Court, Vienna Convention on Diplomatic protesters who were assembled Brigadier Fernando has also been Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry issued Relations of 1961. The Government outside the Sri Lankan embassy. implicated in war crimes as he was a statement last month defending of the UK has been requested to honor However, Westminster part of the 2009 military offensive, Brigadier Fernando. this obligation, which is reciprocal.” Magistrates’ Court decided on fighting in Weli Oya and Janakapura In the statement on Oct. 19, the While the hearing took place, March 2019 that this was a mistrial, for the 11 Gemunu Watch Battalion ministry maintained that, under the dozens of Tamils gathered outside maintaining that “the defendant was as part of the 58th Division of the Sri Vienna Convention on Diplomatic the Westminster Magistrate’s Court, convicted without representation,” Lankan Army. Relations of 1961, he is entitled to calling for Brigadier Fernando to face and stating “a series of mistakes or The United Nations OHCHR diplomatic immunity. justice. errors that has led to procedural investigation into Sri Lanka detailed “The Government of Sri Lanka Brigadier Fernando was initially unfairness.” multiple incidents, implicating the continues to maintain that Brigadier found guilty under the Public Order A retrial of the case was ordered 58th Division in the shelling of Fernando, as a diplomat who was Act of causing “harassment, alarm and under Section 142 of the Magistrates’ hospitals south of Mullaitivu.
A talented man can convert the blade of a grass into the blade of a sword ty;ytDf;F Gy;Yk; MAjk; gf;fk; | PAGE 10 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE TO HELP SOLVE CLIMATE CRISIS Its aim is to help people like a report on how climate change was of what it means to live sustainably in Sidon, 30, build on traditional ways impacting the ability to produce place and to adapt,” she said. of sustainable land and resource food around the globe. It formally The Indigenous Land Stewardship management and share them with recognized how Indigenous and program has space for 20 students, decision makers looking for help local knowledge can help overcome and administrators hope to fill those preserving ecosystems in the face of the combined challenges of spots in coming years, but officials climate change. climate change, food security, and acknowledge that it can be a struggle Indigenous land stewardship biodiversity conservation. for potential students to come and places healthy ecosystems at the On a smaller scale, in September afford to live in Vancouver and study heart of healthy communities and in B.C., the province announced for a year. Officials are developing an economies. For example, that means it was using traditional Indigenous online version of the program. not harvesting plants and animals knowledge to help preserve Garry The program also relies on federal There’s a growing recognition that to the point where the land can Oak Meadows on Vancouver Island traditional Indigenous knowledge funding to operate, something that no longer produce those resources through prescribed burns. a previous version lost more than a will help mitigate the climate crisis, without ecological degradation. and Justin Sidon wants play a part in Dawn Morrison, a member of decade ago. that. The one-year program at the Secwepemc First Nation who studies Now, the curriculum has been college comes at a time when traditional food systems such as Sidon grew up fishing Sockeye updated to include how Indigenous local governments and even the hunting and gathering, is teaching a knowledge can help with climate salmon along the Fraser River as a Intergovernmental Panel on Climate course on Indigenous environmental member of the Sto:Lo First Nation, change. Instructors like Chenoa Change (IPCC) are saying that knowledge at the college. She says Cassidy-Matthews, a member and is now one of seven people Indigenous knowledge is needed Indigenous people, through their enrolled at the new Indigenous Land of the Sachigo First Nation in to combat climate change and its history and knowledge, need to be Northwestern Ontario who studies Stewardship program at Vancouver’s fallout. involved more in the fight against Native Education College. global Indigenous health, says the In August, the IPCC published climate change. program is needed now more than “We have the oldest living memory ever and hopes it will grow. MAJORITY OF MANITOBA HOMICIDE BLOC QUÉBÉCOIS TO PRIORITIZE VICTIMS ARE INDIGENOUS MEN COMPENSATION FOR DAIRY FARMERS The majority of homicide victims Indigenous, accounting for 61% of in Manitoba are indigenous men, all homicide victims. The Bloc Québécois leader Yves- such as eggs, dairy, and poultry. François Blanchet said last month according to RCMP statistics. In 2017, there were 21 homicides The Canada-European Union they will push the new government Of the 21 homicide victims in in total, including 18 males—12 of Comprehensive Economic and to deliver on aid it promised to dairy Manitoba this year, 19 have been whom were Indigenous, making up Trade Agreement (CETA) and the farmers when the House of Commons male, and 15, or 71% of all victims, 57% of the victims that year. Comprehensive and Progressive resumes sitting. Agreement for Trans-Pacific have been Indigenous males. The numbers collected do not The Liberal government allocated Partnership (CPTPP) made it easier Jane Mitchell’s son became part include homicides in the city of $1.75 billion in compensation for foreign agricultural producers to of what she calls an upsetting and Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Police for dairy producers before the election. sell their products in Canada. disturbing trend in Manitoba this Service did not release any data to The money was to help offset financial The Bloc Québécois caucus meeting year. CBC about the homicide rate among losses from two free trade agreements Indigenous men in the city. was held in a Quebec City hotel Jordan Wade Batenchuk, that opened domestic markets to more near the provincial legislature. The Mitchell’s son, was killed in Poplar When it comes to missing and competition. location, Blanchet said, was symbolic, River in late May. murdered Indigenous men in Canada, Under the eight-year plan, $345 as he wants his party to be a voice in He’s one of 21 people who have “predominantly, it’s not really talked million was to be doled out by the end Ottawa for the National Assembly. about,” said Alaya McIvor, a survivor been killed this year in Manitoba of the year. A farmer with 80 dairy Under Blanchet’s leadership, the of sex trafficking who is now an outside the city of Winnipeg—and cows was expecting around $28,000 Bloc more than tripled its seat count advocate for exploited people. one of the 15 Indigenous males in by January. in the House of Commons, going that group. She works with agencies across Blanchet said he expects there will from 10 to 32 in the election. The The loss of her son is “getting the country to help identify human be a new session of Parliament in Liberals lost five seats in Quebec; 35 harder and harder every day,” Mitchell trafficking in their regions, and either November or December, given of their 157 seats are in the province. says, but she has a clear view on why acts as an advocate for missing and that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Blanchet on Oct. 24 met with she thinks Indigenous men are being murdered Indigenous women and announced plans to swear in a new Quebec’s intergovernmental affairs killed in such comparatively high men. cabinet on Nov. 20. minister, Sonia LeBel. numbers, and what needs to be done. There have been some positive Speaking at his party’s first caucus According to a report by La Presse “I feel it is all gang-related,” she awareness campaigns in Canada for meeting on Oct. 24 after the election, Canadienne, the Bloc leader had been Blanchet said making sure those said. “More has to be done, and a missing and murdered Indigenous hoping to meet with Premier François checks get delivered on time will be stronger justice against the ones that women and girls, but McIvor says Legault. the homicide rate among Indigenous the Bloc’s priority. do the crime.” But Legault’s office replied that the men is troubling and should be talked “These entrepreneurs are under “That’s a little bit of a higher premier’s first meeting would be with about more. enormous pressure,” Blanchet said at rate at this point,” said Cpl. Laura Trudeau instead. “We talk a lot about exploitation a news conference in Quebec City. Ledrew, with the RCMP missing and Around half of Canada’s 11,000 dairy “We’re going negotiate government exploited persons unit. but, again, that gap is [overlooked] to government,” LeBel told reporters. when it comes to men and boys,” she producers are in Quebec. In 2018, there were 36 homicides said. The compensation money was Many political observers in Quebec in Manitoba outside Winnipeg, earmarked in the March budget. In attributed the Bloc’s gains in the Ledrew says. The 28 male victims “Those conversations need to election to Blanchet having copied flourish within our community,” she all, $2.15 billion was set aside for last year included 22 who were farmers in supply-managed industries, Legault’s nationalist rhetoric. added.
10. What powers so great as those of Destiny? Man’s skill What is stronger than fate ? If we think of an expedient (to avert it), it will Some other thing contrives; but fate’s beforehand still itself be with us before (the thought) voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 11
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REGIONAL HOSPITAL TO BE BUILT FOR QUEBEC CREE COMMUNITY Representatives from the Cree Bella M. Petawabano, it is the in nine communities with specialized For Petawabano, having Cree Nation last month welcomed the realization of a long-held dream for a services such as surgery, cancer people ready to fill the positions that news of funding for a new 52-bed full-service regional hospital to serve treatment, CT scans, gynecology and will be coming in the health care regional hospital and health center to Cree people in a culturally safe way, obstetrics. It will also offer palliative sector is a key part of providing good be built in the James Bay community closer to home. care and better mental health and care for Cree people. of Chisasibi, Que. “This new Eeyou-Eenou Regional addictions services, as well as a host “We need our young people to Quebec Health and Social Health Center is critical for health care of other internal medicine services be trained; they understand the Services Minister Danielle McCann, in Eeyou Istchee,” said Petawabano, and improved telehealth capabilities. culture, they speak the language and Indigenous Affairs Minister Sylvie adding the new facility will be seven “The benefits are profound,” they know the environment,” said D’Amours, and representatives of the times the size of the current local Petawabano said, adding currently Petawabano. Cree Nation government and Cree Chisasibi hospital, which was built patients must travel away from The funding for the Eeyou-Eenou Board of Health and Social Services of about 40 years ago. families and communities to access Health Center announced on Oct. James Bay announced $300 million The new health center will be a specialized care. 7 is part of a funding agreement in funding for the project as part of 20,000-square meter, 52-bed hospital For Quebec’s Health and Social renewal between Quebec and the a five-year funding agreement signed and community Miyupimaatisiiun Service Minister Danielle McCann, Cree Health Board. Oct. 7 at a ceremony in Chisasibi. center. the project is in line with her It includes more than $60 million For Cree health board chairperson It will provide close to 20,000 Cree government’s priorities to get health over five years, another $44 million care services closer to communities. for technological improvements Construction of the health centre and $600 million in capital works, SASK. GOVERNMENT NOT INTERESTED IN is expected to begin in 2023 and end including the hospital and health SEPARATION: MINISTER in 2025. center project. The government of Saskatchewan like Canada’s “piggy bank.” STUDENTS STRUGGLING WITH OSAP CUTS last month said it is not interested in Born and raised in separating from the rest of Canada. Saskatoon, Dempster is part of a Cuts to the Ontario Student month grace period for graduates, a Following the election of Justin growing movement that feel Western Assistance Program (OSAP) last June drastic decrease in grants and a 10% Trudeau and the Liberal Party Canada has been alienated by the east have given birth to anxiety among cut in tuition fees. of Canada to another term in and now, he’s calling for change. the students who are in constant fear In an emailed statement, Ross government some people-mainly However, while he is in favor of of having to drop out. Romano, the minister of training, in Alberta and Saskatchewan-have a separated western Canada, he said When Kaitlyn Jonescu isn’t in colleges, and universities, defended started calls for the west to separate that option is a “last resort.” class, she’s working close to 30 hours the province’s changes to the from the rest of Canada. Dempster said some of the a week and taking overnight shifts to program, saying it was “critical to Saskatchewan’s Trade and main issues of concern for those pay for her education. restore financial sustainability to Economic Development Minister on in the Western Canada separation Jonescu, who is studying to be a OSAP. Oct. 24 made it clear the province movement, dubbed Wexit, include teacher in the concurrent education “The program had ballooned to isn’t in favor of a departure. concerns about Canada’s equalization program at Brock University, was its breaking point, and would not “I’m happy to make a categorical formula that sees provinces like saving up to buy her own car to have been able to continue offering statement saying we are not in favor Alberta and Saskatchewan pay billions commute to school. financial support vital to students of separation. Period,” said Jeremy to other provinces through transfers When she learned about cuts to across Ontario,” Romano said. Harrison at the Legislature in Regina. from the federal government. the OSAP she became anxious as it “To do nothing to ensure the long- “What we are deeply concerned On Oct. 23, Prime Minister hit her hard. term sustainability of the Ontario about though is a national government Trudeau told a press conference in Last year, Jonescu received a Student Assistance Program would that has repeatedly disrespected our Ottawa he would be more sensitive $2,020 grant and a $602 loan for be irresponsible.” province. That has repeatedly shown to the needs of voters in the two school. This year, she received a $316 But as the changes take shape, massive disrespect to the energy provinces, vowing to move forward loan and no grant. some students who heavily relied and resource sectors that are paying on the Trans Mountain pipeline “I live in constant fear of having on OSAP in previous years are now for a lot of the program’s in Eastern Expansion. to drop out because of cuts,” Jonesu struggling. Canada.” “We made a decision to move said. Ryerson University student Harrison said that while the forward on the pipeline because it This year’s loan won’t even cover Ioana Radu says she is facing similar government is opposed to separation, was in the interest of Canada to do parking at Brock, which costs $330 problems. the frustration people in Western so, because the environment and the for a semester. That meant her “I didn’t even bother applying Canada are feeling is real. economy need to go together. We car savings went toward this fall’s for OSAP this year…They were will be continuing with the Trans “This is genuine. People are angry. tuition, but now Jonesu says she’s only going to offer me just under People are frustrated. People demand Mountain pipeline expansion,” he worrying about the approaching $1,000 for the full year,” said Radu, change and we saw that at the ballot said. winter semester. who relied on OSAP in the past to box,” said Harrison. “Albertans and people in Doug Ford’s government help cover school-related costs and He said Prime Minister Saskatchewan have faced very difficult announced changes to the OSAP groceries. Trudeau should be sitting down years over these past few years because program in January after the auditor The Kitchener native uses a bank with provincial leaders in Alberta of the global commodity prices, general revealed that the previous loan to help with her tuition, but still and Saskatchewan to discuss the because of the challenges they are plan from the Liberal government has expenses associated with food, message that was sent to the Liberal facing. For a long time they weren’t under Kathleen Wynne would result school supplies, and more. As a Party of Canada by voters in the two able to get their resources to markets in costs of more than $2 billion result, she works 20 hours a week at provinces, saying there needs to be other than the U.S. We are moving annually by 2020-2021. her job at Lacoste while juggling an forward to solve those challenges.” a “respectful policy response” to the Some of Ford’s changes to the unpaid internship and classes. serious concerns of the west. Trudeau also said he’ll be reaching program include the elimination of “It’s affecting my mental health… Scott Dempster says he’s tired of out to westerners to hear their free tuition for low-income students, I’m constantly stressed about money,” seeing Western Canada being treated concerns and work to address them. elimination of the interest-free, six- Radu told CBC Toronto.
Never entertain your enemies khw;whDf;F ,lk; nfhLf;fhNj gf;fk; | PAGE 14 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 4 IN 10 BOYS ARE PHYSICALLY ASSAULTED AT SCHOOL: SURVEY
A survey conducted last month end of an assault involving slaps, Jayden Trudell, 15, from behind and deadly last month at a Hamilton by Mission Research, found more punches, kicks or bites. blind-sided him with a hard punch high school. than one-third of students between Stepping off the grounds of their to the head. the ages of 14 and 21 are physically Just a month into Grade 9, high school, those with cellphones Jayden was then picked up and 14-year-old Devan Bracci-Selvey assaulted at least once before reaching out, filming, knew what was about to dropped, his head slammed into the high school. was fatally stabbed while on school happen. But the Grade 9 student in pavement. As the video shows, he did property. It reportedly came after Boys are even more likely to Windsor, Ont., into his first days of a not move. Yet the assault continued, weeks of his family pleading with face violence, with four in 10 boys new school year, did not. with kicks and punches. school officials to confront bullying between the ages of 14 and 21 It happened quickly on Sept. 12 “His neck was bent in a weird way, at the hands of other students. reporting they were on the receiving of last year. An older boy approached so I thought he was dead,” his cousin, In a tearful and angry statement Jaxson Da Silva-Trudell, recalled of after her son’s death, Shari-Ann the attack. “I thought Jayden died Bracci-Selvey said “everyone failed B.C. TABLES INDIGENOUS RIGHTS BILL right then and there.” my son.” Jayden was rushed to a hospital in Two students have since been TO IMPLEMENT UN DECLARATION critical condition and spent months charged with his murder. recovering from a fractured skull, a B.C. tabled a historic bill on “Denial of our rights, denial of brain bleed, and hearing damage. His While the Greater Toronto Area Indigenous rights in the legislature our title, denial of our basic human attackers were expelled, charged, and is home to Canada’s greatest number last month and, if passed, the rights-and puts us in a position where ultimately convicted of assault. of students, the survey also reveals province will be the first in Canada significantly higher rates of violence we can sit as equal decision-makers “No one knew at the time if to legally implement the United in its high schools compared to other at tables where decisions are being Jayden was gonna live or die,” said Nations Declaration on the Rights of regions in Ontario and across the made that impact our lives.” his grandfather, Kevin Trudell, a Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). country. “What this declaration does is now retired police officer. The approach Since the province committed to recognize that Indigenous Peoples of investigators at the scene, he said, Students in Quebec, meanwhile, the legislation more than a year ago, a have the inherent right to self- was indicative of the seriousness of reported the lowest incidence of team from the Ministry of Indigenous government and to make decisions the assault. experiencing violence at the hands of Relations and Reconciliation another student. and have power,” said Ed John, who “They treated it as a murder scene. has been working with the First has long worked to advocate for the It was [like] a murder investigation.” The Prairies stood out for reports Nations Leadership Council to draft rights of Indigenous communities in of unwanted sexual contact, such as the historic bill. Canada and internationally. Jayden’s case may seem like an inappropriate touching or grabbing, egregious example, but violence in “This legislation is a real catalyst with one in four saying they have John was involved with the Canadian schools appears to be rife for significant change,” said Premier experienced it. An even higher development of the declaration as a when you ask students directly about John Horgan after the bill was number-nearly one in three-have representative for the Assembly of peer-on-peer behavior at school. introduced. First Nations. He was in New York experienced peers sharing a sexual According to the survey, in rumor or message about them with “This bill is critically important City when Canada formally opposed high school, one in five boys were others at least once, significantly because Indigenous rights are human the declaration’s adoption in the UN threatened with a weapon. higher than the national average. rights. We all want to live in a General Assembly in 2007. province where the standard of living He was also there when Canada It’s a somber statistic that turned for Indigenous Peoples is the same came back to the table in 2016 and as every other human being in the endorsed it. ONTARIO LEGISLATURE RESUMES WITH NEW TONE province.” “There was a standing ovation, Ontario’s legislature returned on spoke with Saskatchewan Premier Indigenous leaders from across the believe it or not, from Indigenous Oct. 28 from an extended summer Scott Moe on the phone. He has also province and across the country filled Peoples around the world. And you break, with politicians on their spoken to Quebec Premier Francois the gallery, some invited to sit on the don’t see standing ovations at the best behavior in a delicate detente Legault and Alberta Premier Jason floor of the central aisle. UN.” following a divisive federal election Kenney, he said. Those present represented the UNDRIP has now been endorsed campaign. “We all feel the same way,” Ford range of political leadership among by both B.C. and Canada. It consists Gone were the endless standing said. “We need to unite this country, Indigenous communities-there were of 46 articles meant to recognize the ovations and loud heckling from both because what is good for Canada is elected MLAs, MPs Jody Wilson- basic human rights of Indigenous sides of the chamber that marked good for Ontario.” Raybould and outgoing NDP MP people along with their rights to self- an overheated spring sitting, as the Government House Leader Paul Romeo Saganash, hereditary chiefs, determination. government hit a tonal reset after Calandra said the recent election is elected chiefs and elders. Article 43 states the rights detailed the longest recess in nearly a quarter part of what prompted everyone to be The legislation is meant to provide in the declaration represent “the century. more civil. a framework for the province to align minimum standards for the survival, Politicians normally return for the That said, standing ovations won’t its laws with the standards of the UN dignity and well-being of the fall session in early September, but be banned, Calandra said. declaration-something Indigenous Indigenous peoples of the world.” the five-month break meant the house groups have long been advocating for “I don’t want to take the passion In B.C., Horgan campaigned didn’t sit during the federal election in B.C. and across the country. campaign. out of the place,” he said. “(But) on a promise to legislate UNDRIP, we’ve been here a year now on the At its core, the legislation has been and his throne speech reiterated the A subdued Premier Doug Ford government side...I think it’s going to discussed among Indigenous leaders government’s commitment. called for unity across the province take a little bit more to get us up on as a way to improve government-to- “We need to address reconciliation and across Canada. our feet than it would have when we government relations. in British Columbia, not just for social “I’ve never seen the country so were all brand new.” “It moves us away from a justice...but for economic equality divided,” he said. Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser relationship of denial,” Cheryl for all citizens, Indigenous and non- Ford held an unannounced said on Oct. 28 before question period Casimer, one of the First Nations Indigenous,” said the minister. meeting on Oct. 27 with New that those changes would be nice, but Summit political executives, said in Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs, and what he wants is a change in priorities. an interview on CBC’s On the Coast.
2. Courage, a liberal hand, wisdom, and energy: these four Never to fail in these four things, fearlessness, liberality, wisdom, and energy, Are qualities a king adorn for evermore is the kingly character voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 15
BRAMPTON MAYOR CALLS FOR CCTV TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE COULD FUND CAMERAS ON HIGHWAYS $500M A YEAR IN CLEAN ENERGY PROJECTS The Liberal government expects expansion and I told her that I Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown another vehicle pulled up beside to get $500 million a year from the continue to oppose the pipeline last month called on the Ontario them and someone began firing. expanded Trans Mountain pipeline expansion,” Singh said, though he government for help in getting In a news release on Oct. 27, and is promising to spend the money added: “While we disagree on TMX, CCTV cameras installed along Brown said closed circuit television on cleaner sources of energy and we share concern for the workers.” Highways 410 and 403 in Peel region cameras can make a difference when projects that pull carbon out of the The NDP has enough seats to to help police curb gun violence. it comes to police investigations. atmosphere. support the Liberals through any “Being a safe city is a core priority In an interview with Theconfidence votes. But while the NDP for our city council and we will Canadian Press last month, Finance leader has said he wants tougher continue to focus on providing Minister Bill Morneau said that the climate action, Singh has stopped the necessary resources to keep expanded pipeline is not fodder for short of using the pipeline as a line Brampton a safe city to live, work negotiating with other parties in the in the sand, suggesting that ship has and play,” Brown said in the release. minority government. Rather, he effectively sailed. said, it is a crucial piece of the puzzle “The recent targeted gang Morneau said construction on the of financing Canada’s transition to a pipeline is underway and the decision shootings on the 410 have in part clean energy economy. been due to the lack of cameras and to go forward has been made, which the quick ability to vacate the scene. “We purchased it for a reason,” means there is really no way to use it We can’t permit blind spots like said Morneau. “We now see how as a bargaining chip in the minority it can help us accelerate our clean government. this that gangs are obviously taking energy transition by putting any advantage of.” Construction on the expansion is revenues that we get from it into a supposed to be done by the middle At its Oct. 25 meeting, the Peel transition to clean energy. We think Police Services Board passed a motion saying it wants to work with the Ontario government to get approval and funding for CCTV cameras in the wake of violent crimes in the Peel region. The motion says such cameras can help to reduce crime and serve to aid police in their investigations. A spokesperson for Minister of His request comes after a deadly Transportation Caroline Mulroney shooting on a Highway 410 exit said, should the ministry receive a ramp to Derry Road in Mississauga submission from the Peel police on Oct. 22. services board, “it will be given due that is the best way we can move of 2022. The Liberal platform One man, Giovanni Delahaye, 28, consideration in consultation with forward in our current context.” died at the scene on the northbound forecasted taking revenues of $125 our counterparts at the Ministry of The Liberal government bought million from Trans Mountain off ramp. Two others, a 17-year- the Solicitor General.” old boy and 26-year-old woman, the existing pipeline for $4.5 billion Canada in 2021-22 and then $500 According to Peel Regional Police, were seriously injured. All three in 2018, in a bid to overcome the million in each of the next two years. there have been four shootings on opposition of the British Columbia were stopped at a traffic light when The first 50 km of actual pipeline Highway 410 in the past 18 months. government to the expansion. will start being laid in the Edmonton Federally, the NDP and Greens- area shortly, a spokesperson for Trans the two parties with the most in Mountain Canada said. BLOC WILL WORK WITH LIBERALS: common with the Liberals on climate Thus far, more than 2,200 workers change-think the expansion should have been hired. BLANCHET be canceled. NDP Leader Jagmeet The pipeline runs from a terminal Bloc Quebecois leader Yves- interview that the expanded pipeline Singh underlined that point in a statement on Oct. 24 about a phone east of Edmonton to a marine Francois Blanchet last month said is not fodder for negotiating with terminal in Burnaby, B.C. The he’s willing to work with a re-elected other parties in the minority call the previous day with Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley. expansion will see a second pipeline Liberal government, despite Prime Parliament. Rather, he said, the $4.5 built roughly parallel to the first that Minister Justin Trudeau’s support billion pipeline is crucial to financing “Ms. Notley repeated her support can carry almost twice as much crude for the Trans Mountain pipeline Canada’s transition to a clean energy for the Trans Mountain pipeline oil every day. expansion. economy. Speaking in Quebec City on Oct. The NDP and Greens have called suggest Blanchet’s party could hold those that are good for Quebec and 24, Blanchet said that he’s not closing for the expansion to be canceled, but some sway in a minority Parliament, against those that aren’t. the door to discussions with any Blanchet, who has opposed having a since the governing Liberals will have The Bloc’s rapid rise has been party, just because they don’t agree pipeline cross Quebec, declined to to seek the support of other parties to attributed to the party’s tapping on all issues. outline what specific actions he would pass legislation. into a renewed sense of nationalism take concerning Trans Mountain in “There are issues we’ll agree But Blanchet said he felt it embodied by the Coalition Avenir western Canada. He said he would on, sometimes with the Liberals, wasn’t his role to help topple the Quebec government of Francois wait for Trudeau to present his plan sometimes the NDP, sometimes the government, saying he doesn’t believe Legault. Repeatedly, Blanchet first. Greens,” he said following a caucus voters want to return to the polls. campaigned on a promise to carry meeting. The Bloc Quebecois held its first He said the new Bloc MPs will the voice of the provincial legislature caucus meeting since the election, Finance Minister Bill Morneau evaluate each piece of legislation on a to Ottawa and ensure its projects which saw the party more than told The Canadian Press in an case-by-case basis, voting in favor of weren’t stymied. triple its seat count to 32. The results
A clever bait never fails to trick the target khidf; fhl;b khidg; gpbg;ghu; gf;fk; | PAGE 16 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 16 SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BURNING BANGLADESHI TEEN STUDENT ALIVE GLOBAL NEWS
the seminary in Sonagazi where her Rafi had gone to police in attackers pressed her to withdraw the late March to report the sexual complaint she had filed with police. harassment, and a leaked video shows When she refused, she was tied up, the local station chief registering her doused in kerosene, and set on fire. complaint but dismissing it as “not a big deal.” A court in Bangladesh sentenced complaint against the principal of She suffered burns to 80% of her Police said the attackers’ plan had 16 people to death on Oct. 24 for her rural Islamic seminary. body and died in a hospital four days been to pass off her death as suicide, burning a Bangladeshi teenager, who later. The head teacher, who a court in but this failed after Rafi managed refused to withdraw sexual assault the southern coastal town of Feni Her death triggered widespread to stagger down the stairs while still charges against her head teacher, found had ordered the brutal killing horror across the nation, with engulfed in flames. alive. from jail after being arrested over the protesters in the capital Dhaka Activists say many of the women The case highlights what activists harassment claim, was among those staging days of demonstrations and children who report sexual say is a culture of impunity over sentenced to death. seeking “exemplary punishment” for violence in Bangladesh often suffer sexual violence in the South Asian the killers. Others included activists from the a backlash, and that successful country of 168 million people, as ruling Awami League party and some The murder put pressure on Prime prosecutions are rare. well as abuse rife in around 20,000 students-including two females-who Minister Sheikh Hasina to do more to Rafi’s case was fast-tracked, with seminaries that educate mostly poor either participated in the killing or protect women, with her government the hearing taking only 62 days at and rural students. guarded the gates of the seminary ordering some 27,000 schools to set a special tribunal hearing cases of Nusrat Jahan Rafi was doused in while it took place. up committees to prevent sexual violence. violence against women and children. kerosene and set on fire on April 6 Rafi was lured to the rooftop of after she made a sexual harassment CREDIT CARDS USED IN AUSTRALIA TO BUY RESTRICTED ITEMS People on the cashless debit card Independent Senator Jackie and pornography. Dr. Michelle Peterie, social science (CDC) in Australia are still able Lambie added: “That’s a good At the time the intervention research fellow at the University to gamble and buy alcohol, drugs, question; how does that work?” began, the Howard government said of Queensland, said people were cigarettes, and pornography because Department spokesperson Liz it was necessary to restrict these items experiencing anxiety, depression, a potential loophole in the system Hefren-Webb said: “Where there’s a to protect children in communities and panic attacks at being unable to allows them to use credit cards pattern of unusual transactions, we who were allegedly vulnerable to manage their income. without detection while they are on do investigate. We’re just not aware sexual exploitation. “Ordinary Australians who had no income management. that particular instance has arisen.” The rationale for this change, history of substance abuse, who were Government officials have Social services spokesperson Selina Hefren-Webb said, “has been a policy just shopping for groceries to feed admitted it is unable to track the use Patrick said the department was “not decision of government informed by their children” were experiencing of credit cards, and people who have doing any active monitoring of the discussions that have been had with shame and humiliation in using the credit cards can still use them to buy use of credit cards” but “we would community representatives.” card, Peterie said. restricted items and use their CDC ask for evidence if large amounts of The social stigma was causing income to pay off the debts. In its written submission to the money were going to a credit card.” committee, the department said, people to withdraw from The admission came at a Senate The CDC, or Indue card, is “The CDC offers participants a participation in their communities. hearing into plans to extend the designed to replace the Basics superior product that provides greater This is a problem, Peterie said, CDC to the whole Northern card in the NT, a form of equally consumer choice. because “informal social networks Territory from April next year, in controversial income quarantining are a key way for the unemployed to response to questions from Labor “The objective of the CDC is to find work.” that has been in place for 12 years. learn more about whether limiting Senator Malarndirri McCarthy about The committee will conclude its how CDC participants can use the Aboriginal people living in the amount of welfare payments able “prescribed communities” are not to be spent on alcohol, drugs, or investigation into the draft bill and is BPay system to buy illicit materials due to report in early November. without detection. allowed to use their Basics card at gambling will lead to a reduction in places that sell alcohol, cigarettes, community-level harm.” MOST BRITONS AGAINST USE OF FACIAL RECOGNITION TECH BY POLICE with supporters saying it allows Almost two in three Britons do recruitment to policing, found the processes,” said Asheem Singh, the smarter policing, while critics say it is not want police to use artificial poll, commissioned by Britain’s Royal RSA’s acting head of tech and society. intrusive and often inaccurate. intelligence such as facial recognition Society for the encouragement of “We need an open conversation The technology uses surveillance technology to identify suspects, Arts, Manufactures and Commerce about AI and other forms of decision cameras equipped with facial according to a survey released last (RSA). making, driven by the principles of recognition software to scan passers- month. “An increasing amount of decision transparency and accountability.” by in public spaces and uses artificial Public bodies and employers making―in our public services, There has been growing debate intelligence to compare them to could face a popular backlash the job market and healthcare―is over the use of facial recognition watch lists of people being sought by against “tech creep” in sectors from taking place via ever more opaque technology by some police forces, ...SEE PAGE 22
3. A sleepless promptitude, knowledge, decision strong: These three things, viz., vigilance, learning, and bravery, should never be These three for aye to rulers of the land belong wanting in the ruler of a country voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 17
SRI LANKA’S NEW ASYLUM ROUTE TO REACH TINY FRENCH TERRITORIES
Faced with tightening borders in hardening immigration laws and ‘severe Frontières, and others have documented Rights groups have criticized asylum Australia and elsewhere, hundreds of conditions of detention,’” Madavan a mental health crisis among people policies in France’s overseas territories— Sri Lankan asylum seekers are instead told The New Humanitarian. detained for years. Since May, Australian particularly in Mayotte, where people turning to a new migration route The emergence of the route southwest authorities have reportedly turned away from nearby Comoros, as well as people stretching 4,000 kilometers across the to La Réunion and Mayotte is driven in six boats carrying asylum seekers from from the Democratic Republic of Indian Ocean. part by crackdowns on Sri Lankan boat Sri Lanka Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda made up Since January 2018, at least 291 Sri journeys to more common destinations, Sri Lankans are also drawn to La the majority of asylum applicants last Lankans have boarded fishing boats or including Southeast Asian nations and Réunion in particular because of a large year. makeshift rafts to reach the tiny French Australia, according to Delon Madavan, population of South Indian Tamils: In a 2017 report, France’s human territories of La Réunion and Mayotte a researcher who studies South Asian “There is a potential network in these rights commission said seeking asylum off the coast of Madagascar, the UN’s diaspora communities at the Centre receiving islands, which may give in Mayotte was “mission impossible” refugee agency, UNHCR, reported last support to asylum seekers for Comorians in particular, with new month. from Sri Lanka,” Madavan arrivals often detained and deported The majority of recent arrivals have said. before asylum requests are recorded. been turned away and deported before More than 4,000 Sri Anafé, an association of French applying for asylum, their claims Lankans, mostly Tamil organizations that work with refugees declared “manifestly unfounded,” minorities, applied for and migrants, says maritime border according to reports from French asylum in European patrols around Mayotte have become a authorities. countries last year—about “quasi-military arsenal, rendering access Of 70 Sri Lankans who arrived in 2,000 in France, which more and more difficult.” February, for example, only six were has a large Tamil diaspora. Asylum claims to La Réunion have allowed to enter, though all asked for The number of yearly been comparatively few: only 18 claims asylum, the government on La Réunion applicants has fallen by were lodged last year, according to said. The remainders were deported to about half in the last OFPRA statistics. decade. Sri Lanka within days. But, under French law, asylum La Cimade, a French NGO that Sri Lanka’s bloody civil seekers can be refused entry before advocates for refugees and migrants, calls war ended in 2009. Rights applying if their claims are determined these swift rejections “unprecedented groups say violations, to be “manifestly unfounded.” including arbitrary detention, torture, rights violations. d’Études de l’Inde et de l’Asie du Sud In one recent case reported by French in Paris. and rape, have continued. Recent “Some people were illegally sent political upheaval in Sri Lanka may also authorities, 34 of 120 Sri Lankans who back without being able to appeal, Australia bars asylum seekers who be driving asylum claims in France: a arrived on board a rickety ship in mid- without having their asylum application arrive by boat from resettling in the growing number are minority Muslims April were allowed to apply for asylum. examined, without having been able country, even if their refugee claims and Christians fleeing violence blamed The rest, including three children, were to consult a lawyer, or without being are eventually approved. Controversial on Buddhist extremists, according to a barred from lodging their claims, and informed of their rights,” the group offshore detention policies sawMay report from OFPRA, the French 60 of them were deported by the end of said in a statement. “New roads are thousands of asylum seekers sent to government department that oversees the month, accompanied by dozens of gradually being set up toward the Nauru and Papua New Guinea’s Manus refugee claims. police and gendarmes. south of the Indian Ocean because of Island, where the UN, Médecins Sans AUSTRALIAN SENATOR OUTLINES MODEL FOR INDIGENOUS VOICE TO PARLIAMENT
Australian Liberal Senator Andrew and fair” idea. national Parliament and government constitution would still give Parliament Bragg last month said an Indigenous He said that ensuring that Indigenous and local Indigenous peoples. “a free hand” in deciding how they were voice to Parliament should be voices were heard by Parliament did Bragg said the “genius” of the established. formed by a network of Indigenous not mean “creating a third chamber” of proposed model was that Parliament The detailed proposal being put communities across the country, in Parliament, as had been suggested by and government would be able to hear forward by Bragg comes as the Coalition a “bottom-up” approach that would critics. directly from the local communities prepares to announce a “co-design” ensure First Nation voices had a direct affected by a proposed law or policy. process for the voice to Parliament, for say to Parliament. On his model, Bragg said: “It would be for each of these communities to “In this way, we’ll get a system which the government has allocated Bragg, who has strongly endorsed identify a structure that will enable through which local communities can $7.3m. constitutional recognition, delivered a a local or regional body to best be heard directly by the Parliament. After Indigenous MP Ken Wyatt speech in Canberra to build the case represent its community. Indigenous This is how we’ll get good Indigenous was appointed as the minister for for an Indigenous voice to Parliament, communities around Australia are very policymaking in Australia.” Indigenous affairs following the May outlining a model that he says would different. So their needs are different, election, he promised to work toward honor the Uluru Statement of the Heart, In order to provide a “constitutional and the kind of local or regional body guarantee” that Parliament would holding a referendum on recognition while also upholding parliamentary that can help address these needs will within three years. sovereignty. hear the voice established through this be different.” network, Bragg says the constitution Conservatives within the Coalition Saying he had been “unashamedly Once these groups have been would need to be amended to require are opposed to a constitutionally vocal” in his support for constitutional formed, various local and regional Parliament to establish bodies for the enshrined voice to Parliament, arguing recognition, Bragg said consulting bodies would then voluntarily affiliate various Indigenous peoples across it could divide Australians on racial Indigenous people on the laws that to create a national body that would Australia. grounds. were relevant to them as proposed by facilitate communication between the the Uluru statement was both a “good But he says a change in the
Which of these is sharper… an arrow or a harsh word? nrhy; mk;Ngh tpy; mk;Ngh? gf;fk; | PAGE 18 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 EU GRANTS NEW BREXIT DELAY TO JAN. 31 The European Union agreed to European Union diplomats met in are later set to vote on whether to put legislation enacting Britain’s delay Brexit until Jan. 31 next year Brussels to sign off on the new delay hold an early election to try to break departure on a fast track to passage, on Oct 28-just three days before it for Britain’s departure, which had the country’s deadlock over Brexit. which could have enabled Mr. was due to take place. been on Oct. 31. Johnson wants a Dec. 12 election, Johnson to meet his deadline of but looks unlikely to get the leaving the European Union by Oct. European Council President Leaving the envoys, EU Brexit required support from two-thirds of 31. Donald Tusk said on Twitter that the negotiator Michel Barnier told lawmakers. EU’s 27 other countries agreed to reporters that “it was a very short and By blocking Mr. Johnson, accept “the UK’s request for a Brexit efficient and constructive meeting Two opposition parties plan to Parliament has thrown the whole flextension until Jan. 31, 2020. The and I am happy the decision has push for a Dec. 9 election if Johnson’s process into a legislative netherworld decision is expected to be formalized been taken.” proposal fails. that could mean months of further through a written procedure.” delays to a process that the nation He declined to provide details of Earlier on Oct. 22, British Prime has long since wearied of and just The term flextension means that the talks. Minister Boris Johnson suffered a wants to see end. the UK will be able to leave earlier damaging setback in his effort to if the Brexit deal secured by Prime It’s the second time the Brexit take his country out of the European It is entirely conceivable that Minister Boris Johnson is ratified deadline has been changed since Union, losing a critical vote in Mr. Johnson’s deal will kick around before Jan. 31. the 2016 referendum on Britain’s Parliament and putting his plans Parliament for weeks, potentially departure from the EU. for Brexit on hold as Britain’s three- becoming encumbered with Tusk’s announcement came as In London, British politicians year struggle to resolve the issue amendments that either Mr. Johnson continued to defy any solution. or the European Union would reject as unacceptable. The best option MORE REFUGEES IN AUSTRALIA Mr. Johnson’s latest defeat came then, analysts said, would be to give only 15 minutes after his first victory voters a chance to make themselves in Parliament. heard in a general election. THAN OFFSHORE Lawmakers granted preliminary Twice as many asylum seekers The department spent more More than three years have approval to the withdrawal deal he elapsed since the June 2016 are now in Australia for medical than $72 million on external legal struck with the European Union treatment compared to the number expenses in the past year, an increase referendum in which British voters in the middle of October, a major opted to take their country out of in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. of more than 140% over the five step toward achieving the prime the E.U. by a 52% to 48% vote. financial years to 2018-19. minister’s goal of Brexit and one that Australia’s Home Affairs Secretary The British entertainment industry broke a string of defeats for him. Michael Pezzullo said last month Mr. Pezzullo said the increase is overwhelmingly in favor of that 562 people remained in PNG was “almost entirely attributable” But the lawmakers refused remaining in the E.U and Nauru—about 23% of peak to sustained upsurges in migration in a crucial follow-up vote to levels in June 2014. and citizenship cases, including by asylum seekers who arrived in Another 1,117 have been brought Australia by boat. TRUMP SAYS ISLAMIC STATE HEAD AL- to Australia for medical treatment or to accompany family members. Australia has experienced a significant growth in visa applications BAGHDADI KILLED IN US OPERATION Regional processing on Manus over the past 12 years. Island will be terminated at the end The shadowy leader of the Islamic fighters in Syria for their support. of November. Visitor visas have increased by State group who presided over its On Oct. 29, U.S. media reported 56% to 5.7 million granted, while global jihad and became arguably Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s remains were “The remaining transferees on 405,000 student visas have been the world’s most wanted man, is buried at sea following his death in a Manus Island will shortly be moved granted, a 46% increase. dead after being targeted by a U.S. to Port Moresby, with services military raid in Syria, U.S. President U.S. military raid. there to be managed by the PNG The average refusal rate across the Donald Trump said on Oct. 27. The United States gave al- government,” Mr. Pezzullo told a visa programs increased from 2.4% Baghdadi, who committed suicide Senate estimates hearing in Canberra to 3.9% over the past five years. “Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is dead,” in a U.S. commando raid in on Oct. 21. Trump announced at the White Of the 40 million people granted House, saying the U.S. had “brought northwestern Syria on Oct. 26 night, Meanwhile, 632 people have a temporary visa over the past five the world’s number one terrorist a burial at sea, reported ABC News been transferred to the United States years, only 88,000 applicants lodged leader to justice.” citing an anonymous U.S. official. under a refugee resettlement deal. claims for protection in Australia, The source, not revealing any which is about 0.23% of the As U.S. forces bore down on him, details of the burial, said that the The deal was expected totemporary visas granted. Trump said al-Baghdadi fled into a accommodate up to 1,250 people. tunnel with three of his children and procedure was similar to the one Mr. Pezzullo said his department detonated a suicide vest. “He was a used to dispose of the remains of al- “Australian and United States had also made significant progress sick and depraved man, and now he’s Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden, officials have contacted all eligible with a backlog of citizenship gone,” Trump said. “He died like a according to the report. refugees in Nauru, PNG and applications. dog; he died like a coward.” Australia to confirm their ongoing Mark Milley, chairman of the interest in resettlement,” Mr. More than 127,000 people were A U.S. official told the Associated Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a press Pezzullo said. granted citizenship in 2018-19, an Press late Saturday that al-Baghdadi conference on Oct. 28 that the U.S. increase of 58% on the previous year. was targeted in Syria’s northwestern military disposed of al-Baghdadi’s “The United States is working Idlib province. remains “appropriately in accordance through all outstanding cases, with “This is despite refusals—which with our SOPs (standard operating the intention to conclude interviews take longer to process—rising by Earlier on Oct. 26, Trump had procedures), and in accordance with by the end of the year.” 53%,” Mr. Pezzullo said. teased a major announcement, the law of armed conflict.” tweeting that “Something very big There are more than 205,000 The department also reduced the has just happened!” By the morning, Before the disposal, the IS leader’s people in Australia on bridging visas, caseload of citizenship applications he was thanking Russia, Turkey, remains were transported to a secure while about 62,000 people in the to about 164,000 from a peak of Syria and Iraq, as well as Kurdish facility to confirm his identity with country have overstayed visas. almost 248,000 in July 2018. forensic DNA testing, Milley added.
4. Kingship, in virtue failing not, all vice restrains, He is a king who, with manly modesty, swerves not from virtue, and refrains In courage failing not, it honour’s grace maintains from vice voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 19
HUMAN TRAFFICKING: 39 CHINESE NATIONALS FOUND DEAD IN TRUCK IN ENGLAND
In one of Britain’s worst human- time. in Belgium on Oct. 22; where it was and show the vehicle just around the smuggling tragedies British police on before then remains unclear. corner from where the discovery was Oct. 23 found 39 people dead in a Its statement said it would made a short time later at the estate. truck in an Essex industrial estate in continue to work with police in the From Zeebrugge, it headed to England and arrested the driver on UK to find out what happened. Purfleet in Essex, arriving in the early Speaking about the tragedy, suspicion of murder. hours of Oct. 23. the Irish Refugee Council said it Police raided two addresses in represented a needless loss of life. All the deceased were identified as County Armagh in Northern Ireland The truck cab is thought to Chinese nationals the following day. that are believed to be linked to the have begun its journey to Grays in It said: “No person should find driver, who remains in custody after Northern Ireland, from where it themselves in a situation where Belgian authorities believe the being arrested on suspicion of murder. headed to Dublin and caught a ferry they feel that their only choice is to container was transported to the UK to Holyhead in north Wales. pay smugglers to transport them on from the port of Zeebrugge at 2:49 Mo Robinson, from Portadown, dangerous and arduous journeys with p.m. local time on Oct. 23, arriving was arrested after the discovery at It made its way to Essex and left no guarantees for their safety or how in Purfleet at around midnight. Waterglade Industrial Park. Purfleet with the container soon after their journey might end.” 1:05 a.m. before driving to Grays, CCTV has shown it being driven The 25-year-old was driving the with CCTV footage showing the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said toward the industrial park at 1:10 truck before police were called to truck driving toward the industrial he was “appalled” by the incident a.m., half an hour before Essex Police the scene in Grays at 1:40am, and park minutes before the bodies were and said the perpetrators of the crime were called to the scene. officers have since begun the task of found. “should be hunted down and brought identifying those who died. to justice.” The discovery echoes an incident The images were taken at 1:10am in Dover, Kent, in 2000, when 58 Essex Police said in a statement: Chinese people were also found dead “This will be a lengthy and complex in a container. investigation and we continue to work with local partners and international UN AGENCIES TARGETED BY The Belgian public prosecutor’s authorities to gather vital intelligence office said it is “not yet clear” when and identify those who have sadly CYBERESPIONAGE CAMPAIGN and where the victims were placed in died.” the container, adding that no further A coordinated cyberespionage identified. information would be released at this Police believe the trailer traveled campaign using phishing to harvest on a ship from the port of Zeebrugge passwords from mobile phones and After obtaining the credentials of computers has targeted UN relief an employee already compromised by agencies, the International Red the attacks, the perpetrators would NEW INDICTMENT IN U.S. DRUG Cross and other non-governmental typically mine that person’s email to organizations groups for the past identify their colleagues and try to SMUGGLING CASE 10 months, a cybersecurity firm infect them. reported. “We know that the typical attack A new indictment was sworn last arrested while on vacation in Cancun, The San Francisco-based security path here is to get credentials from month in a California drug smuggling Mexico. company Lookout said it doesn’t one individual in the organization case where most of those accused are know who is behind the campaign. It and use that as a point of leverage to Canadians. On this side of the border, compromise laterally,” Richards said. Chiu and his brother Richard were added that there are indications some Now charged is Metro Vancouver identified by police as clients of the of its targets may have been members He said researchers had not been man Ricky Korasak. illegal underground bank Silver of the international community in able to obtain copies of phishing International, which was used to North Korea. emails or text messages used in the Until October, he was known launder money. Richard was found campaign. to U.S. investigators as FNU LNU Among the targets were UNICEF, murdered and burned in Colombia the UN World Food Program, the (first name unknown, last name in June. Two documents found by unknown), or by his aliases Joe and UN Development Program, the Lookout researchers may offer clues Canada Friend. “Defendants Chiu and Korasak International Federation of the Red to those behind the campaign. Both and others, known and unknown, Cross, and the Red Crescent Societies, documents were designed to be But now, one of the mystery men would arrange for the transportation Lookout said. automatically sent to people fooled charged in a massive cross-border of MDMA (ecstasy) from Canada Also targeted were think tanks by the phishing sites and were tailored U.S. drug investigation has been into the United States in exchange for for members of the international identified as former Metro Vancouver and research organizations including cocaine,” the new indictment says. The United States Institute of Peace, community in Pyongyang, the realtor Ricky Korasak. North Korean capital, Richards said. Chiu had other Canadians working the Heritage Foundation, the Social Korasak, 34, was named in a new Science Research Council, the East- Lookout provided the Associated as couriers. They were allegedly sent Press with copies. indictment filed Oct. 8 in a California to California to deliver the ecstasy West Center, and the University of courtroom. and pick up cocaine. San Diego. The North Korea survey was He is one of 17 Canadians and The cyberespionage campaign’s conducted last year and widely Chiu and a co-accused known promoted on social media, said Jeffrey 13 others alleged to be part of only as Nica “would provide code internet infrastructure has been an international drug smuggling hosted by a company called Shinjiru, Robertson, the political science names, telephone numbers and serial professor who conducted it. organization moving ecstasy to numbers on bills of currency to co- which protects client identities and California and trucking cocaine back conspirators to use as a token for lets customers pay in anonymity- “I assume this is why the into Canada. identification purposes during the shielding cryptocurrency, said Jeremy ‘coordinated campaign’ has used it as Richards, a Lookout researcher. The head of the operation, exchange of controlled substances a front to serve their objectives,” he according to U.S. court records, is in the United States and during the Lookout discovered internet told the AP in an email exchange. Vincent Yen Tek Chiu, a Vancouver exchange of currency in Canada as sites designed to mimic actual UN payment.” Lookout discovered the phishing man also known as “El Chino,” webpages in hopes of tricking users infrastructure through routine scans “Tiger” and “Immortal Planet,” who U.S. agents intercepted several of into entering their login credentials, it does daily of the internet seeking was originally charged in July. the drug deliveries in 2018. Richards said. All were physically anomalies that could be engaged in hosted in Malaysia. The company has malicious activity, Richards said. Chiu is in custody after being notified the targeted organizations it
Prosperity commands more respect than personal integrity gzk; ge;jpapNy Fzk; Fg;igapNy! gf;fk; | PAGE 20 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 REMOVAL OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA AND POLITICIZATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Continues from previous issue… that inhabit the North; and the contradictions and inequalities that After becoming vice chancellor of the appear along lines of caste, class, and University of Jaffna, Prof. Vigneswaran gender in the region. For the academic attended almost all events organized community and the larger society by the academic community of the to participate in these conversations university to which he was invited. He and discussions on militarization, did this with a view to administering accountability for war crimes, and other the university smoothly, without any forms of oppression coming from the conflicts. He was perhaps the first sitting majoritarian state, and to contribute vice chancellor to attend the annual positively to discussions on inter-ethnic commemoration event for those who reconciliation and coexistence on fair died during the last stages of the war in and equitable terms, the University 2009. Many students and staff of the of Jaffna should remain a place free of university and the larger community authoritarianism. appreciated his presence at this memorial event. The organizers of the Rajanidied during the final phases of the When students and academics were Thiranagama Memorial Event in 2014 war. During the previous government, being killed by all sides to the conflict undergraduates of the University of in the late 1980s, in order to keep the Jaffna who commemorated the LTTE universities functioning, Prof. Arjuna cadres who died during the militancy Aluvihare, then chairman of the UGC, were assaulted by the military. had to assert the values of universities while avoiding naming who was a Now, under the present dispensation, terrorist and who was not. Higher the vice chancellor of the University Education Minister A.C.S. Hameed has been removed from his position understood this. Each party to the in a humiliating manner for not ongoing terror had its own narrative that were denied space inside the university clearing away a memorial monument it changed according to convenience. He attended the Thamil Amutham to organize an event to remember the life constructed by the students. The event in 2018, as it was organized In such a crisis-ridden polity without and work of this eminent academic and UGC’s inability on both occasions to by the students of the University of any stable values, how can the UGC human rights activist gunned down by ensure academic freedom and a space Jaffna. However, he refrained from punish people without due process, the Tigers. Her portrait is still excluded free of interference by the military attending the Great Heroes’ Day events solely on untested allegations contained from the Senior Common Room of the shows that it is just another arm of the commemorating slain LTTE cadres in military intelligence reports? In Faculty of Arts where the portraits of most Sinhala majoritarian apparatuses of the when he was vice chancellor. Even if one past instances of charges made against deceased dons who served the University Sri Lankan state. By giving in to the may, for ideological reasons, question individuals by the military or police of Jaffna are on display. Although one chauvinistic pressures from the military, the participation of Prof. Vigneswaran under the PTA, the courts have thrown should question these exclusions and its intelligence division, and certain in some of these events, it is not the these out as concocted or not sufficiently absences around memorialization at the sections of the media, the UGC and UGC or the military’s prerogative to University of Jaffna, banning memorial the Ministry of Higher Education have decide what events a vice chancellor can events organized by the students and failed in their responsibilities to the only be permitted to attend or what political By Dr. N. Sivapalan the academic community by using the public university in the North and the views a vice chancellor can be permitted authority vested in the vice chancellor communities that university serves. to hold. It is a threat to his freedom as Dr. S. Arivalzahan will only aggravate the collective trauma an individual academic and head of an The University of Jaffna has been of the community and may even push Dr. P. Iyngaran academic institution. a venue for Tamil nationalist activity the students to resort to actions that since the late 1970s, though there was POLITICS OF are harmful to both themselves and space within the university to articulate Dr. N. Ramaruban MEMORIALIZATION AT THE larger society. The memorialization views critical of nationalism and the UNIVERSITY OF JAFFNA event organized by the students to authoritarian activities of the Tamil M. Thiruvarangan commemorate the victims of the militants until 1990 when the LTTE While the war-torn society that is Easter Sunday attacks indicates that brought the Jaffna Peninsula under Dr. Rajan Hoole still coming to terms with the traumatic the undergraduates of the University its control. Many Tamil nationalist experiences of past violence and awaits of Jaffna are concerned about issues of mobilizations and events took place an appropriate solution to the national established. And Vice Chancellor national significance as well. inside the University of Jaffna during the question, it cannot be denied that Vigneswaran was denied the right of tenures of many of Prof. Vigneswaran’s memorialization is an important and Those who hold important reply before an impartial tribunal. Is this predecessors. A monument for the slain cathartic political and social activity. At administrative positions at universities the standard being set by leaders of our Tamil militants was constructed inside the University of Jaffna, memorialization located in conflict zones have to higher educational system? approach sensitive events associated the main campus during the tenure of has been a contested issue riddled Justice should be the cornerstone of with memorialization and democratic, one of them. None of them was sacked with contradictions, absences, and the university system. The Universities non-violent political resistance carefully from the post of vice chancellor. Why exclusions. Although the LTTE martyrs Act does not permit any employee to without alienating the students who target Prof. Vigneswaran, who has acted are commemorated annually by the be punished in the absence of proof organize them. At many universities in no differently? students and staff of the University, no endorsed by a recognized tribunal, the South, commemoration events are memorialization events for militants A space seems to be opening up certainly not military intelligence. We organized annually by the students to of the other Tamil armed movements again within the university during the see today a great deal of polarization in memorialize the JVP insurgents who take place. Whereas the end of the war post-war years for self-introspection and the country and little hope of the return took arms against the state. The state in Mullivaikal is observed annually, the frank conversations about the violence of sanity. The UGC and the Ministry does not police these spaces in a stringent academic community has organized no and exclusions done in the name of of Higher Education functioning in manner as it does at the University of event so far to mark the eviction of the Tamil nationalism on Tamils and other the present manner is likely to herald a Jaffna. Even the Northern Provincial Muslims from the North by the LTTE. communities; what self-determination severe crisis in the nationwide university Council organized commemoration and autonomy mean to the different sector. events in the past for the ones who ethnic, religious, and cultural groups
5. A king is he who treasure gains, stores up, defends, He is a king who is able to acquire (wealth), to lay it up, to guard, and to And duly for his kingdom’s weal expends distribute it voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 21
INVESTIGATING THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ENFORCED DISAPPEARED TAMILS IN SRI LANKA
Continues from previous issue… number of enforced disappearance Committee) to receive and consider neither prosecute their soldiers nor cases prior to the act. This is not communications from or on behalf allow foreign judges, prosecutors The discovery of “mass graves” what was envisaged by UNHRC of individuals claiming to be victims or investigators to participate in -those uncovered in Mannar and resolutions Sri Lanka co-sponsored, of a violation of provisions of this a domestic mechanism that’s not Matale and other places in the Island- and comes as a slap in the face to Convention,” families are unable going to materialize. which the UN Working Group had families of Tamils disappeared by to bring complaints directly to the Further, with the recent “clear problems with-in the way the Sri Lankan state before the act Committee. This is an injustice that appointment by President Sirisena the sites had been secured and the came into force. Also, the minister cannot persist. of Shavendra Silva as Sri Lanka’s samples and evidence handled,” clarified that the act does not “allow for a foreign state to try a Sri Lankan There’s still an avenue opened army commander, who is himself an found to have committed an offense under Article 32 of the Convention, alleged war criminal and genocidaire, in a court of law in that respective to refer Sri Lanka to the Committee the possibility of bringing any alleged state.” which State Parties can pursue. Sri perpetrators of mass atrocities Lanka, upon ratification, has declared, against Tamils including war crimes, Unless and until international “it recognizes the competence of the crimes against humanity, enforced action is taken, victims’ families Committee to receive and consider disappearances, and genocide, before have no hope of redress. Families, communications in which a State an independent domestic court in most having testified to the now Party claims another State Party is Sri Lanka, is nil. redundant “Lessons Learned and not fulfilling its obligations under Reconciliation Commission” and the Convention.” With Shavendra Silva as army the “Paranagama Commission,” commander, justice for Tamils By Usha Sri Skanda Rajah have no faith in the Office of Missing The time is now to stop relying through a domestic mechanism is Persons (OMP) created by Sri Lanka. on Sri Lanka, known for its perverse a non-starter. As the commander of These families have categorically culture of impunity, to deliver on the 58th Division, he played a major is disconcerting, more so when stated that they would not rely on its “Transitional Justice” obligations role in the war Sri Lanka waged considering forensic examination the OMP to find their loved ones, under the many UN Human Rights against the LTTE. Together with of the war zone has never been least of all to bring to justice the Council resolutions it co-sponsored. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former undertaken. perpetrators which, unfortunately, Sri Lanka, to date, has failed defense secretary who oversaw the to implement major provisions war, along with others, Silva was Although Sri Lanka ratified the the OMP is not mandated to do, in of its commitments, including responsible for knowingly bombing International Convention for the violation of the Convention, which the abolition of the draconian and shelling Tamil civilians and for Protection of All Persons from provides that: Each State Party “Prevention of Terrorism Act” (the arresting, torturing, and executing Enforced Disappearances on May shall take the necessary measures to UN Working Group found the PTA Tamils, as well as causing them to 25, 2016 and, under pressure, hold criminally responsible at least facilitated occurrences of enforced be disappeared, including LTTE enacted its own national legislation, any person who commits, orders, disappearances), and the creation of cadres. There’s a very real prospect in which its foreign affairs minister, solicits or induces the commission a judicial accountability mechanism that Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who Tilak Marapana, introducing the of, attempts to commit, or is an in the form of a “hybrid court” participated in this persecution of bill in March 2018, reiterated that accomplice to or participates in an with foreign judges, prosecutors Tamils, could become Sri Lanka’s nothing in the bill was retrospective enforced disappearance. and investigators, despite the president at the end of this year. and that its content applies only to Furthermore, at present, so many extensions it’s been given. offenses committed in the future, long as Sri Lanka refuses, under It’s highly unlikely Sri Lanka will These (and many more) are not for past cases-illustrating Sri Article 31 of the Convention, carry out its obligations, no matter real and legitimate concerns Lanka’s disingenuous approach to to allow “the Committee on which government is in power. Sri that underscore the necessity for complying with its obligations. The Enforced Disappearances (the Lanka’s leaders have said they would international action: act clearly does not apply to the vast To be continued in next issue… RACISM IN AUSTRALIA IS COMMON AND ACCEPTED How do we continue to accept a to confine our diverse peoples to a How does an individual come As a resilient people, I don’t society, a government, and a health single layer of identity. When we do to a place where they feel they have understand how we continue to system that is not responsive to our not fit the mold conceptualized by the unreserved right to question accept a society, a government, needs as First Nations peoples? the dominant culture, a certain level the identity of another? When were a health system, and a health of discomfort and uncertainty arises. individuals’ identities attributed workforce that is not responsive to By Marni Tuala solely to the color of their eyes or the our needs as First Nations peoples. When we challenge these shape of their nose? statements, there is an uncomfortable What about our need to be “You don’t look Aboriginal; and brisk shift in the discourse. When To even begin to understand the culturally safe, our need to be you’ve got blue eyes.” we stand strong in our identity and complexities of identity, connection, acknowledged, understood and its complexity, we are quickly labeled and belonging when it comes to respected, our need to have equitable The lack of awareness and level with the derogatory stereotypes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander access to services and equitable of audacity in this statement can be of a people who, previous to our people, there needs to be a process of outcomes in health, education, measured in equal parts. challenge, we could not possibly be. critical self-reflection and unlearning. employment—in life? A lack of awareness of the diversity There needs to be historical truth Then comes the counter- telling and acknowledgment. I am concerned that the of our people, a lack of awareness challenge that seeks to invalidate conversations we have about racism, that this statement embodies the our right to identify, to assume that How do we build resilience among about dominant cultural paradigms most common form of racism we the disparities and injustices that are our people in the face of persistent, and their impact on the health face. forced upon our people could not systemic, and individual racism? As and well-being of our people and Statements such as this are based possibly apply to us. The audacity of a midwife having worked in the state communities, do not seem to be on perpetuated stereotypes that seek such statements astounds me. health system, this type of behavior changing. is common and accepted.
Hair splitters end up as lonely sitters Fw;wk; ghu;f;fpd; Rw;wk; ,y;iy gf;fk; | PAGE 22 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2019: IT’S RELEVANCE AND WORTHINESS FOR TAMILS
The seventh presidential election In the 1994 elections, Ms. [JVP], Sajith Premadasa [UNP], To expect JVP to deliver an acceptable in Sri Lanka is slated for Nov. 16 this Chandrika Kumaratunge swept to and Naganand Koddituwakku political solution to the Tamils is year. Late J. R. Jayawardena introduced victory, gaining support among the [Independent]. wishful thinking and a pipe dream. the presidential system in 1978 with Tamils, who pinned their hopes on the passing of a new constitution. her election promises and the goodwill Gotabaya, the former defense There is nothing extra special to An executive-style president with vast gestures made to Tamils by lifting secretary, is accused of war crimes and add to the UNP candidate, as he will powers, while minimizing the powers the economic embargo of the North. crimes against humanity amounting to be bound by the decisions of its party/ of the prime minister, was in force until Her settlement proposals were more working committee/Maha Sanga. The the 19th Amendment, which restricted accommodating. However, the Sinhala past history of UNP is a record of some powers of the president. extremists, the United National Party betrayals, breach of pacts, pledges, and (UNP) in the opposition, and Buddhist understandings. This article dwells with the painful clergy scuttled the peace initiative, experiences of Tamils from the hands Tamil National Alliance [TNA] which led to a “back to square one” leadership is now shedding tears as to of past presidents from 1978 to Oct. position, leading to Chandrika’s hostile 2019. how they were cheated and treated by attitude toward the LTTE. Maithiri and Ranil forgetting and not The first president, J.R. In the 2005 elections, Mahinda learning lessons from the past history Jayewardene, unleashed the weapons of Rajapaksa became president. As of betrayals by all Sinhala leaders. racialism, communalism, and Sinhala usual, he promised 13 plus for Tamils By Thambu Kanagasabai chauvinism by initiating, supporting, Sajith have undertaken to build and full implementation of the 13th more than 1,000 Buddhist viharas assisting, justifying, and condoning Amendment. His genocidal war against the genocidal killings in 1983, which in the North and East [Tamils’ Tamils commenced in Mavilaru in July genocide. He has scorned international homeland] to expedite the agenda engulfed all of Sri Lanka but targeting 2006 with a full-scale offensive being and United Nations pleadings and Tamils and their properties. of Buddhisization process bent on launched in the North and East. The finished the war using banned cluster making Sri Lanka a Buddhist Sinhala He was also instrumental in the war ended on May 18, 2009 with bombs and chemical weapons. State. 1977 mayhem, which targeted the the defeat of the LTTE who faced Sri Lanka’s security forces, who were According to the wife of Prageeth To sum up, all the presidents used plantation Tamils as well in the hill Ekneligoda, the political columnist country. backed by more than 22 countries, or rather abused their powers anti- including India. and cartoonist who has been missing democratically and dictatorially, and By justifying the reasons for the since Jan, 24, 2010, the main reason the targeted victims were mostly killings by the security forces and The war ended in the genocidal for his disappearance is an investigation Tamils without any remedies. It is Sinhalese mobs, he said, “It is a natural killings of more than 70,000 civilians, he carried out on the alleged use of to be noted that 196 massacres were reaction of the Sinhalese,” and told the 60,000 disappearances, and thousands chemical weapons by Sri Lankan forces carried by security forces beginning in London Daily Telegraph Reporter on injured due to the use of weapons of in 2008. 1958, including the pogroms in 1958, mass destruction and heavy weapons. July 11, 1983: “I am not worried about He is regarded as a hero by the 1977, 1981, 1983, 1987, 1996 and the opinion of the Jaffna people now. Rajapaksa, his brother Gotabaya from 2006-2009. They were part of Rajapaksa, and the army commanders Buddhist clergy and the extremist Now we cannot think of them. Not Sinhala chauvinists, but, for Tamils, a hidden genocide against Tamils and about their lives or of their opinion are accused of war crimes, crimes against included structural genocide. humanity by the United Nations, UN he is regarded as a war criminal and about us…The more you put pressure villain. on the north, the happier the Sinhalese Human Rights Council, and many The foregone conclusion is that a people will be here…really, if I starve other Human Rights Groups. Tamils could face another genocidal president or any future president is of the Tamils out, the Sinhala people will chapter if he is elected president. He no value or importance to the Tamils, The 2015 elections brought as all leaders in the South are lock, be happy.” Maithiripala Srisena to power as the is yet to be convicted for the alleged crimes and offenses against him. stock and barrel bound and tied to He institutionalized the culture of sixth president and he is due to face the dictates of MAHA SANGA. They impunity for criminals and their crimes an election on Nov. 16, 2019. The Jathika Vimukthi Perumuna’s are duty bound to execute the process against the minority communities. His majority of Tamils voted for him not Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a fire- of Buddhisization and Sinhalization blood-stained rule lasted until 1989. out of love for him but out of hatred brand leftist party member, is trying to make Sri Lanka A BUDDHIST toward Mahinda Rajapaksa. However, to make amends with Tamil voters by SINHALA STATE, only for the In the 1989 election, R. Premadasa he proved to be a vacillating, deceptive, softening the party’s stand on Tamils. Buddhist Sinhalese. was elected president. Though he did and shaky leader lacking political not devote his time and energy on will and determination to settle the racialism and Sinhalese hegemony, he problems of Tamils. failed to fulfill his promise to settle the MOST BRITONS AGAINST USE OF ethnic problem. He was determined to Sirisena pursued the hard line of Continues from page 16 send back the Indian Peace Keeping the Sinhala Buddhist attitude and Force [IPKF]. For this purpose, he chauvinistic approach. He has ignored police. If a suspect is identified, they that technology could reflect human utilized the Liberation Tigers of Tamil the plight and grievances of Tamils and can be stopped on the spot. biases and said there should be Eelam [LTTE]’s similar hostility the recommendations of the United human oversight and accountability Nations and UNHRC. He even Pollsters YouGov surveyed more toward the IPKF for the brutal than 2,000 British adults for the RSA, over decisions. and inhuman treatment of Tamils. rejected them as external interference. Adding insult to injury to Tamils, he which gathered a “citizen jury” of The RSA called for greater public Premadasa after his victory promised to about 25 people to debate computer engagement by tech firms to educate deliver everything except Tamil-Eelam has recently appointed Major General Shavendra Silva, who is accused of decision-making. the public about how technology is [separate state for Tamils]. A suicide being developed and to help shape bomber assassinated him in 1993. war crimes by the United Nations and The panelists looked at its use the UNHRC, as the Sri Lanka army by police for automated facial how artificial intelligence is used. D.B. Wijeyatunge, who held the commander. recognition and to help decide when California in September banned office for one year, succeeded Premadasa, to prosecute people who have been police from using body cameras who showed his chauvinistic feelings In the forthcoming presidential arrested. with facial recognition software, elections, the following candidates by once stating, “Tamils and other They concluded it was possible that while some privacy campaigners minority communities are like creepers have announced their contests, the have developed make-up or clothing prominent being Gotabaya Rajapaksa machines would be more objective that entwine and grow in trees.” than people, but raised concerns designed to prevent the technology [SLPP], Anurakumara Dissanayake from identifying them.
6. Where king is easy of access, where no harsh word repels, The whole world will exalt the country of the king who is easy of access, and That land’s high praises every subject swells who is free from harsh language voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 23
SRI LANKA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS: TAMILS’ CHOICE A DEADLY DILEMMA!
There is no need to belabor borough” controlled by patrons, as Rights Watch, said: “The Sri Lankan image presented by the essayist. He the point why Tamil people reject some British constituencies were government has been all talk and no appears to be an “evangelist” anointed Gotabaya Rajapaksa outright as known before the Reform Act of action on repealing the reviled PTA. ” as such by the saffron-robed ayatollahs. persona non grata. That does not imply 1832. Ranil’s barefaced betrayals of the that the other contenders vying for the Tamils’ trust and breach of pledges are For the past 900-plus days, families His most urgent priority is to presidency are happily acceptable to too many to recount. of missing persons have been holding construct 1,125 Buddhist temples the Tamils. On the UNP front, they daily vigils in several towns in North- under the “Sasunata Aruna” program. have decided on Sajith Premadasa Let me cite some of the issues: Return East Sri Lanka, crying their hearts Under the initial phase, 25 temples as the candidate. Sajith has been out of army-occupied lands in the North- out for information on the fate and are constructed in 25 districts. North- of the blocks without waiting for the East to civilian owners: Responding whereabouts of their loved ones, most East districts are not immune to this whistle. to a question during his address at the of whom were personally handed over invasion. Tamils have reason to fear Oxford Union in England, in October to or abducted by the military ten that the venture is the tip of another Ranil or Sajith is immaterial: From 2018, Ranil said: “As far as the lands years ago. iceberg. our perspective, it does not make a of the Tamils are concerned, the bulk difference whether it is Sajith or Ranil. of the lands have been returned. There Ranil had, with utter callousness, Should Tamils boycott the elections? Largely due to the Tamil National are some areas in which there are some well in advance, provided the answer: A vocal minority in the community issues, mainly about 600 acres in and “Those that surrendered at the end feels that we should boycott the around the major cantonments of of the war and are still missing in presidential elections. What for? After Palaly and Kankasanturai. But within Sri Lanka are ‘most probably dead’,” silencing the guns, burying the bullets, it development is taking place. Now, said Sri Lanka’s prime minister in an and saying ‘adieu’ to armed struggle, the Indian government is developing interview with Channel 4 News.” ballots are the primary weapons the the KKS port. We are opening up Tamils have to strategically fight Ruki Fernando, a prominent Sinhala-Buddhist fascist forces. many of the areas. Actually lands have human rights activist, said, been given out….” “Wickremesinghe’s remark about the Should Tamils field a Tamil On the contrary, what is the ground likely fate of those missing had caused candidate? Sections of our people reality? According to Verité Research, a lot of anguish amongst the relatives believe in running a common Tamil “Continued military control over of the disappeared. [It] brings out the candidate. It is an aberration. We By Karikalan land has prevented IDPs returning question: ‘what is the purpose of the have no stake or claim in conducting to Mullikulam in the North, despite proposed office of missing persons if the affairs of the people in the South. S Navaratnam pledges to release the land in 2018. the prime minister already knows what Our stakes and strength are in our own happened to them?” regions. Let us not encroach upon Alliance (TNA) leaders’ cohabitation Verité Research also said military- other peoples’ domains and, thereby, with the incumbent government and occupied land is often used for Over 20,000 JVP rebels involved legitimize their arbitrary encroachment their camaraderie with Ranil, there agricultural and commercial ventures. in attacks on army camps and police upon our domains. is a perception among Sinhala voters Over 1,000 acres of state land in the stations were granted general amnesty that Tamils have a weakness for UNP Northern Province have been used and released from custody by Ranil’s In conclusion, I want to say that and, in particular, an intimacy with as farms run by the army and were uncle, J.R., in 1977. Some of them international actors, especially India Ranil. TNA propped up UNP in the identified for release on Dec. 30, had later become MPs and cabinet and the United States, have an inherent legislature and rushed to Ranil’s rescue 2018.” ministers. Nearly 105 Tamil political interest in the outcome of the elections. every time he was in dire straits. prisoners detained under the PTA are They are conscious of the critical role Under the UNP regime, senior in custody since the end of war. the Tamil electors can play. TNA is Is TNA’s capitulation to the UNP officials of the Departments of susceptible to their pressure. Once the so complete that the media and Archaeology, Forest Conservation, After flirting with Ranil for almost elections are over, these power brokers Southern politicians treat TNA as an Wildlife Conservation and Mahaweli five years, by courtesy of his chicanery, would leave us in the lurch and pursue appendage of the UNP? It is an affront Development Authority have been TNA is left fully denuded, bereft their own interests. to the pride and dignity of Tamils that doing their bit to accelerate the of even a fig leaf to cover the nudity TNA’s support for UNP nominee has structural genocide of Tamils in their of TNA leaders’ sleazy, self-serving Leading candidates covet Tamil been taken for granted. traditional habitats. Destruction of a politics. In the circumstances, Sajith is votes and have been talking to TNA. Hindu temple in Kanniya, Trincomalee setting about to solicit Tamil support TNA has, quite rightly, told the Ranil is too cocky to believe that using the public persona of Ranil, and contenders that details of any offer they the Tamils are fascinated by his puerile to erect a Buddhist vihara and the desecration of a Hindu temple in Ranil, in turn, relies on TNA. make touching on Tamil issues should and jejune politics. Reportedly, he be included in their election manifesto has undertaken to get the support of Neeraviyadi, Mullaitivu by Buddhist BUT WHAT IS THE MINDSET OF monks, defying a court order, are the in Sinhala and made known to Sinhala Tamils for Sajith. Mr. Prime Minister SAJITH PREMADASA ON THE latest trendy tales! electors. Bravo! TNA. But will there be ought to know that he is neither the ETHNIC ISSUE? any takers? Sagacious sections of the prince charming nor patron saint of On repeal and replacement of the Tamils are clueless as to what choice Tamils. Also, Tamil constituency is Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), Sajith’s mixed priorities and pious we have. We are not at the crossroads, not a “rotten borough” or a “pocket Brad Adams, Asia director, Human platitudes tend to falsify the positive but in a deadly dilemma!
WOMEN AT WAR Continues from page 25 exist without recourse to large-scale lives on earth with us” (page X1V). Guy de Maupassant’s short stories, An exception is a woman whose violence, destruction and death. (The War is ubiquitous, universal and as and its exposure of selfishness and children, all five of them, were killed. Buddha’s central doctrine is of Avijja: old as human history. It is “ordinary society’s hypocrisy. Truly, as one Now, being insane, she talks openly. ignorance.) and indiscriminate” (page 67) but, former fighter says, happiness is To read Unwomanly Face as at the same time, for combatants, over the mountains but grief is just Wars are begun by men but being about the experience of some women pay an equal, if not greater, for family, and those affected, war is over your shoulder. (Perhaps this Soviet Union female combatants or intensely personal and life-changing. is a Russian saying?) Or, as Achebe price: see Achebe’s short story, “Girls to make comparisons only with Sri at War,” where a collapse of morale The Nobel Committee, in making the expresses it, when sorrow knocks at Lanka would be a limitation and, award to Alexievich stated, inter alia, your door and you say there’s no seat following defeat is followed by a therefore, a loss. We study particulars collapse in morals. In other words, that her writing was “a monument to for him in your hut, he tells you not to in order to understand wider suffering and courage.” We must not worry because he has brought along ‘morale’ and ‘morals’ are related phenomena, transcending place and terms. And, it’s not only women, allow statistics, numbers, and figures his own stool. Given state neglect time. I suggest: All wars are defeats. to depersonalize and conceal what, at and social attitudes, the women do not only human beings, but “the In other words, war is the result of earth, the birds, the trees. All that root, is intensely and uniquely private not speak openly about these matters. our failure, humanity’s failure, to co- and personal.
Haughtiness goes hand in hand with handicaps Fjpiuapd; Fzk; mwpe;jy;yNth jk;gpuhd; nfhk;G nfhLf;ftpy;iy? gf;fk; | PAGE 24 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
FATHER THANINAYAGAM WAS A POLITICAL PROPHET WHO PROPHESIED THE FUTURE OF THE TAMILS
Continues from previous issue… and the aeroplane. Kalpitiya, by the Court Brahmins of Thailand Tamils was not to be fiddled about Thaninayaga Adikal ProudlyMantote, Kayts, Elephant Pass, and at the Tamil feasts of Thirupavay with. I believe in current terminology Proclaims the World Outlook of the Trincomalee have a naval history that and Thiruvempavai and during the it could be described as “Demographic Tamils has yet to be studied from local and coronation of their kings.” Engineering,” We see the beginnings foreign records, including the Arab The above address was delivered of moves in this direction in the “Tamil literature was the result chronicles. Nachchaduwa Scheme. As early as the of the Weltanschuung, the world by Father Thaninayagam at the “The Tamil Argonauts turned their Colombo Town Hall on August 2, latter part of the second decade of the outlook of the Tamil-speaking 20th century, the Sinhala leadership peoples, and at the same time that eyes even more naturally towards the 1955. (It happened to be his 42nd East and with them they carried their birthday), presided over by C. did alter a Tamil electorate to that of literature kept alive the outlook a Sinhala one. Sir P..R., along with and those ideals which shaped it. art and architecture, their religion, Nagalingam, Q.C. Hence the figures their language and their laws. It is other colleagues in the state assembly, Imagination is a gift which has been vehemently opposed these moves. associated with great commercial agreed by most writers on Indian influences on South East Asia that The idea of the need for a clearly peoples, and no people in this demarked land area therefore could part of the world were such skillful the Tamil kingdoms were among the earliest and most active. be traced to no lesser person than Sir. navigators or traders as the Tamils. P. Ramanthan. “The authors of the Periplus, and “The sea ports of the Tamil country, Josef Stalin and Mao spoke of a which included all the Malabar Coast Ptolemy speak of the ships that used to sail from the Eastern coasts of land as a must. It is of value to the as well, were busy ports of call into reader to be made aware of the views which ships from the west sailed with South India and Ceylon to the land of gold (Malaya and Java), and Fa of celebrities in recent times in regard their gold, lamps, wine and goblets, to the territory vis a vis a nation. Josef to return home laden with pepper Hien refers to his Voyage to Java, via By M.K Eelaventhan Trincomalee. Having traveled lately Stalin, a Georgian by birth, said, “I and silks, cotton and ivory, and with do not believe in a cultural autonomy. the pearls of the Tamil seas. Teak through South East Asia, I have been able to follow the routes taken by the are subject to change. It aggravates the conflict but I go from the Tamil Country has been along with a territorial autonomy” found in ruins of Ur of the Chaldees Tamil Argonauts and see many lands Concept of a Homeland as a Must where the Tamil-speaking people left for the Survival of an Ethnic Group Mao said “even to practice socialism and peacocks and apes of the South you must have a land of your own. were sold abroad as early as Solomon’s behind traces of their genius and as Envisaged by Fr. Thaninayagam culture. In the architecture of Champa You cannot practices socialism in a time; Yavanar, or men of the Greco- Land: Sir P. Ramanathan spoke of vacuum.” Readers, please note that Roman world, established colonies and Cambodia, in the sculptress of demographic engineering to deprive the Museum of Tourane, in the Saiva they agree in regard to the need for and trading stations in the Tamil the Tamils of their homeland. territory. It should not be forgotten kingdoms, and were even employed Siddantha system of religion once followed in Indonesia and Indochina, Territory: that they were at total variance about as engineers, bodyguards, and city other matters of the state. I refer to guards in the service of Tamil kings. in the bronzes of Siam, may be seen Sir P. Ramanathan was acutely the traces of Tamil influence. The conscious that a defined territory was the different schools of thought. “In this trade and overseas Bharatha Natyam has affinities with basic for identification of a people. One Russian and the other Chinese expansion, the ports of North the dances of Cambodia and Bali; Any tinkering with the identified version, they differed in their Ceylon played a great part, which is the Tamil sacred verses are recited traditional areas inhabited by the interpretation of communism. forgotten in the age of the steamship To be continued in next issue… GANDHI IN THE EELAM TAMIL VIEW The international community When I went to work in South Tamil Nadu as wage earners have fast, in response to the Liberation celebrates the 150th birth anniversary Africa as a lawyer, black people coined the word kooli to the English Tigers’ demand that you could only of Gandhi. We congratulate him were harassed and tortured by white language. As people study over time propagate on the world stage if you in the way we regard him. He was supremacists. For them, his voice was and the language is insufficient, we are were alive. Around the same time, born Oct. 2, 1869 and was killed by the beginning of his struggle. His amazed that they live in communal Gandhi’s granddaughter was the Hindu fanatic Nathuram Godse Jan. struggle was supported by the Tamil harmony, support the Eelam Tamils, vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi’s 30, 1948, which shocked the world. people of South Africa. One of the and sing the Devarakam and university. She gave her best support “There is a war without blood Tamils, Valliyammai, jumped into Thiruvasakam in temples in South when I met her and explained the without a knife. Anyone who believes his fight and went to jail and tortured Africa and Mauritius. plight of the Eelam Tamils and in the eternity of truth will get angry,” him. The death of Valliyammai due When I went to Mauritius, the kindly provided us with many books the poem, which praised the struggle to ill heath was very disturbing to foreign minister of its government published by Gandhi. Gandhi. After going to jail, Gandhi’s against the Salt Law of 1930 by the asked me the first question, “How GANDHI’S RETURN TO INDIA poet Ramalingam Pillai Gandhi, was claim that Valliyammai was ready to is Prabhakaran?” And asked me to a fitting tribute to the entire life of go to jail again was a major strike take a picture with him. So I did the It is noteworthy that Gandhi Gandhi. to Gandhi. In his autobiography, photo. He smiled, saying that we had returned to India in 1915 and Gandhi wrote about works of given priority to the Tamil language initiated the Congress Party, an As per Kural, the best punishment South African Tamils—particularly unprecedented movement under of violent harm is to put the doer in our currencies and stamps as proof Valliyammai’s work—which caused of the right of Tamils in our country. his leadership. While there are in pain of shame; in good turns, his us to shed tears. many leaders in India, the work of moral struggle is called Satyagraha. South Africa was a turning point Gopalakrishna Gokhale as its leader The struggle against the British MY EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH in his life. It was in the same South has been transformed by the thinking empire mobilizing the people of India AFRICA Africa that the Mullivaikal struggle of many. Gandhi’s assessment is that shocked the British government. The I recall that the Liberation Tigers ended in 2009 when I was staying Gopalakrishna Gokhale was superior grandeur of Gandhi’s great struggle sent me to spread propaganda in with Mr. Kamala’s family in Tuban, to the Lokmanya Tilak, who was was formed in the South African South Africa. Not only black people South Africa, where I was drinking described as the father of Indian environment. in South Africa, but people from water at the Mariamman Temple. restlessness. At the time, I stopped my fasting ...SEE PAGE 26
7. With pleasant speech, who gives and guards with powerful liberal hand, The world will praise and submit itself to the mind of the king who is able to He sees the world obedient all to his command give with affability, and to protect all who come to him voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 25 WOMEN AT WAR Continues from previous issue… tears, there would be a wonderful The “cess” of war, the sacrifice life. Beautiful” (page 157). made and the suffering endured, but But these women had spent several what of the peace that ensues? As I years fighting for their motherland have mentioned elsewhere, peace is of and, as a result, they had little formal two kinds, negative and positive, and education or training. In turn, it the one must not be confused with meant that employment was difficult. The war is over for many, has become history and they have, to use that glib phrase, “moved on” but, to these women, the war is very much in the present, and always with them. War is brutal and some of that brutality can carry over into post- war times. Society grows callous, into their traditional service roles. would be un-ladylike: see ‘Haunted indifferent to a high degree of As often, significance is hidden in by her Yesterdays’ on the Internet violence. I quote from Unwomanly the minor and casual. For example, at: https://www.youtube.com/ Face, page xxxix. “I’m riding on a bus Alexievich visits a house to interview watch?v=nSSv9Kk3tkI By Dr. Charles after work; suddenly there’s shouting: a former female fighter, but her During the war, women volunteers husband sends her to the kitchen Ponnuthurai Sarvan ‘Stop, thief! Stop, thief! My purse…” were admired, honored, and loved The bus stops. A crowd forms at to prepare something for their guest but now these women have to fight once. A young officer takes a boy while he takes over the conversation. an unseen war, one of suspicion and or passed off as the other. Negative outside, puts his arm on his knee Conservative Tamil society has slander. “How did the Motherland peace is the absence of overt conflict; and—whack! —breaks it in two. reasserted itself, and Tamil Tiger meet us? It was only forty years ago, positive peace is not merely absence Jumps back on the bus. And we go women who enjoyed as much scope but my cheeks still burn.” What but actual presence, the presence of a on… Are [we] still human?” as the men, who did as well, if not were you up to at the front with all good degree of security and harmony, In the throes of a dire, desperate better than their male counterparts, those men? “We know what you did in turn the products of justice— are now consigned to play traditional there! You lured our men…” One is bearing in mind that true justice is struggle, women are co-opted but, once the danger is past, once the roles. A former female Tamil Tiger reminded of ‘Ball of Fat’ (‘Boule de indivisible. “We all imagined that, fighter cannot even climb onto a low Suif’), perhaps the most famous of after the war, after such oceans of war is over, they are ushered back wall to pluck a ripe fruit because that ...SEE PAGE 23 LOGATHASAN THARMATHURAI: THE SADNESS OF GEOGRAPHY MY LIFE AS A TAMIL EXILE Continues from previous issue… by another Tamil, a young woman particularly with writers and artists, fallacy,” that is, the attribution of It was an act of cultural genocide. whose name he doesn’t know. He to a lesser degree with intellectuals human emotions to things in nature, And if culture, the way of life of hopes she’ll happen to read the book and academics, and with those who even to nature itself. (The word a people, is destroyed, then their and see that he remains grateful. He’s are “doing well.” (Unfortunately, “pathetic” is not derogatory but distinctive identity is made parlous. also grateful to his “German hosts” given worldly values, the statement stands for “emotion.”) For example, “Hatred is a hard enemy to defeat” (p. at the detention camp who “gave us that someone is “doing well” usually striking a romantic pose, Scottish 81) and the memoirist asks himself food and shelter and treated us with means that she or he enjoys a good Robert Burns (1759-1796) in a a question which other Tamils too respect” (p. 153). From Germany, financial income. As Oscar Wilde poem, ‘The Banks O’Doon’ (using have pondered: What did we do he’s smuggled to Paris; he lives with commented, we tend to know price what’s termed apostrophe in literary to excite such intense and vicious his elder brother for a while but then, but not value. Indeed, we equate criticism) addresses nature and asks: hatred? (The Jews of Continental attempting to fly out to Canada price and value.) The duty and the How can you be so beautiful and Europe under Nazi rule also asked on a false passport, is arrested and difficulty is to see those who are lively when I am full of sorrow? But, similar, perplexed, and soul-searching imprisoned. Eventually reaching unseen, to hear the unheard and to as Tharmathurai shows, it’s neither questions.) I have attempted a partial Canada by working hard and saving be aware of those who, having lost landscape nor time but we who create answer in the essay ‘Reign of Anomy’, money, he’s able to bring his mother their home haven’t found another, happiness or horror. As in Existential included in my ‘Public Writings on and siblings to join him. and now are lost. Using language philosophy, the responsibility is with Sri Lanka’, Volume 2. The “happy ending” of this both literally and figuratively, one us, human beings. Sri Lanka has its particular odyssey should not mislead can say that many a refugee has share of beauty (not that of human Perhaps, the subtitle, ‘My Life as walked and walked and walked, but endeavor and achievement but of a Tamil Exile,’ is not quite accurate us. I borrow words from an essay of mine on exile: The German word never arrived. nature) but is aptly seen as a “tear because this memoir is more an drop” in the ocean. account of the causes that impelled elend, which translates as “misery,” To conclude, the epigraph of departure, and the journey to or has the same root as “alien,” thus ‘Sadness,’ “Do you understand the It’s hoped that other Tamils, into exile, rather than of existence in associating exile, foreignness, and sadness of geography,” is from Sri too, will write, however long or exile. It’s a hazardous and uncertain deep unhappiness. It suggests that to Lankan-born Michael Ondaatje’s fragmentary, their recollections of journey, a desperate leap into the be an alien is to be in misery, as in novel, ‘The English Patient.’ It also what they experienced and endured. unknown where fate (or chance, to the poem by Ovid (born BCE 43) functions as the title of this book. Yes, It’s a duty owed to succeeding those who reject divine ordering) titled Sorrows of an Exile. Icebergs undoubtedly Planet Earth is beautiful. generations, to posterity and to plays a significant part. The start is not vary but, as a generalization, it is said Time (though we use expressions like history. I thank Suseenthiran propitious as teenage Tharmathurai that only about 1/8th of an iceberg “those were cruel times”) is neutral— Nadarajah (Neduntheevu; Berlin) for comes from Jaffna to Colombo, only is above the water-line, shining clear and so too is landscape. The phrase, securing a copy of this book for me, to realize he’s been financially cheated and beautiful. In the same way, there ‘The Sadness of Geography,’ is an and Yogan Joseph (Jaffna; Toronto) by his Tamil contact. But he’s helped is a tendency to associate exile with instance of the use of what in literary for his support. the visible few above the surface, studies is known as the “pathetic
Starving kills self pride Fly; fha;e;jhy; FjpiuAk; itf;Nfhy; jpd;Dk; gf;fk; | PAGE 26 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF SUNLIGHT
ability for their kids. The study, risk of suffering fractures. funded by HDR UK (Health Data 3. Lessens Alzheimer’s symptoms: Research UK), was published in the Clinical research conducted in the journal Scientific Reports. past has shown that Alzheimer’s Sunlight has many other benefits that patients who are exposed to the sun can help one have a better health. followed by darkness at night observes Some of them mentioned below: some improvement in the disease. A study published in the Journal of the 1. Lowers blood pressure: In a study American Medical Association found done by a group of researchers at that Alzheimer’s patients exposed to It is known to everyone that sunshine sunlight and UVB exposure during the University of Edinburgh, it was bright light had fewer symptoms of is the natural source of Vitamin D. pregnancy can be linked to a higher found that a compound called nitric depression, nighttime wakefulness, While soaking in some sunlight risk of learning disabilities. oxide that helps lower blood pressure agitation, and lost less function. during cold winter days is always fun, is released into the blood vessels as Therefore, pregnant women aresoon as sunlight touches the skin. In 4. Impacts Depression: It is also a study conducted by the University suggested to have a better exposure reported that exposure to sunlight has of Glasgow suggests that too little addition to this, D. Richard Weller, a to sunlight, to have a better learning senior lecturer in dermatology at the a huge impact on depression, seasonal university has also revealed that sun affective disorder, and sleep quality. It is exposure canalso prolong one’s life, as also observed that sunlight deprivation WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY MAY LOWER lower blood pressure includes cutting can cause seasonal affective disorder risk of heart attacks and strokes. (SAD), which is a form of depression DEATH RISK common in the winter months. 2. Improves bone health: Sunlight is New research has found significant metabolic, procedure: gastric bypass, known to be rich source of Vitamin 5. Heals skin disorders: Sunlight health benefits associated with weight sleeve gastrectomy, adjustable gastric D, which stimulates the absorption heals skin disorders, including acne, loss surgery in people with obesity. banding, or duodenal switch. of bone-strengthening calcium and psoriasis, eczema, jaundice, and other fungal skin infections. The exposure of More than 1 in 3 adults in the The main outcomes that the phosphorus in the body. Also, Vitamin sunlight has a therapeutic effect on the United States are overweight or have researchers looked for were death, D regulates calcium absorption, whose skin. obesity, according to data from 2013– coronary artery events, cerebrovascular higher levels in blood indicate a lower 2014. events, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and kidney disease. These are the main Type 2 diabetes, high blood complications of obesity and type 2 POOR SLEEP AFFECTS STUDENTS’ pressure, heart disease, and stroke diabetes. are only some of the complications MENTAL HEALTH associated with obesity. The research revealed that the people who had undergone weight loss Insufficient sleep is associated with of insufficient sleep, the risk of New research presented at the surgery had a 40% lower risk of any of a wide range of mental health issues experiencing mental health symptoms European Society of Cardiology these events over an 8-year follow-up such as anxiety, self-harm, and suicide increased on average by more than Congress, which takes place this year period. The risk of death, specifically, ideation among students and athletes, 20%. in Paris, France, suggests that bariatric, was 41% lower. according to a study. or weight loss, surgery can reduce The risk also increased by 21% the risk of premature mortality and Furthermore, people who had Published in the journal Sleep, for depressed mood, 24% for cardiovascular problems more than undergone metabolic surgery lost the study analysis involved 110,496 hopelessness, 24% for anger, 25% for standard medical care. 15% more weight, on average, and students, out of which 8,462 were anxiety, 25% for desire to self-harm, had 15% lower blood sugar levels. athletes. 28% for functional problems, and Dr. Steven Nissen, chief academic 28% for suicide ideation. officer of the Heart and Vascular Dr. Ali Aminian, a bariatric surgeon “It was really surprising to see Institute at the Cleveland Clinic in at the Cleveland Clinic and the first how strongly insufficient sleep was “The fact that sleep health was so Ohio, is the senior author of the study, author of the paper, comments on associated with a wide variety of strongly related to mental health is which also appears in the Journal of the findings. He says, “The striking mental health symptoms among important since the majority of college the American Medical Association. results that we saw after metabolic college students,” said lead author students don’t get the recommended surgery may be related to the patients’ Thea Ramsey from the University of amount of sleep needed for optimal Dr. Nissen and the team looked substantial and sustained weight loss.” Arizona in the U.S. health and functioning,” said senior at data from 13,722 participants, author Michael Grander. 2,287 of whom had obesity and type “However, there is a growing body With every additional night 2 diabetes and had undergone weight of evidence to suggest that there are loss surgery. The researchers compared beneficial metabolic and hormonal data from this group with information changes after these surgical procedures GANDHI IN THE ... Continues from page 24 from 11,435 matched controls who that are independent of weight loss.” A Close Relationship between of their friendship. Tolstoy has written had only received standard medical Gandhi and Tamil Nadu the glory of Thirukkural, which he care. “Cardiovascular complications from obesity and diabetes can be There was a close bond of affection wrote for Gandhi. He studied Tamil Of the 2,287 participants who devastating,” adds Dr. Nissen. between Gandhi and the people partly because he had to study the underwent weight loss surgery, 75% of Tamil Nadu. The impoverished Tirukkurals. In some places, there is had a body mass index (BMI) of 40 “Now that we’ve seen these poverty of the Tamil people made evidence that even his signature was or above, which constitutes “extreme remarkable results, a well-designed him think deeply. As a result, he written in Tamil. It is interesting to obesity.” The minimum BMI in the randomized controlled trial is needed removed the top shirt he was wearing note that the Tamil breeze, inspired group was 30, which is the lower to definitively determine whether and began wearing a top coat with by the life of the Gandhists, was threshold for obesity. metabolic surgery can reduce the the vest he was wearing. During written by Thiru.vi.ka in his book, incidence of major heart problems this period, a number of letters were Gandhiji and Human Life. The Great The participants in the surgery in patients with type 2 diabetes and exchanged between him and the Struggle Against the Salt Law of his group had each undergone one obesity.” Russian insurgent Tolstoy as a result 1930s caused the British government of four types of weight loss, or to abolish the law on salt.
8. Who guards the realm and justice strict maintains, That king, will be esteemed a God among men, who performs his own duties, That king as god o’er subject people reigns and protects (his subjects) voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 27 PRECISION MEDICINE HELPING MORE MULTIPLE GENES RESPONSIBLE FOR PEOPLE SURVIVE BLOOD CANCERS RISK OF ASTHMA, ECZEMA The Canadian Cancer Society So Mitchell had a stem cell reach a greater understanding of why has estimated that around 21,000 transplant. After a long, painful certain individuals are at higher risk of Canadians will be diagnosed with treatment, he was finally declared in developing asthma and allergies, and blood cancers in 2019, representing remission. we hope the results will be put to use about 10% of all cancers. both in clinical diagnostics and in drug He’s now coming up on his three- development,” said study lead author And those Canadians stand a better year “rebirth,” he said, and is back at Weronica Ek from Uppsala University. chance today than they did 30 years work as a software developer and is ago. Since the early 1990s, survival able to exercise regularly. “I’m doing For the study, researchers analyzed rates for the most common blood remarkably well.” self-reported data from 350,000 cancers have increased by nearly 40%, participants. according to a Canadian Cancer Blood cancers include lymphoma, Society report published last month. leukemia, and multiple myeloma. It’s Millions of gene positions were an umbrella term, he said, for cancers tested for their effect on people’s risk That means that, a few decades ago, that affect blood cells. He believes that of being diagnosed with asthma, hay a person diagnosed with non-Hodgkin the increased survival rates for these fever, and eczema. lymphoma had a 49% chance of cancers are due to better treatments. survival. Now, it’s 68%. The 41 new genetic finds were Specifically, Perreault and the also tested in an independent group David Mitchell is one of those Canadian Cancer Society say, the of individuals comprising 110,000 survivors. He was diagnosed with improved survival rates for blood Researchers have found a total of people. non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015. cancers are due to the development of 141 regions in our genetic material “precision medicine”: treatments that that largely explain the genetic risk This testing verified that most “By the time I got the diagnosis, are tailored to the patient or the type underlying asthma, hay fever, and of these new genetic variants have I knew I had cancer,” he said. “I was of cancer they have. eczema. an effect on the individual’s risk of that sick. I just didn’t know what kind developing disease. but I knew something was terribly “Precision medicine really takes As many as 41 of the genes identified wrong and cancer seemed to be the cancer treatment to an entirely new have not previously been linked to an The study showed that a large only thing that sort of fit that whole and different level by determining elevated risk for these diseases. number of the genes identified entail description.” treatment based on the unique a raised risk for all three diseases. This, The study, published in the characteristics of an individual,” in turn, shows that the elevated risk journal Human Molecular Genetics His first treatments, chemotherapy said Leah Smith, senior manager of of suffering from allergy when asthma last month, shows that the risk of followed by radiation, did make him surveillance at the Canadian Cancer is diagnosed or the elevated risk of developing asthma, hay fever, or eczema feel better, he said. But, at a follow- Society. asthma when allergy is diagnosed, up appointment in 2016, he received is affected by genes, environment, and seems to be largely due to genetic some bad news. Perreault believes that precision lifestyle factors. factors. The study was also able to medicine could represent the future of identify several genes that boost the It was also noted that many patients The cancer had come back more cancer care. risk of one of these diseases in relation diagnosed with one of these diseases aggressively than ever and was “pretty to the others, which demonstrates also develop the other two at some much everywhere” in his body, he “I believe that when we look back that a number of more disease-specific stage in life. said. “It was just complete and utter at classic chemotherapy, we will find effects also exist. deflation and defeat.” that this was a rather primitive way to “The findings are helping us to treat cancer,” he said. LDL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS SHOULD BE LOWERED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) available drugs (statins, ezetimibe, regimen,” noted Professor François Prof. Catapano. cholesterol levels should be lowered PCSK9 inhibitors) are used as Mach, chairperson of the guidelines The evidence for statin therapy is as much as possible to prevent effectively as possible to lower levels in task force and head of the Cardiology more limited in patients over 75, though cardiovascular disease, especially in those most at risk. It is recommended Department, Geneva University it is still consistent with a benefit. The high and very high risk patients. This that such patients should achieve both Hospital, Switzerland. “Statins have guidelines advise taking level of risk, is one of the main messages of the a target LDL cholesterol level and a very few side effects. These include an baseline LDL cholesterol, health status, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) minimum 50% relative reduction. increased risk of developing diabetes, and the risk of drug interactions into and European Atherosclerosis Society and they may rarely cause myopathy. account when deciding whether statins (EAS) Guidelines on dyslipidemias “This is to ensure that high- or very But the benefits of statins greatly are appropriate in those aged 75 or published online last month in the high-risk patients receive intensive outweigh their hazards, even among over. European Heart Journal, and on the LDL cholesterol-lowering therapy those at low risk of atherosclerotic irrespective of their baseline level,” ESC website. CVD.” Revisions have been made to the said Professor Alberico L. Catapano, risk stratification categories so that Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is chairperson of the guidelines task force However, statins are not patients with atherosclerotic CVD, responsible for more than four million and professor of pharmacology at the recommended in pre-menopausal diabetes with target organ damage, deaths in Europe each year. Clogged Department of Pharmacological and women considering pregnancy or familial hypercholesterolemia, and arteries, known as atherosclerotic Biomolecular Sciences, University not using adequate contraception. severe chronic kidney disease are all CVD, are the main type of disease. The of Milan, Italy. “Patients who are “Although these drugs have not been categorized as very high-risk (and so guidelines provide recommendations already close to their target on current shown to cause fetal malformations will be offered intensive LDL-lowering on how to modify plasma lipid levels treatment will be offered additional when unintentionally used in the therapy). Treatment goals for a through lifestyle and medication to treatment that provides a further first trimester of pregnancy, women particular risk category apply regardless reduce the risk of atherosclerotic CVD. minimum 50% reduction.” needing a statin should avoid them during any period when they might of whether or not patients have had a There is no lower limit of LDL “Statins are very well tolerated, and conceive, as no formal study to address heart attack or stroke. cholesterol that is known to be unsafe. true ‘statin intolerance’ is uncommon. this question has been performed,” said The guidelines aim to ensure that the Most patients can take a statin
No smoke without fire; no dust without air fhw;wpy;yhky; J}rp gwf;Fkh? gf;fk; | PAGE 28 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
HUMANS MOVED THROUGH MEDITERRANEAN EARLIER THAN BELIEVED
Scientists from McMaster demonstrates their ability to adapt to University has unearthed new evidence new environmental challenges. in Greece proving that the island of Naxos was inhabited by Neanderthals “Until recently, this part of the and earlier humans at least 200,000 world was seen as irrelevant to early years ago, tens of thousands of years human studies but the results force earlier than previously believed. us to completely rethink the history of the Mediterranean islands,” says SCIENCE The findings, published last month Tristan Carter, an associate professor of & in the journal Science Advances, are anthropology at McMaster University TECHNOLOGY based on years of excavations and and lead author on the study. The authors of this paper suggest coast of Naxos. Here early Homo challenge current thinking about Scholars had believed the Aegean that the Aegean basin was in fact sapiens, Neanderthals and earlier human movement in the region—long accessible much earlier than believed. humans used the local stone (chert) to thought to have been inaccessible and Sea, separating western Anatolia (modern Turkey) from continental At certain times of the Ice Age, the make their tools and hunting weapons, uninhabitable to anyone but modern sea was much lower, exposing a land of which the team has unearthed humans. Greece, was therefore impassable to the Neanderthals and earlier hominins, route between the continents that hundreds of thousands. would have allowed early prehistoric The new evidence is leading with the only obvious route in and out Reams of scientific data collected researchers to reconsider the routes of Europe across the land bridge of populations to walk to Stelida, and an alternative migration route connecting at the site add to the ongoing debate our early ancestors took as they Thrace (southeast Balkans). about the importance of coastal and moved out of Africa into Europe and Europe and Africa. Researchers believe the area would have been attractive to marine routes to human movement. early humans because of its abundance While present data suggests that the MARS ONCE HAD SALT LAKES SIMILAR of raw materials ideal for toolmaking Aegean could be crossed by foot over and for its fresh water. 200,000 years ago, the authors also TO THOSE ON EARTH raise the possibility that Neanderthals In this paper, the team details may also have fashioned crude Mars once had salt lakes that are present for long periods of time— evidence of human activity spanning seafaring boats capable of crossing similar to those on Earth and has from at least hundreds of years to almost 200,000 years at Stelida, a short distances. gone through wet and dry periods, perhaps tens of thousands of years,” prehistoric quarry on the northwest according to an international team of Nachon said. scientists that includes a Texas A&M University College of Geosciences So what happened to these salt SATURN NOW HAS THE MOST MOONS OF researcher. lakes? ANY SOLAR SYSTEM PLANET Marion Nachon, a postdoctoral Nachon said that Mars probably research associate in the Department became dryer over time, and the planet of Geology and Geophysics at Texas lost its planetary magnetic field, which A&M, and colleagues have had their left the atmosphere exposed to be work published in the current issue of stripped by solar wind and radiation Nature Geoscience. over millions of years. The team examined Mars’ “With an atmosphere becoming geological terrains from Gale Crater, thinner, the pressure at the surface became lesser, and the conditions Saturn now reigns as the solar same direction that Saturn rotates, an immense 95-mile-wide rocky basin system’s “moon king,” thanks to while 17 are retrograde, traveling that is being explored with the NASA for liquid water to be stable at the surface were not fulfilled anymore,” 20 newfound moons. That brings in the opposite direction. Each is Curiosity rover since 2012 as part of the ringed planet’s total known between 2 and 5 kilometers wide. the MSL (Mars Science Laboratory) Nachon said. “So liquid water became unsustainable and evaporated.” satellites to 82, knocking Jupiter— mission. with 79 moons—off the throne, the All but one of the newfound The salt ponds on Mars are believed International Astronomical Union’s moons fall into three existing clusters The results show that the lake that of moons. Astronomers think these was present in Gale Crater over 3 to be similar to some found on Earth, Minor Planet Center announced Oct. especially those in a region called 7. groups formed when larger moons billion years ago underwent a drying broke apart, either colliding with each episode, potentially linked to the Altiplano, which is near the Bolivia- Peru border. And it’s not just a phase. Saturn other (SN: 5/21/18) or with a passing global drying of Mars. is likely to keep its title, says Scott comet. But one prograde moon is Gale Crater formed about 3.6 Nachon said the Altiplano is an Sheppard, an astronomer at the an oddball: The angle of its axis’s tilt billion years ago when a meteor hit arid, high-altitude plateau where rivers Carnegie Institution for Science in suggests that it belongs with other Mars and created its large impact and streams from mountain ranges “do Washington, DC. He estimates that similar moons that fall within a two- crater. not flow to the sea but lead to closed Saturn has about 100 moons—but the year orbit. But it’s farther out among basins, similar to what used to happen remaining ones are so small, under 1 the retrogrades, where it circles Saturn “Since then, its geological terrains at Gale Crater on Mars,” she said. kilometer across, that they’re hard to in three years. have recorded the history of Mars, and identify. studies have shown Gale Crater reveals “This hydrology creates lakes Something may have pulled this signs that liquid water was present over with water levels heavily influenced As it is, it took Sheppard and his moon away from its cluster, Sheppard its history, which is a key ingredient of by climate. During arid periods colleagues years to confirm that some says. Or it could belong to a fourth microbial life as we know it,” Nachon Altiplano lakes become shallow due of the specks captured in images taken group, created by some unknown said. to evaporation, and some even dry up from 2004 to 2007 by the Subaru event in Saturn’s formative years. entirely. The fact that the Altiplano Telescope in Hawaii were, in fact, Finding more moons may help solve “During these drying periods, salt is mostly vegetation free makes the moons orbiting Saturn. By comparing that puzzle. But, Sheppard says, “If we ponds eventually formed. It is difficult region look even more like Mars,” she the objects’ locations over time, the want to find the smaller ones, we have to say exactly how large these ponds said.” team found that three of the newfound to get bigger telescopes.” were, but the lake in Gale Crater was moons are prograde, orbiting in the
9. The king of worth, who can words bitter to his ear endure, The whole world will dwell under the umbrella of the king, who can bear Beneath the shadow of his power the world abides secure words that embitter the ear voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 29
POWERFUL STORMS MAY BE CAUSING OFFSHORE GREENLAND’S ICE FACES MELTING ‘DEATH ‘STORMQUAKES’ SENTENCE’ Powerful hurricanes can whip Initially, Fan, of Florida State Greenland’s massive ice sheet may unnerved by the potential dangers the ocean into a frenzy, and that University in Tallahassee, and his have melted by a record amount this and that coastal planners need to wave energy can be strong enough colleagues set out to look for possible year, scientists have warned. “brace themselves.” to hammer the seafloor, producing triggers for these signals coming from a novel kind of quake, according within the Earth. They analyzed During this year alone, it lost Until recently, the ice sheet was to an article published in online seismic data collected from 2006 enough ice to raise the average global generally in a state of balance-the Geophysical Research Letters on to 2015 by a network of moveable sea level by more than a millimeter. amount of snow falling in winter was October 14. seismometers that marched across roughly equal to the amount of ice Researchers say they’re “astounded” the country from west to east as part melting in summer. by the acceleration in melting and These stormquakes are a newly of the U.S. Array. identified type of interaction fear for the future of cities on coasts In 2018, there was actually a gain between Earth’s atmosphere, ocean “They were seasonal,” Fan says; the around the world. in ice but that was relatively unusual. and crust. Unlike earthquakes, signals occurred only during winter Over the last 30 years, decade by One glacier in southern Greenland which are triggered by subsurface months. “Earthquakes do not have decade, Greenland has tended to has thinned by as much as 100 meters shifting within the solid Earth, the seasonality. But weather does.” The shed more ice. since 2004, essentially because its ice driving force behind these seismic driving force behind the mysterious sheet is seven times the area of the Either the ice melts at the surface, signals are ocean waves that have quakes came into clearer focus once UK and up to 2-3km thick in places. which sends torrents of water down been whipped into deep swells by a he began looking at seismic data It stores so much frozen water that, to the surrounding seas, or huge hurricane or nor’easter. Stormquakes from the U.S. East Coast, prone to if the whole thing melted, it would chunks of ice break off from the can be as powerful as a magnitude experiencing powerful storms such as raise sea levels worldwide by up to margins and float away as icebergs, 3.5 earthquake, a level barely hurricanes and winter nor’easters. 7m. gradually to melt. noticeable to people but detectable by To be a stormquake, the team seismometers, seismologist Wenyuan No one is suggesting that could Recent years have seen hundreds determined, the source of the seismic Fan and colleagues report. happen for hundreds or even of billions of tons of ice lost, and data had to meet several criteria. It thousands of years, but even a small a rough guide to the effect on sea The work is “a really great first had to occur during a stormy day; not increase in the rate of melting in level is that 362 billion tons of melt start” at understanding a little- be part of a known earthquake event; coming decades could threaten raises the average ocean level by a studied part of the seismic record, and belong to a swarm of similar millions of people living in low-lying millimeter. says physical oceanographer Fabrice quakes on the same day. In all, the areas. Ardhuin of the Ocean Physics and team identified more than 14,000 That doesn’t sound like a lot but, Satellite Oceanography laboratory in stormquakes along the eastern coasts Bangladesh, Florida, and eastern in 2012, Greenland’s loss totaled Brest, France. “It brings something of Canada and the United States, as England are among many areas about 450 billion tons, and this year’s really new.” well as the U.S. Gulf Coast, from known to be particularly vulnerable melt is on course to produce about September 2006 to February 2015. to rises in sea level over the course of the same, or even slightly more, with Scientists have long known that the century. some researchers suggesting it could the constant sloshing of ocean waves Oddly, not every powerful storm raise sea levels by up to 2mm. produces seismic signals at frequencies that pounded along that eastern And, although the island of of about once every few minutes, seaboard produced stormquakes. Greenland is remote, stretching And, on top of that, you have to a phenomenon known as “Earth’s Instead, stormquakes were confined from the north of the Atlantic high factor in the ice melting in Antarctica hum.” Waves can also produce high- to certain regions along the coast into the Arctic, its fate could have plus the effect of water expanding as frequency signals called microseisms, where seafloor topography maps major implications for the severity it warms. It all raises the level of the occurring every five seconds or so. indicated that there were small raised of future flooding and may even alter oceans. regions called ocean banks. coastlines and force communities to But, in between that seismic noise, move inland. Over the past 15 years, that is another band of signals generated in Hurricane Sandy, for example, rate of shrinking has continued so the ocean that occur once every 20 to produced no stormquakes as it roared One of the scientists studying aggressively that now, on a return 50 seconds or so, or at a frequency of toward land from off the coast of the ice sheet, Dr. Jason Box of the visit to the same glacier, the ice looks between 0.02 and 0.05 hertz. What New Jersey in 2012. Off New Jersey, Geological Survey of Denmark diminished, almost battered, and far produces seismic signals within that Fan says, the seafloor descends in a and Greenland (GEUS), says he’s less dominating in the landscape. band hasn’t been so well understood. gentle grade along the continental shelf toward deeper ocean. March to late October 2018, four boast a few flashes per minute and unusual bright spots appeared in Great White Spots several flashes per Saturn’s atmosphere near the North second. If similar mid-size storms ASTRONOMERS SPOTTED A NEW TYPE OF Pole, between the latitudes of 67° N appear in the future, Fischer says, STORM ON SATURN and 74° N. radio telescopes that monitor the gas Computer simulations indicate giant’s tempests for lightning strikes Astronomers last year spotted seven months. that each mid-size storm required could indicate whether middling a new type of storm on Saturn. Saturnian storms are thought to about 10 times as much energy as a storms are more similar to their small Telescope images have revealed a originate in water clouds hundreds of small storm to get going, but only or giant counterparts. That might help newfound type of storm activity that kilometers below the planet’s visible about one-hundredth the energy scientists figure out how they form. raged near Saturn’s North Pole in upper cloud cover. Studying such required to brew up a Great White The timing of the 2018 storm 2018, researchers report online Oct. storms can offer a window into deep Spot. sequence hints that it might have 21 in Nature Astronomy. atmospheric goings-on that aren’t The sighting of this storm outbreak been a failed Great White Spot. These Until now, astronomers had seen directly observable, says Agustín “almost leaves more questions than it planetary-scale storms have been only two kinds of Saturnian storms: Sánchez-Lavega, who studies planetary can give answers,” says Georg Fischer, observed only seven times since 1876. relatively small storms about 2,000 atmospheres at the University of the a planetary scientist at the Space But those few data points seem to kilometers across that appear as bright Basque Country in Bilbao, Spain. Research Institute of the Austrian indicate that Great White Spots form clouds for a few days and Great White Sánchez-Lavega and colleagues Academy of Sciences in Graz not around the same latitudes once every Spots that are 10 times as large and analyzed hundreds of telescope images involved in the work. 60 years or so. The last time Saturn last for months. The newly spotted taken by amateur astronomers, as well sported a far-north Great White Spot, For instance, the 2018 telescope weather disturbance was a series of as pictures from by the Calar Alto near the latitudes where the 2018 images don’t show whether the four mid-size storms. Each was several Observatory in Spain and NASA’s storm quartet cropped up, was in newfound storms crackled with thousand kilometers across and lasted Hubble Space Telescope. From late 1960. between about 1.5 weeks and about lightning. Small storms typically
Moon shining on wilderness and clouds raining on the deserts fhl;by; njupe;j epyTk;> fhdYf;Fg; nga;j kioAk; gf;fk; | PAGE 30 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
EUROPEAN GOVTS MOVE TO BLOCK FACEBOOK’S DIGITAL MONEY Major European players are media network’s proposed digital Facebook and governments is that states,” he said. joining forces to block Facebook’s currency. we are subject to democratic control, Italian Finance Minister Roberto proposed digital currency because Italy, Germany, and France will that is, the control of the people.” Gualtieri agreed, telling reporters of the dangers it poses to national take unspecified steps in the coming The Group of Seven economies there was a “strong consensus” sovereignty, French Economy weeks “to show clearly that Libra is on Oct. 17 had said any reserve- among nations not to allow private Minister Bruno Le Maire said last unwelcome in Europe,” Le Maire backed digital currency like Libra— currencies. month. told reporters on Oct. 18 on the known as a stablecoin—would Libra also has faced challenges The firm opposition from France, sidelines of the annual meetings of require a sound legal framework from within as major financial and Italy, and Germany adds to the the World Bank and International before entering circulation. commercial players in recent weeks But European officials say they backed out of the project, including want to go even further by blocking Visa, MasterCard, eBay, Stripe, the currency outright. PayPal and the online travel firm Like Le Maire, German Finance Bookings Holdings. Minister Olaf Scholz said he was But the Libra Association has “very skeptical” about Libra. tried to ward off a blockade by “I favor not allowing the saying it will address the concerns mounting resistance faced by the Monetary Fund in Washington. establishment of such a global posed by government officials. tech giant’s troubled foray into “We will not allow a private currency because that is the The Libra Association officially digital finance. company to have the same power, responsibility of democratic states,” launched on Oct. 14 in Geneva with The Group of 20 economies also the same monetary power as he said. 21 founding members, including warned Friday of “serious” risks of sovereign states,” he added. But Scholz said he recognized the telecoms firms Vodafone and Iliad, as well as tech outfits Uber, Spotify money laundering, fraud, and illicit “The major difference between need for banking reforms to make finance posed by Libra, the social cross-border payments more simple, and Farfetch, blockchain operations cheap and speedy. such as Anchorage, Xapo and Coinbase, and the venture capital “At the same time, we must firm Andreessen Horowitz. BUILDING “PEER PRESSURE” TO protect the autonomy of democratic FOLLOW TRADE RULES: IMF CHIEF With trade tensions undermining this year and a slightly better 3.4% confidence and global growth,in 2020. “CHINESE ECONOMY MAINTAINS economic leaders are increasingly pushing each other to fix the South Africa’s Central Bank shortcomings that fueled the Chief Lesetja Kganyago, who chairs STABLE GROWTH” disputes, IMF Chief Kristalina the IMF steering committee, said Georgieva said last month. the pain of the trade frictions are felt People’s Bank of China Governor governor noted, among other everywhere, as the uncertainty puts Yi Gang last month said China has things, the total value of imports As the United States and China the brakes on investment. maintained a stable growth in 2019, and exports of goods in the first three remain engulfed in a massive tariff with main economic indicators kept quarters increased by 2.8%over the battle and with Brexit turmoil “And because the investment is continuing, trade overshadowed not taking place, the economy is within an appropriate range, facing same period of last year. the discussions of finance officials not growing, jobs are lost,” he told significant external headwinds from “The authorities have focused gathered for the annual meetings of reporters. “The trade tensions are trade protectionism in some major not in the best interest of the global more on the quality of growth, the International Monetary Fund economies. and World Bank on Oct. 19. economy.” and the economy has become In a statement at the ministerial more balanced,” Yi said, adding Trade is typically an engine of Washington and Beijing have economic growth. But the current battled through multiple rounds of meeting of the International that domestic consumption has disputes have created uncertainty tariffs, now impacting hundreds of Monetary and Financial “played an even greater role” in and growth in international billions of dollars in trade but there Committee (IMFC) on Oct. 19, driving growth, with consumption commerce has come to a virtual have been recent signs they might have reached a partial agreement to the International Monetary Fund expenditure contributing more standstill, Georgieva said, noting (IMF)’s policy-setting body, the than 60% GDP growth. that problems go beyond bilateral defuse the tensions. Chinese central bank governor said disagreements and extend to Trump announced a “substantial” “Facing increased uncertainties outdated trade rules. China’s economic structure has deal on Oct. 11 after negotiations and downward pressures, China has been improving further. “We need to look into what with Liu’s delegation, which he stepped up its efforts to improve its are the reasons we are not making said included a promise to increase purchases of U.S. farm products and “Continued progress has been economic structure and advance its more progress on trade and they are made in economic restructuring, reform and opening-up agenda,” not just the relations between the protections for intellectual property. U.S. and China,” Georgieva told Details were scant, however. aggregate demand and supply are said the central bank governor. reporters. basically in equilibrium, and growth China is “willing to work together In 2019, the negative list of has become more resilient,” Yi said Among finance officials, there with the U.S. to address each foreign investment was shortened other’s core concerns on the basis in the statement released during the was an understanding on “what are further, while market access for of equality and mutual respect,” Liu annual meetings of the IMF and the issues that need to be addressed agriculture and mining industries and building more, if you wish, peer said, according to a report on Taoran the World Bank in Washington. pressure for everybody to play by notes, a social media account run was relaxed, he said, noting that the trade rule book.” by the Beijing’s official Economic “In the first three quarters of the “significant progress” has been Daily. year, China’s GDP grew by 6.2%, achieved in the opening up of the The IMF projects the U.S.-China making an important contribution financial sector. trade dispute could shave $700 Protection for U.S. technology and allowing American firms to to global growth,” he said. billion off the global economy by Going forward, China will next year, mostly by undercutting provide financial services, like“Consumption and investment remain firmly committed to all- confidence and freezing business insurance and banking, in China are continued to grow steadily despite key features of the U.S. complaints, round opening up, said the central investment. downward pressures.” but those issues are not clearly bank governor. covered by existing rules governed The IMF’s global growth estimate The Chinese central bank was revised downward to just 3.0% by the World Trade Organization.
10. Gifts, grace, right sceptre, care of people’s weal; He is the light of kings who has there four things, beneficence, benevolence, These four a light of dreaded kings reveal rectitude, and care for his people voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 31
ASIAN MARKETS RALLY AFTER CHINA, U.S. REACH PARTIAL TRADE DEAL
Asian investors on Oct. 14 cheered The news provided some much- Leering, head of international trade “Some of the more challenging a partial trade deal between China and needed support to Asian markets, research at ING Bank NV, told issues, such as the U.S. blacklisting of the United States, sending regional with Shanghai and Hong Kong both Bloomberg News. “There is a very Chinese tech companies and possible markets rallying, though observers jumping more than 1%. tough journey ahead for the U.S. and limits on U.S. institutional investors were skeptical about the overall Chinese negotiators to cut a deal that investing in Chinese equities, don’t significance of the agreement. Sydney gained 0.7% and Singapore really has substance.” seem to be on the agenda.” put on 0.4%, while Wellington, Taipei Dealers took their lead from a and Seoul rallied more than 1%. Tai Hui, chief market strategist for On currency markets, the dollar strong performance on Wall Street after Asia at JP Morgan Asset Management, dipped against most higher-yielding, top-level negotiators ended two days Manila and Jakarta saw healthy warned that “market optimism may riskier units owing to improved of talks saying U.S. tariffs due to take advances. not be well supported by economic optimism. effect this week would be put off and reality.” However, while the deal was The pound, however, was suffering China would ramp up its purchases of welcomed by Trump as “the greatest U.S. farm products. He added: “While we are still selling pressure after European leaders and biggest deal ever made for our waiting on the details on concessions appeared unmoved by a hailed Brexit They also agreed on other issues great patriot farmers in the history made by both sides, it seems these are breakthrough on the Northern Irish including intellectual property, of our country,” analysts were a little still the low-hanging fruits that Beijing question between the leaders of Britain financial services, and currencies. more guarded. has offered in the past. and Ireland. “Let’s not get carried away,” Raoul IN CANADA, MONEY YOU MISSED CARELESSLY IS LOOKING FOR YOU!.....DO YOU KNOW? If necessary, you can contact the Testament.” Those who do not have In Canada and in many media • Human Errors & Confusion following section by letter, seek this deed must be legally confirmed outlets, there have been numerous guidance and take action. by a court order. articles and articles about unclaimed • Poor Estate Planning money owed to some Canadians. • Loved Ones With Converting Unclaimed Balances Services The death certificate must prove Some of the topics covered are: Avoiding Difficult that the owner of the money is not BANK OF CANADA alive. “Canadians have billions in • Missing or Damaged Records unclaimed money. Here’s how to 234 Wellington Street In case of more than one heir, the find out if you are one of them,” How do I find out if the Ottawa, Ontario KIA 0G9 money will be distributed equally. Toronto Star (July 4, 2014). unsolicited money in the name of a specified person is in the Bank of Phone: 3). To Make a Corporate “Lost Money? Find here!” The Canada? That is the next important Claim Globe & Mail (July 19, 2011). question. It’s so easy! 1-800-303-1282 Firms can send their information “Canadians are missing billions Go into the “Google Search” Fax: directly to the central bank and and no one to care for,” Macleans section and type in the words submit the legal documents they Magazine (July 3, 2014). 1-613-782-7713 “Unclaimed Balances—Bank of ask for. Where are the thousands of Canada” and search for the first Email: The Central Bank of Canada people who have not recovered information page. [email protected]. will not, in any case, seek to inform your money that you have missed Then click on the phrase, “Search everyone that an unclaimed amount for years? The Bank of Canada has our Unclaimed Balance Registry” Here are the following three of money is in the account. published the details of the Bank in the special letter below. sections: of Canada on their website for the If the amount is more than most convenient searching at no 1) Individual Claim $1,000, for hundred years, the cost. By Siva Panchalingam money will be lying in the account Those who are in this situation waiting for when claimants or their Either way, no matter how much will not have any major problems heirs make a claim. Anything less money they have in the bank, if when requesting it. You can fill out Type the name you are looking than that amount will be in the there is no transaction with the the prescribed application form for in the name register. If the name bank account for thirty years only. account, and after ten consecutive is there, it clearly shows it. Click on from the website and remit money years with the bank’s advice letters, it! from any branch of the bank to the There will be no cost to seek the money is transferred to the central bank’s unsolicited account, and recover this money. But, if Unclaimed Bank Balance Bank of. It shows all the details of when with the authorization of the bank, documents are required to prove and where the agent resided, how to prove their identity and easily that the heirs are the heirs to the The elders, the most vulnerable much money was transferred from withdraw the money. source, costs may be incurred. to permanent memory loss, are the address bank to the unsolicited those who have lost the most account of the central bank, and 2). A) To Make Estate If the securities are submitted money. where it was stagnant. Okay, let’s Claim. properly, the missed money will be returned within 10-12 months. The CBC News Agency has get to the next point.How to get In this case, the claimant must clearly analyzed the reasons why so that money? first send his/her details to the Finally, I say with a social many people miss their money. On the bank’s website, a “Request Canadian Central Bank in order to responsibility: Check it out in your families. Has anyone missed the • Forgetfulness Application Form” is provided in receive the payment. the form of e-mail. All the details of money like that? • Change of Address how to fill it out and to withdraw The right to receive the money money are clearly given. must be proved by the “Last Will &
A man who dares to kill dares to face the ill will nfhiyf;F mQ;rhjtd; gopf;F mQ;rhd; gf;fk; | PAGE 32 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
ADULTS OVER 65 WITH DEMENTIA INCREASING IN CANADA
Statistics Canada has estimated more than just the individual suffering forward-thinking and proactive when affects and, in fact, can support our more adults over the age of 65 from the sickness. it comes to tackling change and issues brains. Canadians must be more than children under 14 are quickly facing our society as a whole, what are aware of the facts behind brain-based For example, a recent report we going to do about it? It’s on all of diseases and the scientific connection projects that by 2031, close to 1.4 us to take up an initiative to combat between getting active and fighting million Canadians will be affected not only dementia, but all cognitive their effects. by dementia, so the direct health care and brain-based diseases. The kind costs of roughly $16.6 billion will that can rob of us, and our loved ones, It can be as easy as going for more obviously have a very firsthand strain of independence and the ability to live walks, doing yoga, or hitting the local on the entire Canadian health care the lives we want. pool for some lane swim. Regardless system. of the type, we need to be more There’s a way to help prevent focused on physical activity as a way How will hospitals and treatment the progression and onset of these to help seniors be both physically-and centers be able to function with so cognitive diseases and it doesn’t cost a mentally-fit. much money being devoted to only thing: increasing our physical activity. one disease? Let’s not sugar coat this: currently becoming top-of-mind concerns for It’s really that simple. Being active is a fun, effective, and low-cost way to there is no magic pill to fully prevent, brain-based diseases, such as dementia. Here’s another thought: How many cure or stop the progression of of our parents or grandparents will be combat dementia and its devastating And, if they’re not, they should be. symptoms. dementia. So, over the last couple of a part of those 1.4 million? How many decades, many clinicians have been It’s time to start thinking very seriously loved ones, friends or even co-workers? about the direct impact this trend is We know physical activity is good pushing for the inclusion of physical going to have on all Canadians lives, as Odds are, quite a few. But, as a for our heart, bones, and lungs, but activity to become an integral part of dementia is a disease that affects a lot nation that prides itself on being we’re not always mindful of how it the treatment for dementia.
IS SOCIAL MEDIA TO BLAME FOR RISING TEEN DEPRESSION?
With non-stop media coverage of Bazaar, People, and more) along with of the content described above. linking this trend with the increased horrific back-to-back mass shootings stories provided by Snapchat users. usage of smartphones and social media in El Paso and Dayton, as well Stories that get the most clicks make Snapchat does filter content based by teens. In another study published as Mississippi ICE raids that left it to the top of Discover’s feed. These on the age of the user; however, its last month in the journal JAMA parentless children in tears, many tend to be the more salacious stories. algorithms are useless if an 11-year-old Pediatrics, researchers found that for adults felt frazzled and tense. (Here’s an example: Seventeen’s is giving the app a fake birthday. every additional hour young people “Where to Get Condoms Without spend on social media or watching One of the most viral videos from In July, the Pew Research Center Parents Knowing.”) reported that a growing number of television, the severity of depressive the El Paso shooting shows a shopper symptoms they experience goes up. fleeing the shopping center as the In the first week of August, lots of American teens, especially girls, are shooting was taking place. It originated stories about the mass shootings ended experiencing depression. Many are on Snapchat. Yes, Snapchat. The very up on Snapchat, too, including the same app that, if you are a parent of video referenced above. If you watched a teen-aged (or even younger) child, it, then you know how disturbing it ASSISTED LIVING VERSUS SENIOR is probably on your kid’s phone right felt to experience the shooting along now. Snapchat is currently the most with the person who shot the video. HOME CARE popular social media network amongst Even though it appears on Snapchat U.S. teens. Nearly75% of American with a warning— “may disturb some There comes a time in most seniors’ Many families hire an agency that teens aged 13-17 use it. viewers”—many young people likely lives when medical conditions, sends a caregiver to the home for watched it anyway. loneliness, or an inability to care several hours each day or a few times a It is surprising how little most for oneself forces families to make a week, depending on the senior’s needs. parents know about Snapchat. At the Many of these kids were probably decision about where a senior should A live-in caregiver is another option parent presentations, adults are often alone with their devices, left to make be living. that some families choose. asked how many of them use or have sense of this horrific event without even tried using this app. Only a very the benefit of an adult explanation or Often a decision needs to be made Assisted living is like senior home few (mostly young) parents raise their consolation, or even reassurance that between staying at home with the care in that it usually covers activities hands. But, even if parents don’t use their own back-to-school shopping assistance of a visiting aide or other of daily living, but the senior moves the app, most know, more or less, that trip won’t end in similar bloodshed. caregiver or moving to an assisted from the family home into a new young people like Snapchat because the living facility. Each decision is an place. These locations may be like a photos and videos they post supposedly According to recent data, the intensely personal one, and families dormitory or private apartments and disappear after being viewed by friends average American child receives his must consider many factors when some are situated in sprawling or very (although every crafty teen knows or her first smartphone at age 10.3 trying to make the right decision. swanky campuses that can cater to a years of age, and opens a first social wide variety of needs and preferences. how to grab a screenshot of any snap Senior home care can take a variety they want to keep!). What parents media account shortly thereafter—by age 11.4. By the time he or she is 12 of forms but, generally speaking, it’s Assisted living facilities typically usually don’t know about, however, is care provided to a senior in his or her have staff on site around the clock to Snapchat’s “Discover” section. years of age, 50% have signed up for at least one social media platform, and own home. Typically, services include assist in the event of an emergency This is a part of the app that usually it’s Snapchat. Even though the assistance with activities of daily living, and help keep seniors safe. Most features short video clips, or “stories,” app’s stated minimum age of use is 13, such as bathing, dressing, toileting, offer meals, either in-room or in a often about current events. They are children may not think twice about and household tasks such as cooking, communal dining hall, and these cleaning and running errands. provided by popular news outlets (like giving the app a fake birthdate in order ...SEE PAGE 33 Esquire, CNN, Wall Street Journal, to use the app and get access to much
LEARNING Let a man learn thoroughly whatever he may learn, and let his conduct be 1. So learn that you may full and faultless learning gain, worthy of his learning Then in obedience meet to lessons learnt remain voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 33 MANY U.S. OLDER ADULTS NOT FULLY PREPARED FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS Most people in the U.S. over related equipment have a backup Three-quarters of those polled medications on hand, and 72% said age 50 say they’re ready for natural power supply. said they had experienced at least one they have a week’s worth of other disasters and emergency situations, major emergency in their life. health supplies. Experts recommend These findings and other new data but a new national poll shows that having at least this amount on hand. many haven’t taken key steps to from the National Poll on Healthy “Whether it’s as straightforward protect their health and well-being Aging, suggest that older adults as a power outage that lasts a day, When it came to food and water, in case of severe weather, long-term and their loved ones and health or as severe as a hurricane, tornado, however, just over half of those polled power outages, or other situations. care providers should take time to or earthquake, preparing can make said they had the recommended focus on key steps recommended a huge difference,” says Preeti week’s worth of these supplies on Less than half have signed up for by emergency preparedness Malani, M.D., the poll’s director hand. Even fewer had cell phone emergency warning systems offered professionals, and planning for how and a professor at the U-M Medical chargers and radios that didn’t require by their community, which can they will cope and communicate in School. “A bit of time spent now can electrical power. give crucial information in case of an emergency. protect your health, and spare you storms, natural disasters, lockdowns, worry and expense when something The National Poll on Healthy The poll, carried out by the U-M evacuation orders, public health like this does happen.” Aging results are based on responses emergencies, and more. Institute for Healthcare Policy and from a nationally representative Innovation with support from AARP The poll found that only 40% of sample of 2,249 adults aged 50 to Less than a third have put together and Michigan Medicine, U-M’s older adults have spoken with their 80 who answered a wide range of an emergency kit with essential academic medical center, asked a loved ones about such issues. questions online. Questions were supplies and medicines to get them national sample of more than 2,200 written, and data was interpreted and The poll does show some areas through an emergency at home or adults aged 50 to 80 questions about compiled by the IHPI team. Laptops where most older adults appear take with them in an evacuation. their readiness for several kinds of and Internet access were provided to prepared. For instance, 82% said And only a quarter of those who rely emergency situations. poll respondents who did not already they have a week’s supply of their on electrical power to run health- have them. CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WERE EXCLUDED FROM B.C. SCHOOLS: REPORT in number. An organization in B.C. that piece is a desire to understand disabilities. has been hearing from parents of the children’s disabilities, rather The ministry is also collecting children with disabilities for the than dismissing them from the “We need to get better together,” its own data on where and why last year says thousands of those classroom. he said. “We certainly want to hear children are being excluded. children are being denied a proper from this organization and others education. “Instead of figuring out the about where there’s further room Until the situation improves, function of the behavior, we are for improvement.” Kaler said there are hundreds of Nicole Kaler and her organization, managing children by sending them children who are being impacted BCEdAccess, have been collecting home,” she said. Fleming added the province is across B.C. data through an online form that looking at enhancing funding for asks parents whether their child was “Sending a child home doesn’t children with disabilities and is “Kids with disabilities are not given shorter school days, missed a change the situation that caused the committed to hiring more education being provided an education,” she field trip or assembly, or was asked behavior in the first place.” assistants, who are already growing said. “What are the consequences of that?” to stay home from school altogether The report says many parents during the most recent school year. also feel “forced” into agreeing to The data released in late August keep their children home or pick ASSISTED LIVING VERSUS... showed 3,610 instances across nearly them up early, not knowing that it’s 500 reports in which children were an option to refuse. Continues from page 32 excluded, with at least one instance The financial strain felt by those communities tend to offer activities weigh those against your financial in every district across B.C. parents was also mentioned in many and social events for residents. resources and safety concerns. “When we say exclusion, we’re responses, which Kaler said can’t be “It’s not that one option is always Safety is a key component of talking anything from kids not at ignored. better than another,” says Eleonora whether or not home care is a better school at all...to having a reduced “A lot of our parents are not able Tornatore-Mikesh, chief experience option than assisted living, says school day constantly,” Kaler said. to keep their job...because they’re and memory care officer at Inspīr, Dr. Susann Varano, a geriatrician “Some kids only go to school up constantly being called to come a new senior living community in at Maplewood Senior Living, a until noon.” pick up their children,” she said. Manhattan. “It all depends on the Westport, Connecticut–based senior The report from BCEdAccess “It forces us into serious financial situation.” And each family will have living residence company. that analyzes the data says key issues situations, and the impact of that to consider its options and do its own If a senior is planning to remain behind the exclusions include a lack is something families never really homework to determine what’s right. in the home, Varano recommends of education assistants, insufficient recover from.” Both senior home care and assisted installing “grab bars and safety bars” training for support staff, and a Education Minister Rob Fleming living have their pros and cons. In in the shower and other potentially lack of continuity for the children said he’s heard the concerns deciding which is the best option, hazardous locations throughout the themselves. raised by Kaler and other parents you’ll need to consider carefully your residence to prevent falls. Kaler says the most crucial missing and advocates for children with loved one’s needs and preferences and
Can a tiny dam keep in check the tidal waves? flYf;Ff; fiu NghLthu; cz;Nlh? gf;fk; | PAGE 34 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 UNPRECEDENTED EXPANSION HIGHLIGHTS CINEMA’S FIRST 30 YEARS Continues from previous issue… By 1908, the new medium was and Biograph, members included to pay weekly royalties on their those that had been in circulation, flourishing as never before, with the Vitagraph, the largest of American patented projectors, could rent Trust encouraged the differentiation of nickelodeons—so called because producers, Selig, Essanay, Mélièlis, films from these exchanges. first-run venues from those showing of their initial admission price of 5 Pathé and Kleine, the Connecticut- the older and less expensive products, cents—springing up on every street based Kalem, and the Philadelphia- The Trust’s arrangements had another hallmark of the coming corner, and their urban patrons based Lubin. an immediate impact on the consumed by the “nickel madness.” market, freezing out much foreign But the film industry itself was in The MPPC derived its powers competition so that, by the end of disarray. Neighboring nickelodeons from pooling patents on film stock, 1909, imports constituted less than competed to rent the same films, or cameras, and projectors, most of these half of released films, a percentage that actually rented the same films and owned by the Edison and Biograph continued to decline. The prejudice competed for the same audience, Companies. These two had been against foreign films manifested in while unscrupulous exchanges were engaged in lengthy legal disputes the Trust’s exclusionary tactics may likely to supply exhibitors with films since Biograph was founded, but have encouraged European studios that had been in release so long that their resolution now enabled them to produce “classic” subjects, literary rain-like scratches obscured the to claim the lion’s share of the Trust’s adaptations, and historical epics, for studio system. images. profits despite the fact that they were example, which were more acceptable at the time the two least prolific of to the American market. The Motion Picture Patents The exchanges and exhibitors now the American production studios. Company survived as a legal entity threatened to wrest economic control Pathé, 0020, whose 1908 position until 1915, when it was declared of the industry from the producers. In The members of the MPPC agreed as a primary supplier of product illegal under the Asta Nielsen (1881- addition, civil authorities and private to a standard price per foot for their to American exchanges made it a 1972) provisions of the Sherman reform groups, alarmed by the rapid films and regularized the release of prominent member of the MPPC, Anti-Trust Act but, even as early as growth of the new medium and its new films, each studio issuing from pioneered this approach through 1912, several years before its dejure perceived associations with workers one to three reels a week on a pre- the importation of European high decline, the Trust had de facto ceased and immigrants, began calling for established schedule. The MPPC culture in the form of the film d’art. to exert any significant control over did not attempt to exert its mastery film censorship and regulation of In 1910, the MPPC began the industry. the nickelodeons. In late 1908, through outright ownership of distribution facilities and exhibition business practices that presaged Indeed, its members at this point led by the Edison and Biograph those of the Hollywood studios, Companies, producers attempted venues, but rather relied upon represented the old guard of the exchanges’ and exhibitors’ needs for establishing a separate distribution American film industry and many to stabilize the industry and protect arm, the General Film Company. their own interests by forming the MPPC films and equipment that would cease to exist soon after the could only be obtained by purchasing This instituted standing orders (an court’s unfavorable ruling. Their Motion Picture Patents Company or, early form of block booking) and as it was popularly known, the Trust. a license. place was taken by the companies zoning requirements that prevented of the nascent Hollywood moguls, The Trust incorporated the most The licensed film exchanges had unnecessary competition by many of whom had initially important American producers and to lease films rather than buy them prescribing which exhibitors within strengthened their position in the foreign firms distributing in the outright, promising to return them a certain geographical area could industry through their resistance United States, and was intended after a certain period. Only licensed show a film. to the Trust’s attempt to impose to exert oligopolistic control over exhibitors, supposedly vetted by the oligopolistic control. MPPC to ensure certain safety and Higher rental rates for newly the industry: Along with Edison To be continued in next issue… sanitation standards and required released films, versus lower ones for KAMAL HAASAN STARTS SHOOTING IN BHOPAL FOR INDIAN 2
Kamal Haasan’s “Indian 2,” schedule, the team is expected to directed by Shankar, is one of the head to Taiwan and Europe to shoot most anticipated films. A sequel to the flashback portion of Kamal the blockbuster vigilante thriller Haasan, who was last seen to be in of the same name, “Indian 2” has a foreign country at the end of the Kamal Haasan returning as the first part of the film. freedom fighter Senapathy. Reports are that more than 2,000 Ulaganayagan Kamal Haasan junior artists will be part of the begun the next schedule of shooting massive action sequence that will and was seen shooting at Raja Bhoj be shot in the upcoming days in Setu in Bhopal. The star actor began Bhopal. his shooting as a 90-year-old on Oct. 22 and pictures from the shooting It’s a well-known fact that spot have being going viral over the Kamal Haasan and Shankar are internet. reuniting after two decades for the upcoming political film “Indian 2,” Produced by Lyca Productions, which was formally announced last the film has Kajal Aggarwal, Rakul year. Anirudh Ravichander will be Preet Singh, Priya Bhavani Shankar, composing the music for the film, Siddharth, Vidyut Jamwal, Delhi and Ravi Varma will be handling Ganesh, and Nedumudi Venu in the camera. pivotal roles. After this 20-day
2. The twain that lore of numbers and of letters give Letters and numbers are the two eyes of man Are eyes, the wise declare, to all on earth that live voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 35
SIVAKARTHIKEYAN THANKS FANS FOR THE A CONTESTANT FORCIBLY KISSED NEHA KAKKAR SUCCESS OF NAMMA VEETTU PILLAI ON INDIAN IDOL 11 SHOW Aditya Narayan, who hosts the that the fan even sports a tattoo of current season of the singing reality Neha’s name on his hands and added, show Indian Idol 11, recently spoke “I am sure he didn’t mean it in an about the incident where a contestant inappropriate way. I understand what forcibly kissed Judge Neha Kakkar on it is to have fans who are obsessed. I the show. know this man has a tattoo of Neha on his hands. So in some way this man Aditya, who was reasonably upset must have immense love for her. You with the contestant, immediately kind of feel for them as well. But you stopped him. In an interview with need to make them aware of where to the Times of India, the singer said draw the line.” that it was a “shocking” incident and that he tried to “safeguard” Neha Aditya Narayan is the son of immediately. playback singer Udit Narayan Jha and Deepa Narayan. He has hosted “It was shocking. You don’t expect several reality shows such as Sa Re Ga such an incident to happen. Our first Ma Pa Challenge, Rising Star 3 and reaction was to get him away from Entertainment Ki Raat among many Tamil actor Sivakarthikeyan finally Finally a big hug and Spl thanks to Neha Kakkar. I don’t know if the others. This is Aditya’s first season as aced the box office game with his last my dear brothers and sisters for being makers have taken any action against the host of Indian Idol. release “Namma Veettu Pillai.” wit me always..Tis success belongs to him. As a host at that moment, I tried each and every one of you..Love u to safeguard Neha. What happens Other than Neha Kakkar, Anu His last two films, “Seema Raja” all.” next is not in my hands,” Aditya Malik and Vishal Dadlani are also the and “Mr. Local,” failed to create any Narayan said. judges on the show. Indian Idol 11 airs noise at the box office and this hit has “Namma Veettu Pillai” stars on Sony Entertainment Television at During the interview, Aditya sort come as a happy surprise. Sivakarthikeyan, Enu Immanuel and 8:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. Aishwarya Rajesh in the lead roles, of defended the fan and revealed As “Namma Veettu Pillai” while the supporting cast includes completed 25 successful days at the Samuthirakani, Soori, Bharathiraja, box office, Sivakarthikeyan took to and Natarajan Subramanian. The PRETTY IN PURPLE: STARS WEAR THE Twitter to thank fans for their support. film is directed by Pandiraj and He shared, “Big thanks to d Audience, BRIGHT COLOR FOR FALL produced by Kalanithi Maran under All stars’ fans,press,media,online the banner of Sun Pictures. Purple has quickly become one of with bedazzled Sophia Webster heels portals,distributors & exhibitors for the hottest trends for fall and tons covered in rainbow crystals. ur support & for making NVP a pure Apart from acting, Sivakarthikeyan of our favorite celebrities have been blockbuster My personal thanks to @ has also ventured into production Angelina Jolie, 44, tried out the rocking the vibrant hue in a variety sunpictures Kalanithi Maran sir,My with movies like “Kanaa” and trend at a photocall for her new of ways! Dir @pandiraj_dir sir & entire team “Nenjam Undu Nermai Undu Odu film, “Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil,” for d success & for d grt memories. Raja.” Now that fall is here, there are a few in Rome, Italy on Oct. 7. Angelina different trends that celebrities have looked fabulous wearing a full been trying out and one of them is Givenchy ensemble featuring black MAMMOOTTY ADVISES HIS SON purple. From dresses to pants, skirts, skinny leg trousers with a strapless and sweaters, some of our favorite lilac purple pleated blouse. DULQUER SALMAAN TO “TAKE RISKS” stars have been styling the hue in a Another one of our fave celebs in variety of ways and we are loving the Dulquer Salmaan, son of sleep on the road, right? So, then why purple was Priyanka Chopra, 37, who new trend. Malayalam star Mammootty, said, should I not take calculated risks? My wore a pastel lavender and peach two- “My father is very stubborn. He does father is very stubborn. He does not Meghan Markle, 38, just tried out toned long-sleeve wrap dress by The not believe in spoon-feeding me in believe in spoon-feeding me in the the look when she attended the One Attico at the Amazon Studios Gully the film business.” film business,” he added. Young World Summit in London on Boy CAA Tastemaker film screening Oct. 22, where she actually rewore in LA on Oct. 14. Dulquer Salmaan told news Dulquer Salmaan made an her bright purple maternity dress. agency IANS that his father always unconventional big screen debut Cardi B, 26, looked unbelievably The Duchess of Sussex wore the royal encouraged him to take risks. He with the 2012 film “Second Show” sexy in Paris on Sept. 30, when she purple Aritzia Babaton Maxwell also said that the 68-year-old actor but his breakthrough film is “Ustad wore a bright purple Nicolas Jebran Dress, which retails for $50 but is told him that mistakes will help him Hotel,” released later that year. The latex wrap mini dress with a matte currently sold out, of course, paired “grow as an artiste.” film was a commercial success and it finish. She topped her look off with with Manolo Blahnik navy suede also won the National Award for Best matching thigh-high boots and Salmaan, who was recently seen pumps. She first wore the long-sleeve Popular Film Providing Wholesome earrings from Princess P. Jewelry. in the Bollywood film The Zoya fitted dress with a slit on the front of Entertainment. Factor, told IANS: “My father always the skirt, back in January, when she Hailey Baldwin, 22, took the trend encourages me to take risks. Right However, for his Hindi filmwas six months pregnant with her to a whole new level when she was from my initial days, he told me that debut “Karwaan,” Dulquer said son Archie. That time, she rocked in NYC on Sept. 8, rocking a bright my food, lodging and other basic that he did not need that “zone of the dress with a bright red, $1,500 purple Kenzo ensemble featuring a things were secure. So, as a youngster, heavy preparation.” He was quoted Sentaler coat. Aside from Meghan, super cropped top with high-waisted if I don’t take risks, if I don’t as saying, “In my Bollywood debut, Jenna Dewan, 38, rocked all purple wide-leg trousers. experiment, who will? Dad always ‘Karwaan,’ I played a regular guy. It when she arrived at the Build Speaker There have been so many other says that unless you make mistakes was a silent character so I was not in Series in NYC on Oct. 22, wearing celebs rocking purple for fall and you you cannot build your character as an that zone of heavy preparation. For head-to-toe lavender. She wore a light can click through the gallery above to individual and grow as an artist. ‘The Zoya Factor,’ though, I had to purple Alice + Olivia mini dress with see all of the sexy looks! learn the game of cricket.” a long duster coat in a shade darker, “If one film fails, I do not have to on top. She topped her look off
Seven sailors to steer a sinking ship Xl;ilf; fg;gYf;F xd;gJ khYkp gf;fk; | PAGE 36 voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019
LIONEL MESSI RECEIVES RECORD SIXTH EUROPEAN GOLDEN SHOE
“The Champions League isLiga and the Copa because we are something special and we all want to Barcelona and we always aim to win win it, but we are conscious that the everything.” Liga is the most important. Barca has endured a difficult start “La Liga can help you reach the to the season, losing twice in its first Barcelona forward Lionel Messi “My team and my team mates, I Champions League and the Copa del eight league games. picked up a record-extending sixth— would have never been able to win Rey. It is very difficult if you don’t The team won its last three and third consecutive—European even one of these awards without perform well in the Liga to compete matches to pull into second place on Golden Shoe Award on Oct. 16 them,” Messi said at the presentation in the Champions League. following his outstanding individual in Barcelona. “This is a recognition 16 points, two behind leader Real 2018-19 domestic campaign. for everyone, all the team.” “We never forget about the Madrid. The award is presented to the top The forward, who won his first goal scorer in league football across Golden Shoe in 2010, admitted he GOLF: FIT TIGER WOODS HINTS HE’LL Europe, with the Argentine finding was disappointed to have missed the net 36 times last season as Barca out on Champions League glory PICK HIMSELF FOR PRESIDENTS CUP retained its La Liga title. again after Barcelona blew a 3-0 first leg lead to Liverpool at the semi- Messi was three ahead of nearest final stage. However, he said he was rival Kylian Mbappe, who scored 33 conscious that the league should be times for Paris St. Germain as they the club’s priority. won France’s Ligue 1.
6 BULGARIANS HELD OVER RACIST ABUSE AT ENGLAND MATCH
Six Bulgarians were detained last Czech Republic in June. month over racist abuse at a Euro England Manager Gareth 2020 qualifier against England that Southgate told reporters after the sparked a storm of protest and led game that his side had been ready to the resignation of the country’s to walk off the pitch if the abusive football chief. behavior continued, but players Monkey chants and apparent Nazi decided to complete the match. salutes overshadowed England’s 6-0 The incident sparked a storm of win in Sofia on Oct. 14, with the angry reactions from fans, media, match halted twice during the first and officials in both countries. half due to the abuse. Golfer Tiger Woods said on this event, be ready for Hero, and I’m Oct. 21 that his fitness was ahead going to Australia either way, whether British Prime Minister Boris “Six people have been detained of schedule after arthroscopic knee I’m playing or not,” Woods said. Johnson condemned the “vile” racism, and another three are being surgery, and dropped a heavy clue he while his Bulgarian counterpart “I had it done and, as I said, it’s actively sought,” Sofia Police Chief might use one of his four Presidents Boyko Borisov forced the country’s been nice to be able to squat down Commissioner Georgy Hadzhiev Cup captain’s picks on himself. Football Federation Chief Borislav told journalists. and read putts and I started going at Mihaylov to offer his resignation on “I’m probably a week early. My it full speed again.” Hadzhiev added that so far 15 Oct. 15. season had ended a little bit earlier Woods, who completed a people have been singled out via than I had expected it,” the 15- In a statement, Bulgarian National remarkable return from years of CCTV at the Vasil Levski National time major winner told reporters at Team Manager Krasimir Balakov injury and personal problems to win Stadium as being suspected of Narashino Country Club near Tokyo. offered his apologies to the England directing abuse against England’s the U.S. Masters in April, said his player. black players. “I had the procedure a little bit knee had been giving him more pain early and got ahead of it,” he added. as the year wore on. The scandal divided Bulgarians— Police in the central city of while many apologized in posts on Plovdiv said they were calling in for Woods was in Japan to play in “It progressively got worse and got social media about what they said was questioning 13 others, who were the U.S. PGA Tour’s inaugural Zozo to the point where it was affecting a pervasive problem in the country, allegedly also part of the group of Championship, a US$9.75 million even reading putts,” the 43-year-old and others refused to be identified black-clad men who sparked trouble event that is the second tournament Woods said. with the offenders and condemned at the game, according to public of an almost US$30 million Asian British media headlines that called all Woods has a large depth of talent BNR radio. swing. Bulgarians “racists” and “animals.” from which to make his four captain’s Penalties for the offenses carry He then intends to round off his picks ahead of the match against UEFA announced that it was brief detentions, fines and bans from year by playing in the Hero World Ernie Els’s International team at launching a probe into the behavior sporting events. Challenge on Dec. 4, before going Royal Melbourne. of both the Bulgaria and England to Australia to captain Team USA in He admitted it hasn’t been easy. In total, 15,000 people watched fans. Its president, Aleksander the Presidents Cup, which begins on “I’ve been pretty consumed by it,” the match at a stadium already Ceferin, stressed the commitment of Dec. 13. partially closed after racist incidents European football’s governing body he said, adding his return to fitness during games against Kosovo and the to root out the “disease” of racism. “I thought that I had enough time made it more likely that he would use to rehab it correctly and be ready for one of his wildcards on himself.
3. Men who learning gain have eyes, men say; The learned are said to have eyes, but the unlearned have (merely) two sores Blockheads’ faces pairs of sores display in their face voiceforjustice.ca | etk;gu; November 2019 gf;fk; | PAGE 37 MR. SATHEESAN Mr. Kumarasamy is currently at Queensland University, and a studies, conflict studies, power KUMARASAMY pursuing his studies in LLB and senior specialist visiting physician and politics, tourism and human EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PhD in Criminal Justice. in Princess Alexandra Hospital security. (PAH), a post he held till 2000. MS. JANET MUSICK He relentlessly campaigns against MR. SARAVANA COPY EDITOR - ENGLISH violation of the human rights of the RAJENDRAN Tamil minority, and for their right ONLINE EDITOR – TAMIL to live with equality, dignity and TAMIL.VOICEFORJUSTICE.CA safety in the country of their birth. Mr. Satheesan Kumarasamy has Dr Senewiratne is a Sinhalese from worked in the media nearly two the majority community. decades. He has contributed articles in English and Tamil for various Ms. Janet Musick has a Bachelor MR. RAVI DEVARAJ newspapers, and is an editor for an of Arts degree in English, and EDITOR-SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY online journal since 1999. has worked as an editor, writer Mr. Saravana Rajendran completed Mr. Kumarasamy received a and proofreader. She has a strong his post-graduate work in chemistry. Bachelor of Science in Biology background in manuscript editing, He worked at British Petroleum in (Natural Science) and Bachelor copy editing and proofing, as well as its research section for several years. of Arts in Political Science with corporate communications. Due to his passion for journalism, Honours, and Master of Arts in Currently, she edits manuscripts he shifted his career to newspapers Integrated Studies degrees with for Texas-based Defiance Press and Mr. Ravi Devaraj obtained his law in 2008. He provided his services to specialization in Political Science. Publishing, as well as for individual degree in BABL. He currently works Thina Thanthi, a Tamil newspaper in authors. She also works with new as deputy manager in Quadrant the Mumbai office for a few months. authors at a discount to help them Televentures in the southern State Then he served Maharashtra become better writers as a way to of Tamil Nadu. State Government Secretariat and give back to the writing profession. Mr. Devaraj does research in Tamil, Mumbai Corporation Office as Tamilian History. He is interested translator in the public relations in restoration and reclaiming the sections. At present, he works as a DR. PAUL NEWMAN journalist in Chennai. EDITOR-LAW & POLITICS history of the Tamil race, culture, and identity. He has more than ten He is a prolific translator in STAY IN TOUCH years of experience and expertise Tamil, Hindi, Marathi and Arabic 11 - 2623 Eglinton Ave East in Tamil, Indo-European open languages. His books have been Scarborough, ON M1K 2S2 source interpretation, and analysis. published by Eastern Publishers, Tel: 416-723-7524 Currently, he is doing research on Self-Esteem Publishers and the history of the Tamil language and Manimegalai Publishers, and he [email protected] Tamilian in Homeland (Tamil Nadu currently writes articles for Tamil Dr. Paul Newman is a professor of and Eelam). He is collecting Tamil and Hindi dailies and weekly Editor-in-Chief Human Rights at the University of Mr. Satheesan Kumarasamy words to compare with the words of magazines. Bangalore, India. He holds a PhD, European and Asian languages and Copy Editor – English and his research thesis was ‘Internal has found the influence of Tamil in Ms. Janet Musick Displacement and Human Rights MR. KABIR BADAL these countries’ languages. situation in Northern Sri Lanka HUMAYUN Law & Politics Editor ONLINE EDITOR Dr. Paul Newman from 1995 - 2001.’ He is a member of the Forum Against Death Penalty MS. DAYASIYA PUVIRAJ ENGLISH VERSION Medicine & Health Editor based in Chennai in India. EDITOR- SENIORS, WOMEN & VOICEFORJUSTICE.CA Dr. Brian Senewiratne CHILDREN Dr. Newman is a staunch supporter Science & Technology Editor and voice for oppressive and Mr. Ravi Devaraj suppressive regimes around the Economy & Social Issues Editor world; in particular, he is a voice Dr. Subra Jayahanthan against human rights abuses perpetuated against minority Seniors, Women & Children Issues Editor Mr. Humayun Kabir Badal is a senior groups. Ms. Dayasiya Puviraj Ms. Dayasiya Puviraj graduated journalist based in Bangladesh. Online Editor – English from Eastern University in Sri Lanka After obtaining a Bachelor of Mr. Humayun Kabir Badal DR. BRIAN with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arts degree in 1988, he became a SENEWIRATNEEDITOR- Sociology. After she completed journalist for about 30 years. He has Online Editor – Tamil MEDICINE & HEALTH worked in both Bengali and English Mr. Sivasankaran Balasubramanian her graduate degree, she worked with international organization for daily newspapers. Contributors of Articles: migration. She has experience with Currently, he works for the English Dr. Jehan Perera migration and reintegration fields. Dr. Vickramabahu Karunarathne version of Daily Nayadiganta as a Mr. M.K Eelaventhan After that she worked for a year as special correspondent. A committed Mr. Kumar Rasingam an assistant lecturer of sociology in human rights activist, Mr. Kabir is a Mr. Thambu Kanagasabai the Department of Social Sciences, founding member of Shishu Kalyan Brian Senewiratne was born in Sri Production Manager Faculty of Arts and Culture in Sangbadik Parishad (Children Mrs. Vithya Satheesan Lanka and educated at Cambridge Eastern University, Sri Lanka. Welfare Journalists Association), University and London University. Currently, Ms. Puviraj is reading for which works for poor and Graphic Designer He rose to be a consultant physician her post-graduate degree, Master oppressed children. He advocates Mr. Selvaratnam Amutheesan in London, but voluntarily opted of Arts in Peace and Development for the welfare of the down- in 1968 to return to Sri Lanka as Website Designer at the University of Ruhuna, Sri trodden section of society when Mr. Vinoth Poovalingam associate professor of medicine and Lanka. She is interested in fields they become victims of government consultant physician in the teaching relevant to her degrees, including repression, discriminatory policy, or Marketing hospital in Kandy. Mr. Visacan Kanagasabai gender, feminism, women and child are exploited by any vested quarter With increasing instability in Sri issues and affairs, human rights and around the world. Consulting Mr. Samy Ramachandran Lanka, he moved to Brisbane in 1976 humanitarian law, mass media and as associate professor of medicine communication, poverty, peace
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nrg;nuk;gu; 29k; ehs; Qhapw;Wf;fpoik> khu;f;fk; gpNsl;Nlh fiyauq;fpy; jha;tPL gj;jpupifapd; ‘muq;fpay; tpoh’ rpwg;Gw eilngw;wJ. gy;tiff; fiyQu;fs; gq;Fnfhz;l ,e;epfo;Tfs; ghu;itahsupilNa ey;y tuNtw;igg; ngw;wd. kuGrhu; fiyfis Kjd;ikg;gLj;jpa ,e;j Mw;Wiffspy; fzprkhd ,isNahUk; gq;Fgw;wpapUe;jik gyUila ftdj;ijAk; 4. You meet with joy, with pleasant thought you part; It is the part of the learned to give joy to those whom they meet, and on Such is the learned scholar’s wonderous art! leaving, to make them think (Oh! when shall we meet them again)