WATCHING WITH INTEREST!

While Canadian Tamils lined up in thousands to actively participate in a historic democratic process some were watching this monumental process with interest in the comfort of their homes and their luxurious newly renovated office space.  

Nearly 50,000 Tamil voters lined up in polling booths across the nation in 31 booths, voting 99.8% in favor of the Vaddukkoddai Resolution, only re-affirming the political aspirations of the Tamil people.   However, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), the mainstream non-profit organization that bills itself as the voice of Canadian Tamils, with 11 chapters across the country, refused to participate and endorse the historic referendum.

Informed sources within the CTC tell us that the organization is baffled by the outpouring support for the referendum and it is pondering strategies to overcome their political suicide.  According to the same sources, David Poopalapillai and Danton Thuairajah are working overtime to convince their members why CTC didn’t support the referendum.  There has been a flood of calls to the office and to the personal phones of both David and Danton since the referendum. 
In one instance, a contributing member of CTC hounded Danton for CTC’s strange position on the referendum which strengthened the Tamil people’s aspirations. Danton simply replied “we are working on other major projects.” 

Both David and Danton have been trying to convince the broader Tamil community and its membership that that CTC has been “working hard on other pressing issues.”  What are the other pressing issues and projects? What is more important than a referendum that has been occurring across the world for all Tamil Diasporas? The answer to that we do not know. 

Canadian Tamils do not need individuals who jump on the “Tamileelam Bandwagon” to achieve their personal agendas and goals.  Informed sources within the CTC, tell us that David and Danton highly influenced the organization in boycotting Vaddukoddai Referendum.  The time has come for the organization to sideline these petty individuals who act on self-interests rather than the collective desire of the Tamils in Canada. 

The Canadian Tamil Congress, its board of directors, its volunteers and its paid staff are there to represent the aspirations and collective will of the 300,000 strong Tamil Community in Canada.  In short, the CTC does not have the luxury or the right to decide what the aspirations of the Tamils are.

Now the Tamil community is watching with interest.  Make no mistake, the community is ready to shelve any and all who compromise on the principles and aspirations of the collective conciseness of Tamils in Canada.

Committee of Concerned Tamil Canadians (C-CTC) 

Senthilkumar Sivanathan 

President