Why Prof.Ignatieff is supporting anti India, anti Sri Lanka group ?

Prof.Ignatieff and Mr.Donolo,

Professor,

 I hope this note finds you in your best spirits and the new year bring glory and success that will shine on Canada and rest of the world. I'm writing to you today because I heard the very disturbing news that you are softening on the LTTE and reaching out to the Tamil separatists, which is not typical of you, especially to support the people who cheered the assassination of your friend Neelan Tiruchelvam and Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. I think this is because you are getting wrong advice and I would like to put some fact for you to consider. I'm confident both of you will discuss and make the right decision

 Prof, I understand you are speaking at the Canadian Tamil Congress thai pongal dinner on January 22nd, (a group that is anti Sri Lanka and anti Indians)despite being adviced not to do so. I hope you will take time to consider all the fact I have out together for you to review and make a wise decision to NOT attend the dinner.  I remember this is what Hon.Paul Martin did with FACT(predecessor of CTC)  and we know how the Conservatives used it attack the Liberals.

There is absolutely no reason you, as the Leader of the Liberal party should be seen engaging the CTC. I'm not sure if you have seen all the facts, or rather even your staffers have all the facts, so I have taken the trouble to put it together for you. Politically it will be a disaster, as the moderates will fear the resurgence of the LTTE harassment days if the Liberals are seen too close to them andvoters will drift to the Conservatives. Ethically, I dont need to tell you what you have taught the world, supporting separatists and extremists is NEVER acceptable but most importantly at a time when the Sri Lankan diaspora is looking for leadership, your support to the Separatists is disturbing, to be put politely with respect, sir.

Professor, Remember your colleague,Neelan Tiruchelvam, I still remember July 29, 1999 and Sri Lanka remembers your emotional eulogy to him. Remember your speech in Toronto and how you eluded to Canadian Tamils cheering the assassination of Neelan.Here is an extract of it

http://www.thestar.com/article/563060  and its shocking that now you are supporting the very same people who cheered Neelan's assassination and sent your those letters!

So who are the CTC and why you should not attend:

No Liberal leader has ever attended the CTC thai pongal event and for rightful reasons.While you wil not attend an event by the WSO(sikh) or CAF(arab) why is that you choose to attend CTC, who are ten times more extreme then them ? Is it because the Lives of Tamils and Sinhalese are less valualbe than those in India or Israel ? or is it because Sri Lanka is a poor country unlike India or Isreal.

Here is an oped that I did in National post exposing the truth about Canadian Tamil Congress http://www.lankamission.org/content/view/1911/9/  I hope you will ask these same questions to them, but more importantly yourself.

1) CTC is a officially registered Sepatarist group:

CTC in its constitution has that the CTC "article 2.3 Recognize and support the social, cultural, and political aspirations of the Tamils in Tamil Eellam". The organization's mandate is to create Tamil Eellam, a separatist Tamil country from Sri Lanka. This is like WSO and reasons good enough for you and your caucus to NOT attend the CTC event.

Here is a press release from CTC to the newly formed LTTE political wing TGTE on the formation of their govt in exile and the open call for Tamil Eellam from CTC in media recently. The second one is a clarification from CTC that they have not given up demand for Tamil Eellam.

http://www.tamildaily.net/2010/11/13/congratulatory-message-to-tgte-from-ctc-canada/

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/tamils-have-not-given-up-demand-for-separate-homeland_100334515.html

So, Prof, do you and the Liberal party officially support the CTC's call for creation of a sepatarist Tamil state, if not why are you speaking at their event ?

2) CTC officially calls for Boycott Sri Lanka :

Here is a link to the CTC website, where they proudly display and support a Boycott of Sri Lanka

 http://canadiantamilcongress.ca/

So, Prof, do you and the Liberal party officially support the CTC's call for boycott of Sri Lanka, if not why are you speaking at their event ?

3) CTC  officially calls Sri Lanka a Genocide state and the war a Genocide

The CTC's official parlance of the conflict is Genocide, that is language used in text, media and everywhere.

http://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca/Genocide.htm

When Andrew Kania brought a genocide petition from his constituents, you made the extra effort to distance yourself the Liberal party from the petition. If that is the case, why supporting CTC who officially calls Sri Lanka genocide.

So, Prof, do you and the Liberal party officially support the CTC's stance of Genocide in Sri Lanka, if not why are you speaking at their event ?

4) CTC and LTTE in Canada: CSIS

CTC, FACT and TESCO, all shared a common officeat 743 Progress avenue, FACT is a listed Terrorist entity (FTO) by the US, later FACT folded into CTC. CSIS named 14 people in its dragnet, it included  Ramani Balendra, president of the Quebec chapter of the Canadian Tamil Congress.

http://www.nationalpost.com/story.html?id=1475039  Also in the US arms purchase for the LTTE, the CTC communications person in Toronto was named in it. 

So, Prof, do you and the Liberal party officially want to support CTC, whose members have been arrested in Canada for supporting LTTE, if not why are you speaking at their event ?

5) CTC Support for LTTE, condemns UN position on LTTE:

Well, you may say that these were actions by individuals, but then what attracts these terrorists to CTC ? A review of the CTC press release in the last five years(posted on their website) will show you that the CTC over 90% of the time has attacked the Sri Lankan government, ALWAYS defended the LTTE. Here are couple of news article where CTC attacked the UN for criticizing the LTTE!!! and Prof, you want to associate yourself with the CTC

http://tamilnational.com/world-news/north-america/205-un-helping-lanka-in-genocide-canadian-tamils.html

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/uncategorized/canadian-tamil-group-blasts-un-over-anti-ltte-remarks-lead_100156169.html

Here is the CTC press release expressing disappoitment on LTTE ban in Canada.

http://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca/CTC%20PR%20Apr%2010%20Ban.pdf

So, Prof, do you and the Liberal party officially support the CTC's stance on LTTE, if not why are you speaking at their event ?

6) CTC attacks moderate  CanadianTamils focussed on Peace:

Prof. this is the most troubling reason and something that you be devastating for your politically and ethically. The CTC officially and unofficially has targeted moderate Tamils who work towards peace in Sri Lanka. While they have defended the LTTE, their terrorism, suicide bombers and child soldiers , they have also attacked Tamils in Canada who strive to bring peace in the diaspora in Canada and in Sri Lanka.

Here is an news article, that shows you one evidence. While the moderate United Tamil Council of Canada (UTCC) met President Rajapaksa to engage for peace, the CTC attacked them calling them as "stooge of Sri Lankan government"  This was widely circulated in all Canadian mainstream media too

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/tamil-newspaper-ransacked-in-toronto_100324055.html

7) Moderate Tamils and prominent Liberals who have been openly and viciously slandered by the CTC include among many key people :

1) Sugumar Ganesan - Chairman of Canada Sri Lankan Business Council (riding president of Maria Minna)

2) Kris Parthiban-  Former Liberal Candidate and big time Liberal supporter

3) Mano Kangamany- LPCO staffer, Liberal staffer for Derek Lee and Michelle simpson for nearly 10 years

4) Vijay Sappani- Poliactivist and human rights advocate.

5) Sivam Vinayagamurthy- Liberal organizer in Mississauga

The List can go on and on , but these are credible, long time senior Liberals who have stood up against the LTTE mafia in Toronto and face the brunt of it.While these people have taken a principle stand against extremists and separatists in Toronto, often facing death threats, car tires slashed, windows broken from unknown miscreants,  What do you think these people and other moderate Tamils do,if you attend the CTC dinner ? Are they going to drop their principles and continue to support you or will they disappear in the mist and no one will be there to defend you with the moderates, the majority 95% in the Tamil community.

So, Prof, do you and the Liberal party officially condone CTC attacking Moderate Tamils if not why are you speaking at their event ? Can you look into their eyes and tell them why you are endorsing the CTC's activities ?

8) CTC board members expose CTC corrupt practices:

Here  are three CTC former board members who have exposed the lack of transparency in CTC and the Ottawa board members was even thrown out of CTC for questioning them. While you criticize the Conservatives for such behaviour, how can you condone it with CTC. See the letter CTC sent the member and his open questions to CTC. Also the Vancouver board member Roy Ratnavel,, Fatther Xavier Francis who has left CTC because of lack of transparency. These are two published stories, but many have been pushed out because they questioned them on transparency of funds and operations.  The CTC is trying to use you, professor to gain credibility and I hope you and your caucus members don't fall for it.

http://canadiantamilvoice.blogspot.com/2010/11/open-letter-to-canadian-tamil-congress.html

http://www.tamildaily.net/2010/10/15/members-revolt-at-canadian-tamil-congress-over-unauthorized-support-for-general-fonseka/

http://www.tamildaily.net/2010/10/20/turbulence-continues-to-plague-in-canadian-tamil-congress-officials-over-support-to-fight-for-the-release-of-general-fonseka/

9) Rob Ford, Toronto Elections, Neethan Shan are example that Tamils are anti CTC:

-Its very public information that Rob Ford was openly anti Tamil boats and even made racist comments, but you also know that he won the highest support in Scarborough, while the CTC backed smitherman lost badly in Scarborough. Why ? Tamils are tired of these LTTE rhetoric's and politicians behind them.

- ALL Tamil candidates backed by the CTC in Toronto lost the municipal elections, even in wards with large Tamil population.why ? if you are linked to CTC then average Tamils dont want to associate with you.

- The best example is Neethan Shan, CTC insider, prominent pro LTTE Tamil youth, a former liberal who defected to the NDP and ran for them provincially in Scarborough Guildwood. While the signs made it feel that the NDP is going win that election, Neethan did not even win a single poll. In fact if you ask Margaret Best campaign team, they will tell you that Tamils always said "they(referring to ltte) put the NDP signs on the lawn, but we will vote Liberal" which is what happened.

While the CTC might be able to muscle some membership forms for a leadership, when it comes to votes, average Tamils vote against them. Now that the war in Sri Lanka is over, even more than ever, people despise separatist groups like CTC and it is foolish of the Liberal party to try the old pandering politics of the 80's and 90's thinking voters are stupid. NO, they are NOT.

So, Prof, if you and the Liberal party think you are smarter than the voters, then rest assured you will proven wrong in the upcoming elections, when it will be too late for you to say, I wish I did not go to the CTC event. 

Professor, I am sure you are being told to do many things as a politician, but what puzzles me is why you are doing something that is an absolute lose: lose situation,where it is going to affect you politically in the Sri Lankan and Indian community, but when questioned and exposed in the media and social sites, this is going to affect your political career in mainstream too. The historical links of the Liberal party and the blunders of Paul Martin are very strong, that this is a political disaster for you. If you go ahead and attend, then this is going to be headlines for a couple of days in the mainstream media, a distraction you can afford to avoid because none of the CTC supporters will vote Conservative or NDP nor is there ONE single riding the Tamils can swing.

The speculations of an election in Spring means you can not politically risk yourself with such a disastrous move, but more than anything else, can you ethically agree to attend such an event ?  You are better off to not attend this event and go to a Tamil Hindu temple for Pongal or even better for April 14th Tamil New Year's day!

I hope professor, you and Mr.Donolo will make a wise decision and we would like to see you as the Prime Minister of Canada one day. Thank you. All the best and a thought for you: when was the last time you met with moderate Tamil leaders ? Never.

Selva