Thaalam Greetings from MPP Rosario Marchese!

Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance

11 March 2014
Dear members of the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance,

Over the years the Tamil population in Toronto and other parts of Ontario has grown substantially bringing with it the different customs and cultural practices of everyday life that can enrich all segments of the population in our province. Certainly many Tamils have become leaders in their fields in our province.

We are fortunate to have an organization such as the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance that focuses its help on young people by providing them with opportunities to develop their skills in a variety of areas through advocacy, education, arts and sports.

I am very encouraged to see that the Arts and Culture Council of the CTYA is now preparing for Thalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition at the prestigious John Bassett Theatre of the Metro Convention Centre. The Thalam competition will bring together not only members of the Tamil community but also others who are interested in the cultural manifestations that are portrayed and performed through the dances.

This event will allow the youth of your organization and community to take pride in their language and cultural heritage in the context of a large cosmopolitan society.

Congratulations, I wish you all much success with Thalam 2014. I am certain that you will continue to help promote a rich and altruistic Ontario.

Sincerely,

Rosario Marchese, MPP Trinity-Spadina

Thaalam Greetings from Hon. Michael Coteau Minister!

Thaalam 2014

It is my pleasure to extend warm greetings to everyone attending the Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition.

Hosted by the Arts & Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA), this is a wonderful way to encourage and celebrate youth talent in the arts field.

I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the CTYA’S efforts to empower Canadian Tamil youth to become outstanding leaders and citizens in our society.

We are fortunate to have a multicultural society, including the Tamil community, which continues to shape our province socially, culturally and economically. Ontario’s diversity is certainly our strength.

Please accept my best wishes for a fun and memorable event. Sincerely,

The Honourable Michael Coteau Minister

Thaalam Greetings from Councillor Chin Lee

Councillor Chin Lee

Scarborough Rouge River – Ward 41

Toronto City Hall Tel: (416) 392-1375 100 Queen Street W., Suite A10 councillor_lee@toronto.ca Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition Greetings from City Councillor Chin Lee

On behalf of the City of Toronto and Ward 41 constituents, I am pleased to offer my best wishes on the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance’s (CTYA) event, Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition.

The Greater Toronto Area is home to one of the largest and most active Tamil communities in North America. The CTYA demonstrates that it is committed to empowering Tamil-Canadian youth in becoming community leaders and outstanding citizens in contemporary Canadian society.

Providing young Tamil-Canadians with the opportunity to develop into future leaders in arts and culture is a remarkable endeavour and is one of value to the organization’s members.

I take this opportunity to wish your organization and all members many years of success.

Sincerely,

Councillor Chin Lee
Ward 41 – Scarborough Rouge River

Best wishes for Thaalam 2014 – MPP Frank Klees

To the Members of the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance:

As the Member of Provincial Parliament for Newmarket-Aurora, I extend greetings and best wishes to the participants in the Thaalam 2014: The Ultimate Gaana Competition.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the ongoing work of the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance for all that you do to develop and strengthen the youth of the Tamil community to proudly make their place in the Canadian Mosaic.

Please accept my best wishes for what I know will be a successful and memorable day!

Sincerely,

Frank Klees, M.P.P.

Newmarket-Aurora

Greetings for Thaalam 2014 from MPP Vic Dhillon

I would like to extend my sincere felicitations to Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance organizers of Thaalam 2014.

Performing arts completion like Thaalam is an effective way to inform our youth and others about our culture and heritage. It provides competitors a stage to showcase their talents and for the audience enjoying spectacular performances and greats works of arts literature and poetry.

Our strength lies in diversity. We are a proud collections of different ancestries, languages and beliefs. We enjoy different cuisines and play various sports. Our rich heritage, strong family, social ties and successful businesses with hard working Ontarians have helped create the prosperous and dynamic society we enjoy today.

I would also like to congratulate all competitors and volunteers who help make this festival a success. My message to all the teams competing is to work hard and enjoy.

Best Regards,

Vic Dhillon MPP Brampton West

Tamil Eelam Challenge Cup – Volleyball 2014

Tamil Eelam Challenge Cup – Volleyball 2014

Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) is proud to announce we will be holding our 1st Tamil Eelam Challenge Cup Tournament for Volleyball. The Tamil Eelam Cup represents the height of Tamil Leagues in both soccer and cricket since its launch in 2009. The desire and passion for these sports brings out best Tamil players to this tournament in hopes of winning the cup. Since 2009 the tournaments have witnessed great games, endless support from numerous fans of the tournament and has brought the community together. This year we are introducing volleyball to the annual Tamil Eelam Challenge Cup Tournaments.

The Tamil Eelam Challenge Cup also presents an opportunity to maintain our identity through sports. It is an excellent way to promote our youth and showcase their talents. To further encourage the Tamil identity, the awards for best players of the tournament will be given under the names of national symbols of Tamil Eelam; Vaahai being the national Tree; Siruththai being the national animal; and Chenbagam being the national bird.

The TECC Volleyball tournament will occur on: Saturday March 29th from 10:00am-6:00pm at Cederbrae Collegiate Institute. The tournament is open to everyone and we are having a call out of teams from 6 to 10 players. To register a team, please email: athletics@ctya.org or contact 647.470.2892. The last day to register is Sunday, March 16th 2014.

CTYA’s Athletics Council seeks to provide Canadian Tamil youth with an avenue to develop their leadership skills through athletics and recreational programs. The aim of this council is to educate through athletics, promote outstanding sportsmanship and build team spirit.

Volunteer Callout: Thaalam 2014

Volunteer Callout: Thaalam 2014

On Saturday, March 22nd, 2014 the Arts and Culture Council of CTYA will be hosting Thaalam, the Ultimate Gaana Competition at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre’s John Bassett Theatre. Thaalam is an evening where entertainment, unity, support and effort unite. It serves as a platform to encourage the dance talents of our Tamil youth. In addition, all funds generated from Thaalam are allocated towards the initiation of a recreation and innovation centre for Tamil youth.

We are calling upon volunteers to assist in the preparations for Thaalam 2014. Volunteers will work with the event coordinators and assist in tasks such as ticket distribution, program and event coordination, sponsorship, promotions, poster distribution, decorations and designs. Volunteer hours will be provided.

We look forward to working with excited and committed volunteers in putting together Thaalam to ensure another successful competition.

Interested individuals are asked to contact the volunteer coordinating committee at senthoori@ctya.orgor 647-470-2892. All volunteers will be invited to attend a volunteer orientation meeting.

Recommenda​tions of OHCHR to the 25th session of UNHRC

Recommendations:

74. The High Commissioner recommends that the Human Rights Council establish an international inquiry mechanism to further investigate the alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law and monitor any domestic accountability processes. OHCHR stands ready to assist in such a process.

75. The High Commissioner recommends that the Government of Sri Lanka:

(a) Finalize laws dealing with incitement to hatred, witness and victim protection, the right to information and the criminalization of enforced disappearances, and revise existing laws in accordance with international standards;
(b) Repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and lift the regulations promulgated under it that allow for arbitrary detention; (c) Arrest, prosecute and punish perpetrators of attacks on minority communities, media and human rights defenders, and ensure protection of victims; (d) Undertake independent and credible criminal and forensic investigations with international assistance into all alleged violations of human rights and humanitarian law, including recently discovered mass graves; (e) Establish a truth-seeking mechanism and national reparations policy in accordance with international standards as an integral part of a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to transitional justice; (f) Broaden the scope and tenure of the Commission of Inquiry on Disappearances to encompass cases from all parts of the island and all periods of the history of disappearances; (g) Publish the final report of the military courts of inquiry, the presidential commission of inquiry of 2006 and the more recent commissions of inquiry to allow the evidence gathered to be evaluated; (h) Take further steps in demilitarization, ensure military disengagement from activities that are meant to be civilian, resolve land disputes and promote meaningful community participation in reconstruction and development; (i) Engage civil society and minority community representatives more fully in an inclusive and consultative process to support the implementation of the recommendations made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission; (j) Implement the Commission’s recommendation for a national day of commemoration, allow all citizens their right to hold individual or group commemorations, and hold national consultations on the design of appropriate memorialization for the victims of the war;

(k) Give positive consideration to the offers of technical assistance made by the Office of the High Commissioner;

(l) Invite special procedures mandate holders with outstanding requests to visit the country in 2014, particularly the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances and the Independent Expert on minority issues.

Tamil Youth Organization Canada Hosts Tamil Rights Week Conference

Tamil Youth Organization Canada hosted an educational conference, for the closing of Tamil Rights Week 2014. This conference was about the ongoing Eezham Tamil Genocide in TamilEelam and as youth what steps should be taken to progress forward in the recognizing the political aspirations of Eelam Tamils. Representatives from Tamil Student Associations from High schools and University/Colleges in Canada participated in this conference.

Naaventhan Thambirajah from Tamil Youth Organization-Canada presented the history of the state genocidal oppression and the necessity for the evolution of the resistance movement.

Following the history presentation, Dr.Denis Halliday, Former Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and a Laureate of the Gandhi International Peace Award, spoke about the necessity for the Tamil Youth to lobby state actors to use the word Genocide, instead of playing down the reality of the situation.

After Dr. Denis Halliday, TYO member Yaarly Thambirajah presented about the crucial role social media played in educating people about the Tamil Struggle. She touched how much social media interconnects people and the possibilities of a strong unified social media campaigns that could be successfully executed if social media resources were used efficiently.

Lavaniya Rajah spoke about the ongoing structural genocide in the post 2009 scenario. She pointed out that the current military occupation and encouragement of Sinhala settlements has completely destroyed the livelihood of the Tamils in Tamileelam. She also emphasized that more than 60% of the Sri Lankan armed forces are present in the North which the Sri Lankan government is refusing to remove since the post 2009 era.

The event concluded with Thushitha Kobikrishna, who facilitated a discussion on the crucial role Tamil Youths played in the post 2009 era. Students discussed the active role students need to take individually and collectively as organizations.

TYO member Shankari Srithayakumar stated, “As Eelam Tamil youth, we will never sacrifice or compromise our homeland, identity, roots, and history for anything or anyone. We will unite to end this horrific genocide against the Eezham tamils in TamilEelam, and will obtain a sovereign nation, our homeland TamilEelam. It is time that the voices of the youth are heard for the justice of our people.”