Canadian politicians convey messages on Mu’l’livaaykkaal remembrance day

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 May 2013, 23:37 GMT]
Canadian politicians from both the ruling Conservative party and the main opposition NDP conveyed messages to the Tamil diaspora on the occasion of Mu’l’livaaykkaal remembrance day. NDP MPP for Bramalea-Gore-Malton Jagmeet Singh, Ontaria NDP leader Andrea Howarth and Ontaria PC Party leader Tim Hudak sent messages emphasising the need for justice and accountability for human rights abuses in the island. MPP Jagmeet Singh, affirming his solidarity with the Tamil community “in their call for justice and recognition of their loss” further encouraged his fellow Canadians “to support the Canadian Tamil community and attend Tamil Genocide Day.”

“On behalf of Ontario’s New Democrats, I extend our thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of all those who lost their lives and the thousands of Tamil civilians who are still missing after the end of the 27 year long civil war,” Ontario NDP leader Andrea Howarth said in her statement.

“We are united with the Tamils around the world in calling for a probe into the human rights violations during Sri Lanka's civil war, so justice can be served for the families of those who have lost their loved ones,” her release said, adding that “We pay tribute to the courage of the survivors and extend our ongoing thoughts to the hundreds of thousands of Tamils who are internally displaced in Sri Lanka.”

Complimenting the Tamil diaspora’s advocacy for justice, Ontario PC Party Leader Tim Hudak said in his statement “Annual Tamil Memorial Week ensures we never forget the innocent civilians who were killed during the war, including the tens of thousands of people who died during the last weeks leading up to May 18, 2009. It also gives us the opportunity to once again demand accountability for those who died, the families still living in the country, and their loved ones abroad.”