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Date: Wednesday, 10th September 2002

Response to Thangavelu

By Kevin Shimmin

Since Thangavelu has based most his criticism of my article on personal attacks on myself, it is easy to analyze and refute the few arguments he proposes. To start with, I am a human rights activist in the Toronto Tamil community who works directly with Amnesty International (AI) on a volunteer basis. For many years now, I have campaigned against human rights violations by the Sri Lankan Government, the LTTE and paramilitary groups operating in Sri Lanka. I am therefore surprised that Thangavelu refers to AI reports on violations by the government, yet ignores AI reports on the LTTE. Anyone who is truly concerned about the dignity and well being of Tamils would certainly cite violations committed by both the state and the LTTE. If one is saddened and angered by the torture and murder of Tamils by the Security Forces, then it is obvious that one should be equally disturbed by the abduction or murder of Tamils by the LTTE. If you remain silent on one aspect of human rights violations against a people, then you will have no credibility among those who truly struggle for peace and human dignity. Hence, it seems that it is Thangavelu, in fact, who is desperately trying to impose his political agenda on us.

Secondly, Thangavelu has directly contradicted himself by espousing the right to freedom of speech yet demanding that Tamils speak in one singular voice. What I find extremely insulting to the Tamil community is Thangavelu’s insistence that he knows how each and every Tamil feels. In fact, I know many Tamils living in Toronto and Sri Lanka who have a diversity of views on how human rights can be achieved. Non-Governmental Organizations around the world rely on these human rights defenders for factual information on human rights violations against Tamils. These people courageously tell the world about atrocities committed against Tamils by both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE. By obsessing over the factually incorrect notion that the Tamil community “speaks with one voice,” Thangavelu has inferred that voices against human rights violations should be silenced. His sentiment amounts to a dangerous assault on freedom of speech, freedom from persecution and the democratic right to freedom of thought and association.

In fact, I find it is Thangavelu who has taken freedom of speech for granted and has ignored the unfortunate reality that these rights are something we must struggle for and protect. Whether it is the Sri Lankan Government, the LTTE or the Canadian Government, true human rights activists know that any institution which holds power over a community must be accountable for their actions at all times. It goes without saying that this is especially true when the institution is not chosen by the people, but rather imposed upon it. If Thangavelu is not open to confronting the violence and intimidation that is imposed on Tamils both from within and outside the community, then I highly doubt his commitment to human dignity or peace in Sri Lanka. Peace can only be achieved when the voices of regular people are included in the process, regardless of class, gender, occupation or beliefs. Apparently, Thangavelu does not agree.

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