"DON'T TALK ABOUT HUMAN RIGHTS"
A View of Toronto's Tamil Community
Kevin Shimmin
"Don't talk about human rights."
"We cannot mention politics."
These are common expressions of concern whenever activists organize
events in Toronto's Tamil community. The statements reflect very
real threats of intimidation and ostracism that hang over the
community. It is virtually impossible to arrange any community
meeting or gathering without the ever-present threat of interference
from the dominant political, economic and social actors that control
the community from within. Furthermore, it is difficult to reach
out to local government representatives who seem to be fixated
on securing Tamil votes. Having exclusive connections with the
power brokers in the community, Toronto members of parliament
are often adverse to any critical discussion of human rights in
Sri Lanka.
Open talk of human rights and politics in the Tamil community
can lead not only to physical intimidation, but outright isolation
both within the community and in Canadian society in general.
Tamil activists often find it difficult to gain employment, housing
or support, due to their open challenging of the dominant political
or social paradigms within the community. In some instances, Tamils
who are publicly critical of the forces that control the community,
have been beaten, threatened or suffered property damage. To make
matters worse, Toronto members of government usually shy away
from any Tamil who is critical of the inner politics of their
community. Since the elite and powerful avoid talk of human rights
at all costs, local politicians do not address or even understand
the grievances that are internal to the Tamil community itself.
In many ways, the situation in Toronto is like a microcosm of
the current peace process in Sri Lanka. The difficult questions
of human rights are largely excluded from all dialogue between
the Government, the LTTE, the Norwegian delegation and influential
NGOs. Any criticism of the actual human rights situation is erroneously
dismissed by these actors as divisive and "against peace."
Western governments such as Canada have been largely unresponsive
to pleas from their Tamil constituents for human rights accountability
in Sri Lanka. This is despite the fact that many Tamil families
in Toronto continue to learn of relatives who have been abducted
or threatened in the North and East of Sri Lanka. Hence, a troubling
question for activists in Tamil communities around the world is:
How do we empower the voices of regular people and make a difference
in the peace process?
The answer lies somewhere in the small pockets of open space
that have started to grow in Tamil communities like Toronto. More
than often, these spaces are born out of an initial avoidance
of all discussion surrounding social and political rights in Sri
Lanka. This is a strategic and necessary move to bring people
together and make them feel safe. Yet, serious dialogue on human
rights and peace-building can often take root in activities that
address the day-to-day issues facing Tamils living in Toronto.
Union Organizing
Tamils are predominant in many jobs in Toronto's private sector,
including industrial food, cosmetics production, retail service
and security. Any successful union organizer in these workplaces
understands how Tamil workers are a powerful and influential group.
They are often leaders when it comes to union organizing drives.
As a rule, organizers must work hard to build trust, confidence
and friendship with these workers.
Like all workers, Tamils can join a union to fight for economic
justice, job security, dignity and respect. They can also benefit
from a powerful organization that is determined to rid the workplace
of racism and discrimination. Upon certification, Tamil workers
become members of a union where a new and refreshing degree of
democracy and open discussion is afforded. They exchange thoughts
and ideas with their sisters and brothers from a variety of ethnic,
cultural and political backgrounds. If effective, a large union
can offer a free space where Tamils come together as workers without
fearing those who control their own community. The opportunity
to discuss and act on human rights issues can be increased by
the strength, diversity and power of the union.
Activists and Academics
It is essential for activist and academic groups in Canada to
support free and critical discussion of the issues facing Toronto's
Tamil community. These organizations must be determined to seek
out and support the silent, everyday voices within the community.
All too often, NGOs in Canada have fallen into the easy trap of
aligning exclusively with the powerful voices that dominate the
Tamil community. Yet, those activists who are truly dedicated
to peace and social justice have slowly learned how to connect
with Tamils who have a more complex and critical understanding
of the war in Sri Lanka.
Even if Tamils do not feel comfortable participating in activist
groups directly, these organizations can often communicate their
concerns. For example, Homes Not Bombs is a non-violent civil
disobedience group out of Toronto that challenges the Canadian
government to build housing rather than spend public money on
the military. In one successful action, where the Defense Ministry
in Ottawa was peacefully blockaded by a mass sit-down, the issue
of human rights in Sri Lanka played a prominent role. When those
who were arrested had their day in court, testimonial on the war
in Sri Lanka and the international arms trade helped convince
the judge that the protestors were innocent and their message
was valid.
Academics belonging to the Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster
University have supported peace and human rights work on Sri Lanka
for many years. They are not afraid to provide forums where Tamils
can speak critically of all actors who live by the gun. They are
also accountable to human rights activists who ask the difficult
questions about how peace should be achieved in Sri Lanka. Hence,
the Centre for Peace Studies is another organization outside the
Tamil community that carefully ensures that dominant voices do
not control actions on Sri Lanka.
Toronto Schools
Many schools in Toronto, particularly in the eastern region of
the city, have very large proportions of Tamil students. Every
day, these students interact with children from a wide variety
of ethnic, geographic and class backgrounds. In addition to Tamil
students, many other children have come from war-torn countries
such as Afghanistan and Somalia. Teachers who are dedicated to
cooperation and wellness among their students, often engage the
children in open discussions about war. This has been particularly
prominent after the events of September 11th and the so-called
War on Terrorism.
In such an environment, Tamil students will sometimes speak very
frankly about their family experiences and their impressions of
violence. They educate their classmates and similarly learn about
conflict in other parts of the world. At school, these children
are free from the watchful eyes of their parents or guardians.
If a teacher is successful, the children can feel safe and comfortable
to talk about these issues in the classroom. In some cases, teachers
will even involve their students in direct human rights campaigns,
like the Amnesty International greeting card programme for prisoners
of conscience. Such activities can further encourage Tamil children
to speak openly about their experiences and gain trust from their
teachers and classmates.
Voices That Will Be Heard
It is important to understand that these types of activities
go against the logic of the parties to the conflict in Sri Lanka
and the political thinkers who currently control the peace process.
They would have us believe that peace will be achieved at the
top and that human rights will somehow trickle down to the people.
Instead, community activities like union organizing show how real
human dignity and respect will only begin with the Tamil people
themselves. Real political openness and community empowerment
can only occur through the free participation of grassroots voices.
Similarly, true human rights guarantees in Sri Lanka will only
happen when the voices of the people are included in the peace
process.
Though organizers in the Toronto Tamil community may speak of
avoiding human rights dialogue, they know that grassroots programmes
are in fact building day-to-day human rights. Such events build
bonds of dignity, respect, learning and empowerment among the
common people. If these free spaces continue to grow in Tamil
diaspora communities, those involved in the peace process will
find it increasingly difficult to ignore these voices. Local politicians
and journalists will begin to see how regular people are doing
extraordinary things with very little money or influence. If we
continue to reinforce and expand these pockets of free speech,
healing and solidarity, the push to establish such spaces in the
North and East of Sri Lanka will be that much greater.
