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rfmcdonaldThe CBC has shared a Canadian Press article reporting on the troubles faced by Rathika Sitsabaiesan. The NDP MP representing the Toronto riding of Scarborough-Rouge River, herself of Tamil background and representing the Canadian electoral riding with the highest proportion of Tamils and of Tamil mother-tongue speakers, encountered some problems, with some news reports suggesting she was arrested. This, the Sri Lankan government has said, is not the case, if anything disinformation on her part.
I've written a fair bit about Tamils, mainly Sri Lankan in origin and mainly in their diasporas (and mainly the Canadian one). While it is true that much Tamil activity in Canada has been directed by terrorist organizations like the Tigers, on the patterns of other diasporas, this is not the case universally. There is certainly no reason to think Sitsabaiesan is herself an agent of the Tigers or anyone but herself and her riding. The increasing repression of Sri Lanka, meanwhile, targeted against Tamils and Sinhalese in opposition alike, has been amply documented and recognized by multiple foreign governments. (That many of these countries--the United Kingdom, for instance--also have large and vocal Tamil communities does not in itself mean that it does not happen. At most, it gives the push to recognize Sri Lankan authoritarianism added heft.)
I'm glad Sitsabaiesan is back in Canada. I don't think that her visit, personal or not, will do much other than underline to Canadians the nature of post-civil war Sri Lanka. I am curious as to its potential effect on the NDP's strength in the area: will it give the party added credibility or detract?
Earlier this month, Rathika Sitsabaiesan said in a brief statement she was warned by Sri Lankan officials during her private visit that she could be arrested and deported.
At the time, fellow New Democrat MP Paul Dewar said after speaking to Sitsabaiesan — a Sri Lankan native of Tamil heritage — that his caucus colleague had been followed and closely monitored by authorities from the moment she arrived.
[. . .]
The Sri Lanka High Commission said Wednesday that Sitsabaiesan was on a tourist visa and had been advised not to engage in political activities that would amount to flouting Sri Lanka's immigration laws and regulations.
It said Sri Lankan authorities handled the issue in a responsible manner, adding that Sitsabaiesan's allegation she was subject to "political intimidation" is erroneous and an attempt to unfairly embarrass the government.
Sitsabaiesan, 32, came to Canada with her family at the age of five and was elected to the House of Commons in 2011 in the Toronto-area riding of Scarborough-Rouge River.
She played a key role in New Democrat efforts to persuade the Conservative government to boycott a meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Sri Lanka last November. Prime Minister Stephen Harper did not attend, citing the Sri Lankan government's human-rights record. However, Deepak Obhrai, a parliamentary secretary, did represent Canada at the Colombo meeting.
The New Democrats and others have called for Sri Lanka to submit to an investigation of alleged war crimes during the lengthy civil conflict between the military and Tamil insurgents seeking an independent homeland.
[. . .]
In its statement, the Sri Lanka High Commission said Sitsabaiesan's accusation against the government "could be indicative of her seeking to engage in political activity, and being unable to do so in the interest of abiding by Sri Lanka's immigration laws and regulations, seems to have been interpreted by her as political intimidation."
The high commission also seized on her reference to defending principles of human rights, saying it "further demonstrates a self-appointed role to pass judgment baselessly on a sovereign state."
I've written a fair bit about Tamils, mainly Sri Lankan in origin and mainly in their diasporas (and mainly the Canadian one). While it is true that much Tamil activity in Canada has been directed by terrorist organizations like the Tigers, on the patterns of other diasporas, this is not the case universally. There is certainly no reason to think Sitsabaiesan is herself an agent of the Tigers or anyone but herself and her riding. The increasing repression of Sri Lanka, meanwhile, targeted against Tamils and Sinhalese in opposition alike, has been amply documented and recognized by multiple foreign governments. (That many of these countries--the United Kingdom, for instance--also have large and vocal Tamil communities does not in itself mean that it does not happen. At most, it gives the push to recognize Sri Lankan authoritarianism added heft.)
I'm glad Sitsabaiesan is back in Canada. I don't think that her visit, personal or not, will do much other than underline to Canadians the nature of post-civil war Sri Lanka. I am curious as to its potential effect on the NDP's strength in the area: will it give the party added credibility or detract?
