Raphael Alexander: Gurbax misses the memo (II)

(NP Editor)

I understand that in Canada we have a diversity of not only race and religion, but of thought and opinion. I think that many people have some empathy for Tamils in Sri Lanka who are affected by the actions of the Sinhalese majority government there. The independence movement of the Tamil community is something that is supported by thousands of expatriate Sri Lankans all over the world, and none so large as the one in Toronto. Unfortunately, like any struggle for independence, there are radicals who have overtaken the greater struggle and warped it to one that takes innocent life in the name of terrorism. Any principled, reasonable person of humanitarian concerns will admit that there is never any reason to engage in acts of terrorism to achieve an end.

That is why we must be unequivocal in our condemnation of those who support the LTTE, the Tamil Tigers terrorist organization in Sri Lanka. There is no place in a free society for the encouragement of barbarism enacted upon others, even though those acts may occur in societies which are not free. The Liberal M.P. for Bramalea-Gore-Malton in Ontario, Gurbax Singh Malhi, represents a community that is ethnically similar to the one he was born into. Born in Punjab, India, in 1949, Mr. Malhi is a pioneer in political breakthroughs for minorities, becoming the first Sikh in the western world to wear a turban in Parliament. It's clear enough that he's a person of principle. Unfortunately, no person can in good conscience condone Mr. Malhi’s decision to stand in solidarity with terrorists.

By appearing at a rally on Parliament Hill surrounded by militant terrorist flags of the LTTE, Mr. Malhi has taken a stand shoulder-to-shoulder with an organization that is officially banned in Canada as a terrorist group. In a speech made before the crowd, the Liberal MP has compromised the priorities of a Canadian Parliamentarian by saying that the Tamils are fighting “for a right cause”. Apparently the decision to address the crowd was impromptu; Mr. Malhi says he was just “passing by” when he spotted the rally and decided to join in. Perhaps Mr. Malhi would be wise to recall that civilians have been killed in both sides of this struggle, and that by defending the actions of a terrorist organization he gives undue validity to them, however unintentional on his part.

Mr. Malhi insists that he was unaware of the Tamil Tiger flags visible at the event, but this asks us to devalue our own intelligence. The flags are not only visible in videos and pictures of the event, they are practically striking him as they flap in the wind. It is well that the M.P. has since expressed regret, although his sorrow is limited to what he terms a “misunderstanding” by the people of Canada that his presence served as a demonstration of his support for a terrorist organization. This enfeebled position of half-hearted remorse simply does not wash. One cannot go to a rally in support of Palestine and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those who support Hamas terrorists and bear their flags and symbols without implying consent of what they represent and what they do. By appearing at a rally where support was shown for a terrorist organization, Mr. Malhi has shown incredibly poor judgment, and an even worse reluctance to admit it.

The only tenable position for the Liberal party of Canada to take on Sri Lanka is one that provides suport of the civilian struggle of ethnic Tamils against oppression by the greater ethnic majority, but that clearly expresses the moral repugnance of terrorism.

(National Post)