Saturday, November 15, 2008

War in Sri Lanka - Round 2




BN Youth together with Youth NGOs have gathered peacefully at the Sri Lankan Embassy this afternoon to hand over a Memorandum of Protest to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur.

This is the second time we are gathered here to present the memorandum. We were here with a smaller crowd on the 5th of November, 2008 but the Sri Lankan Embassy only permitted representatives from MIC to present the Memorandum. NGO representatives were not allowed. We found the condition unacceptable and vowed to return with a bigger crowd. This is what we have done today.

Although MIC has taken the lead, our friends from UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, PPP, IPF and NGOs are here in full support of this cause. There are even members from the opposition parties here. It goes to show that this issue transcends race, religion or politics. It is an issue that binds us all together. It is a humanitarian issue.

The memorandum was presented to register our protest against the Sri Lankan Government’s continued air and ground attacks in recent weeks that has resulted in civilians being killed and maimed; hundreds of thousands of Tamils have been displaced, literally refugees in their own country!

Without taking sides as to who is fighting the ‘right war’, Malaysian Youths are deeply concerned with the alarmingly high rate of civilian casualties in the on going war.

On humanitarian grounds, we Malaysians cannot stand-by as mere spectators, as innocent civilians especially children, suffer the atrocities of war. Malaysians regardless of race or religion are deeply disturbed by the daily reports and graphic pictures of civilian casualties of the war. Malaysians, like our fellow citizens of this world do not wish to see more lives being sacrificed in the name of war.

It was due to this reason that MIC Youth had taken the initiative to present a Memorandum of Protest to the Sri Lankan Government through its embassy here. We have been joined in this cause by our fellow brothers from Barisan Nasional Youths and NGOs.

The purpose of delivering this Memorandum is to call upon the Sri Lankan Government, in the name of humanity, to:

stop forthwith the current military attack and take immediate steps to provide necessary aid to suffering civilians;allow international aid organizations back into the affected areas so as to enable humanitarian aid to reach those in need;respect the wishes of the International Community to stop fighting and resume negotiation with all the parties concerned with a view of finding lasting peace between the Brothers of Sri Lanka.

In addition to the presentation of this Memorandum, MIC Youth, in close co-operation with NGOs, will also pursue the following actions:

Forward a similar Memorandum to our Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Prime Minister in order for our government to express, on a government to government basis, the wishes of the Malaysian people for Peace in Sri Lanka.

To work closely with the local media to raise fund, food and medical supplies in order for the same to be delivered to the suffering people of Sri Lanka.

A detailed list of the toll the war had taken on civilians is set out in the Memorandum of Protest presented to His Excellency the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka and attached together with this Press Statement.

We would like to register our sincere thanks to the media, NGOs, BN Youth and all present here for this worthy cause.


Thank you.

Murugesan Sinnandavar
Organising Chairman
Youths for Peace in Sri Lanka

8 comments:

Vesu said...

Dear Murugesan,similarly a movement need to be efectively formed to counter inequal treatment for Tamils in Malaysia in the field of recruitment in govt and glc firms,business opportunity , education opportunity , basic infrastructure for education , real 'work' that turn into result will be the only solution to win back people's heart and MIC has no short cut here...good luck Chief

vickna said...

while the cause you are fighting for is a noble one, it would be more suitable to take a look internally and focus all energy at resolving our own issues first.

Anonymous said...

Dear Sir

If MIC youth had gone on a protest rally instead of HINDRAF....hmmmm, wouldnt that be something.
But then again MIC believes in fighting for the masses via closed door meeting and dialogues with its political master, UMNO, right?
If you had led your boys against the malay chauvinism instead of a civil war some where far far away...you will be the true Braveheart. So what if you fear if you get thrown in jail under ISA?
At least the Indians know they have a leader who doesnt compromise on their rights. Give it a thought, please.

Regards
Asha Iyengar

Anonymous said...

Isn’t it sad that some in the Malaysian Indian community has taken a distressing stance against MIC for voicing the tragic injustices in Sri Lanka? I wonder what tune all the above naysayer would have sung if it was PKR who had initiate this cause.

As much as we in Malaysia are suffering, we are not being besieged by bombs and artilleries. What happened to out humanity? Or are we going to put the blame for our own numbness on MIC? We might as well, as we have proven that we have an immense knack for this.

We have once again demonstrated how famously disunited our community is. I wonder why our so called ‘political master’ and others find it so easy to sideline us. That’s right let’s blame MIC for this one too because we Indians will never stand up and take responsibility for ourselves. We only stand up to point fingers at each other.


Regards
Kanagesh

Anonymous said...

Elo bro dont just try to get cheap publisity, everybody know MIC cant win back indian support as long as samy vellu still in his position, ha ha ,please change him , ask him to retire if u are realy a youth leader, Youth section in MIC already dead and lost his dignity when samy vellu can just change elected person with his own man, so every body will be yes man , please wake up my dear youth brothers , take care !

Murugesan Sinnandavar said...

MIC's stand on the death of Kugen in police custody is clear and it is out in the papers. In fact YB Dato Devamany is now being investigated by the police for being part of the crowd that stormed the mortuary. We are fighting this. MIC Youth were there in full force for the funeral/

Maaran, cut this "Holier then then thou" crap. Haven't you been reading the local papers? When are you going to have the guts to admit when MIC is doing what is right? or are you just a paid mouth piece for the opposition? ... and don't call me bro if you don't mean it!

Maran Matters said...

Mr.Muru,

I am sure glad about the "bro" thing.

For your info, I am been reading all the medias available. Did you??

Get you facts right.

Doesn't mean when your chief says he will come out to protect both deputy ministers mean that MIC is all out on this case.

And do some, and get some.
LESS TALK, MORE WORK.

(by the way, i noticed you guys hard at work for sri lankans, bravo.....)

come on man..........

Deva Guru said...

Dear Mr. Muru,

You have done the right thing,as far as Malaysian Indian are concern,there are alot of things to be reformed individually before asking !!! Example the way youths behaves in Thaipusam !!!

Keep up the good work!!!!

Deva Guru
Taiping