Toronto – Canadian Members of Parliament Patrick Brown (Barrie) and Paul Calandra (Oakridges Markham) were denied visas by the Sri Lankan Government to visit the country. This raises concern as to what Sri Lanka is hiding in those camps.
“I think it’s incredibly suspicious and it leads me to believe… that there is breaches of international obligation, breaches of human rights and there is deplorable conditions,” said Patrick Brown Conservative MP for Barrie. He expressed his disappointment in the Government of Sri Lanka and reasoned to believe that “Sri Lanka is hiding something”.
This is not the first time that international leaders were denied access into Sri Lanka by the Government and certainly not the first for Canadian MPs. In June, Liberal MP Bob Rae was held at the airport for hours and turned back accusing him of criticizing the Sri Lankan Government during the conflict with the Tamil Tigers. The Sri Lankan Government spares no one that criticizes them. Many journalists have experienced this first hand, as some of them are dead, in exile and in jail.
“In my opinion, it is beyond reason why their Government is being so secretive, they are obviously hiding some dirty laundry. There is things happening in Sri Lanka right now that they do not want the world to see,” added Patrick Brown who wanted to see the conditions of displaced Tamil people held in camps.
“Their behavior is undemocratic… We need to use whatever persuasive tool we can to protect our relatives that are in Sri Lanka and there are hundreds of thousands of Tamils in Canada who have loved ones in these camps.”
Patrick Brown has articulated well about the plight of the Tamils through his experience. If the Sri Lankan Government has nothing to hide, they should allow anyone to go anywhere. We know very well that the sufferings of our people are beyond description. The International Community is slowly getting enlightened of the atrocities of the Sinhalese State. We firmly believe that ultimately truth would win. We appreciate the honest expression of Patrick Brown. I hops the Conservative party would follow his path.
Tamils should not vote a certain party anymore as a group instead they should vote for candidates who are genuine in listening and solving their issues. Patrick is a great example. Liberals should be given a clear message that they do not hold monopoly over the Canadian Tamil votes anymore. Sinhalese/Sri Lankan government will be calling him a “terrorist sympathizer” I hope Patrick, Paul and their Conservative party will give a fitting reply when that label is imposed on them. I hope the Prime Minister Harper’s government decides to uphold Human Rights and make sure that it is fully respected in Sri Lanka and fully broadcasted to the world. I am confident that the conservatives will take the right step as mentioned in this clip.
I thank Mr. Patrick Brown, as a Canadian I feel proud that he spoke out against the behavior of the Sri Lankan government. He is right there are even video evidences of Sri Lankan armed forced violently killing innocent Tamils. I’ve been following the issues in Sri Lankan for many years. Fully support the Tamils in the fight for freedom against this brutal, genocidal government. Why can’t the UN or the international committee bring this Sri Lankan government to international court for war crimes? It’s insane how the world is just watching these poor people suffer. I encourage the Canadian government to rise up to the challenge and speak out. Thank you Mr. Patrick.
As a Canadian I am appalled by what Tamils are facing each and every day in Sri Lanka and the attack on our Canadian High Commission, the deportation of Liberal opposition MP Bob Rae and recent visa denial for the ruling Conservative MPs Paul Calandra and Patrick Brown. As Patrick says in the video, it is time Canada takes strong measures and work towards removing Sri Lanka from the Common Wealth Countries, talk to our neighbour USA and apply sanctions and say no to Sri Lankan made product and imports. The war criminals running this country must be brought to justice and the Tamils should be freed. Without justice there can be no peace.
I hope Canada will have the guts to take on Sri Lanka. We need MPs like Patrick Brown to stand up for Canada, stand up for human rights and take action to air Sri Lanka’s dirty laundry to the rest of the world.
Canada has shown leadership in the past and I am proud to be a Canadian. I really appreciate Patrick for standing up for Human Rights. Patrick I am hopeful with your help, Canada will take on Sri Lanka on the Human Rights issue and take leadership to save Tamils and bring about a permanent peaceful solution for Tamils suffering more than 65 years of oppression by the successive Sinhalese Government since Independence.
Let’s saving the Tamils from the Nazi style concentration camp be the #1 priority. Thank you!
Another proof that Sri Lankan government do not want to let the world see the attrocities on Tamil people in the concentration camps. I salute Canadian MP, Patrick Brown, on his attempt to open the eyes of the world. In a way, I am also glad that by denying entry, Srilankan government proved themselves guilty. So can they still claim they have nothing to hide?
I am a 4th Year Science student at the University of Waterloo.
I was disgusted to hear how Sri Lanka, a third world country, continually denies Canadian MP’s their visa. They think we, the Canadians, are weak and are speechless. They are using the tactics they used on Tamils, against Canada.
I am very impressed at the government of Canada taking a stand on international human rights abuses. I loved Canada for its freedom and democracy and best of how it strives to bring global peace. Your speech shows how Canada chose to act rather than watch genocide-like abuses take place around the world. We are Canadian, and today, I feel proud to be Canadian because we are standing up for whats right and not for the oppressors and abusers and undemocratic abusive powers do. The denial of the visa is once again, showing the attitude Sri Lanka shows towards Canada. Your words represent what all Canadians work for and strive for, freedom and human rights and democracy.
I love Canada, my country, my people, representing what Gandhi, Mandela and Obama fought for.
Thank you Hon. Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Hon. Patrick Brown, Hon. Paul Calandra for standing for whats rights!
I am very impressed at the government of Canada taking a stand on international human rights abuses. I loved Canada for its freedom and democracy and best of how it strives to bring global peace.
Mr. Brown is very articulate about the suspicious nature of Sri Lanka. I wish all the other parlimentarians have the same level of knowledge about the real situation rather than petty politics.
Thank you Patrick for trying. Young and energetic politician like you is what this world needs. Canada can still take action against this chauvinist government. Many people still believe in Canada to help the innocent people in the camps. Unfortunately, Sri Lanka only allows puppet politicians to monitor the camps.
Great words from you sir. I can see a fire in you. Keep up the good work and fight for justice. It is good to hear a politician speak like he actually cares. Thank you.
I agree with Ragha. There is a stereotype that politicians only promise but do not deliver. Seems like Mr. Patrick and Mr. Paul have proved that wrong but applying for Visas. They have been denied but this will encourage them to work harder.
finally someone realize that from conservative party.. now everyone can understand the Srilankan government, its time to take some actions, remember our Country Embassy got attacked by some thugs?
Canada should have taken action when Sri Lanka watched as mobs broke into the Canadian Embassy… Some country needs to teach these Sri Lankan government chauvinists a lesson.
What really annoys me is that Sri Lanka thinks it the first country or the only country that has ever faced a problem like this before. I mean international agencies have seen this happen many times before. For example: Sudan, Darfur, Iraq, Afg, Gaza, Pakistan, Rwanda… It really annoys me to think that these officials think they have it under control when they are doing a horrible job. Let people in to monitor!
I agree with Andrew very much. There are many professional agencies like that of ICRC, UN, Amnesty, UNICEF, HRW and many more that have encountered these types of problems in various places. Allowing these agencies and MPs from other countries will only help Sri Lanka. Why do they deny it? Hiding what?
What they are hiding is the genocide of the Tamils. They are weakening and sickening the Tamils and do not want international agencies to help out in their path to ethnic cleansing. It is working, is it not? Tamils are fleeing that country like it is not theirs. Sri Lanka has strengthened their army and is ready to move the Sinhalese into the East. Clearly, something they do not want the world to see.
It’s true what you said Amelia. Tamils are the refugees of the world. No country wants them and the countries that have them are deporting them because Sri Lanka has done a great job labeling Tamils as terrorists. Sri Lanka has denied EVERY single allegations made against them. They contradicted themselves in so many ways. I remember in January 2009, Government spokesperson said there are only “a couple of thousands, maybe 20,000″. In May 2009 he said “we ‘rescued’ 280,000″. Sad but the reality.
It is a good point you made about denying allegations. No one could verify any truth because no one was allowed in. Sri Lankan government always made sure reporters within Sri Lanka and outside wrote only the good things about them. If they did not they were jailed, killed or kicked out of the country. Hence, the reason many journalists are dead, missing or lost in exile. Never mind freedom of movement, I mean who wants to move when they cannot even speak (Freedom of speech).
All human rights are important but none are respected by Sri Lanka. I think I can take every single human right and point out how Sri Lanka violated it. I think everyone can. God save these children.
Finally an MP that has the mouth to speak reality. Sri Lanka is carrying out numerous violations of human rights. It is also a culprit to the killing of 20 000 civilians in the last 2 days of their fight against the LTTE. These and many other abuses have occurred under the watch of president Obama and others.
M.P Patrick Brown, I wish I could nominate you for that Nobel prize because I think you’re the first Canadian M.P or even the first western politician to speak the reality in Sri Lanka for the past 30 years of this war.
It is great to finally see members of our government take steps towards exposing the government of Sri Lanka for their atrocities. There can be no valid reason to deny visas for members of parliament. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to people like M.P. Patrick Brown for taking the first steps towards protecting human rights. Thank you sir.
You are absolutely 100% correct about Sri Lanka trying hide something from the world, Patrick. I hope Canada won’t give up on Sri Lankans and I hope Canada can try to come up with a solution to free these innocent TAMIL people who have done nothing wrong. Salute to your effort, Patrick. Thanks
I just would like to say I support Tamils and what they are fighting for. If this happened in Canada I am sure we would attempt similar things. I am glad some MPs have a sense of what is really happening. Good job.
No matter what happens, many of us support our fellow Tamil friends and we will fight to end this battle of ethnic struggle.
Thank you Patrick for speaking like a civil servant rather than a promising politician. Great to hear that you are taking immediate actions. Keep up the good work.
Please send this to CBC and other news channels we need average Canadians to realize that people showing up at Harbors may have their rights being violated.
The Sri Lankan Government needs to be held accountable especially for the denying visas to MPs.
Thank you Mr. Brown for being a voice of reason and exposing the Sri Lankan government for the barbaric regime it is. I hope you continue to voice your opinion on this issue.
This is starting to border on the ridiculous. Canada should put the governing regime in Sri-Lanka in its place by getting tough on such an ungrateful, vengeful, morally bankrupt regime. Canada banned the LTTE and supported Sri-Lanka in its war, and this is the way we get treated? If Sri-Lanka does not start acting like a grown-up and doesn’t release those 300,000 tamils, its going to be a slap on the face of not only Canada, but all the countries that supported this regime.
