In reiterating the call for independent UN investigation in Sri Lanka, the global human rights watchdog says in a recent media release: “19 May marks the first anniversary of the end of the internal conflict between Sri Lankan government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which lasted for more than 30 years. Despite massive violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed by both sides, impunity remains the norm. Survivors and family members of those killed have no hope of justice, truth and reparations at the national level.

Amnesty International is calling on the UN to establish an international independent investigation to collect information from all relevant sources as a first essential step to establish accountability.” Marking the anniversary and its call for independent investigation, Amnesty International is holding a panel discussion at The Human Eights Action Centre in London, England on 19th May, 2010. Speakers include Alan Keenan, (Senior Analyst, International Crisis Group), Mr. Iqbal, (formerly Secretary to two Commissions of Inquiry into Disappearances in Sri Lanka) and Yolanda Foster, (South Asia team, Amnesty International).

“Amitabh Bachchan is a great hero for us in the Tamil diaspora, but we are very disturbed and profoundly saddened by our hero ’s proposed visit to a regime which has perpetrated crimes against Tamils, ‘ ‘ said the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) in a statement recently. CTC released the statement after the announcement that Amitabh Bachchan will travel to Sri Lanka to be the chief guest at the India International Films Awards (IIFA) function in July.  “By visiting Sri Lanka, Amitabh Bachchan will be lending credibility to a regime which has destroyed Tamils ruthlessly and committed horrendous human rights violations, ‘ ‘ said Canadian Tamil Congress national spokesman David Poopalapillai.

“When Tamils continue to suffer in Sri Lanka and numerous human rights bodies have implicated the regime in crimes against humanity, we plead with a person of Bachchan ’s stature not to go there to help a government that is desperately seeking recognition from the world community in spite of its crimes, ‘ ‘ he said. Seeking solidarity from the Bollywood super star, David Poopalapillai said,  “We want to bring to his notice the decision of the Commonwealth nations last year not to allow Colombo the right to hold the next meeting. If the Commonwealth can snub Sri Lanka, why not Amitabh Bachchan? He should respect our feelings. We love him and we are great fans of his whole family, particularly his daughter-in-law Ashwariya Rai. ‘ ‘

In Welcoming the announcement on May 3rd of “pardon” to Journalist J.S. Tissainayagam by the President of Sri Lanka, Media Rights Group-Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for details and clarifications on the announcement. CPJ released the following press release: The Committee to Protect Journalists is heartened by news reports today that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has issued a pardon to Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam, left. CPJ is waiting for official clarification, however, concerning several important details.

The country’s recently appointed external affairs minister, G.L. Peiris, announced the pardon at a press conference in Colombo. “President Mahinda Rajapaksa has decided to pardon journalist J.S. Tissainayagam, who was convicted on 31 August 2009 under the Prevention of Terrorism Act,” Peiris told reporters. He noted that the announcement was timed to coincide with World Press Freedom Day, May 3. “CPJ is waiting for a detailed explanation of the terms of the government’s announcement. We remain concerned about our colleague’s safety while he lives in seclusion in Sri Lanka,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator. “While this is potentially very good news, our enthusiasm is muted until the details are made clear.”

Tissainayagam’s attorneys were not notified of the pardon prior to the announcement, leaving several questions about the official details. Among its concerns, CPJ said, is whether the pardon will allow Tissainayagam freedom to travel within and outside of the country and whether the government will return the journalist’s passport.

CPJ is also concerned that Tissainayagam be able to live and work without fear of reprisal. Unpunished violence against journalists is very high in Sri Lanka, CPJ research shows. Tissainayagam was released on bail in January and has lived in seclusion since. At the time, CPJ welcomed Tissainayagam’s release from a sentence of 20 years, but called on Rajapaksa to extend a full pardon. Based on its research, CPJ has concluded that Tissainayagam was imprisoned in retaliation for his critical journalism.

CPJ named Tissainayagam a recipient of an International Press Freedom Award in 2009. The Tamil editor was first jailed in March 2008 and eventually indicted under the Prevention of Terrorism Act in August 2008. The government said today that it would relax some restrictions put in place under a state of emergency first declared in August 2005. There was no mention of easing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, however.

From the Publisher’s Desk … May 15th is International Day of Families While Canada had declared Family day on Monday February 15, 2010; the United Nations deems May 15, 2010 to be International Day of Families establishing a new theme every year. This year’s focus is on “The impact of migration on families around the world” which reflects the increasing migration of families in the global world and the challenges they face. While last year’s theme focused on mothers and families and their challenges in a changing world, this year attention was brought on a new but important subject. Migration on families is highlighted and discussed at the various activities and events that take place at the local, national and international levels.

This year’s theme of migration on families is a key focal point in helping to shed light and bring awareness to the conflicts and difficulties that arise when families migrate and discusses ways to resolve these challenges. Celebrating International Day of Family assists in promoting a healthy and well- balanced family. This global observance began in 1994 when it was proclaimed as the International Year of Families by the United Nations.

Attention was brought to this matter because of changing social and economic structures, which have affected and still affect the structure and stability of family units in many areas of the world. The International Day of Families, on May 15, is an occasion to reflect on the work started during 1994 and to celebrate the importance of families, people, societies and cultures around the world. It has been held every year since 1995. Monsoon Journal hopes you all celebrate and promote International Day of Families not only on May 15, but everyday and commemorate the underlying message that this day symbolises. May is a full month celebrating a variety of people. For many of us our mothers or motherly figures are one of the most important people who have shaped us into the person we are today and on Sunday May 9, 2010 we celebrate these exceptional women who have sacrificed and worked hard to offer a better life to their child/children. Mothers Day falls annually on the 2nd Sunday in May.

In Canada the month of May is officially recognized as Asian Heritage Month to acknowledge the long and rich history of Asian Canadians and their contributions to Canada. To everyone of Asian decent and to those that wish to celebrate the extensive and valuable Asian Heritage, Monsoon Journal wishes you all a great month full of special occasions and opportunities to celebrate history and people that have led the path and continue to lead the path of a growing globe. By: Krishni Loganathan, BA (Hons.) Political Science, History

They save lives every day and provide you comfort when you are sick. The doctors and nurses at The Scarborough Hospital (TSH) are highly skilled at their work, but did you know many of them have equally impressive singing and dancing talent? That’s why The Scarborough Hospital Foundation presents TSH Has Talent. This exciting new event will showcase the talents of the hospital’s healthcare professionals while they compete for the title of most talented. Proceeds from the event will go toward purchasing new medical equipment for the hospital. “We are fortunate to have a talented healthcare team with internationally recognized physicians, nurses and healthcare professionals,” says Michael Mazza, President and CEO of The Scarborough Hospital Foundation. “But when we sent out a call for talent in the arts to support the hospital, we were overwhelmed by the response.

Our team always goes the extra mile to make our hospital a better place.” For months, employees and physicians from all departments of the hospital have been auditioning with the hopes of making it to the final show. On May 13 at 7 p.m., the top ten acts will take centre stage at the Chinese Cultural Centre on Sheppard Ave. E. near Markham Rd. The top three acts will win shopping sprees courtesy of Sears Scarborough Town Centre. “We invite members of the community to buy tickets for this fun event and support the hospital. I’ve seen the quality of the acts and it is going to be a fantastic show,” says Michael. Tickets for the event start at $55 and include two preshow cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, an unforgettable show, voting privileges, post-show sweets and dancing. To purchase tickets, please contact Jody Birnstingl at 416.438.2911 ext. 6661 or jbirnstingl@ tsh.to.

Tickets can also be purchased online at http://www.tsh.to/pages/TSHFCalendar- of-Events

Gods Own Children Foundation - Canada is organizing its first annual fund-raising dinner – “Illuminate the Journey” on June 5th, 2010. All proceeds will benefit disadvantaged children in Sri Lanka. Gods Own Children Foundation – Canada a Canadian not for profit organization, is a group of dedicated individuals who have been sponsoring and supporting a number disadvantaged children and youth in the corners of Sri Lanka through Gods Own Children – Sri Lanka. Gods Own Children – Sri Lanka has brought much needed hope and light of knowledge in areas that have seen frequent war and where sub-par living conditions have become the norm of life. The organization has also made notable and substantial contributions in times of catastrophes and natural calamities. The members are all non-salaried individuals, coming from all walks of life, who strive in earnest to see each penny submitted in contribution, getting used to make a difference.

Their upcoming Fund-Raising dinner is the first annual event where volunteers, patrons and people new to the activities of Gods Own Children Foundation come together to share details about the organization\’s activities and how their valuable contributions are being used. The evening typically features lively entertainment, animated socializing and a gala dinner buffet. 100% of all proceeds directly benefit Gods Own Children Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support the education, rehabilitation, employment and health initiatives targeted towards the disadvantage children of Sri Lanka. This year’s events promises to be a hit with rollicking music, dance and cultural presentations made by noted local talents, a delicious buffet and an evening of overall family fun. The entry fee is $50 per person. All are cordially invited to attend and support as each penny raised during this event will be spent in providing health, education, critical life support and emergency relief to people who need it the most.

For more information about Gods Own Children Foundation please go to www.GodsOwn Children.com

RSVP: By email: gocf_canada@ GodsOwnChildren.com By phone: Nani: 416-721-9395 Senthi: 905-201-6229 Shangar: 905-472-1427 Satha: 905-495-2809 Yogi: 416-299-4566 Niranjan: 647-272-6256

M&M Twins has been catering to the Sri Lankan and South Asian market in Canada for the past 30 years and was the pioneering company to import Sri Lankan food products to Canada. This has enabled the Sri Lankan community to have easy access to products they have grown up with and having the ‘taste of home’ always near to them. With the view of providing more to the community in terms of products, M&M Twins has recently expanded their product range under the EDRO Brand. The EDRO brand has been in the Canadian market for well over 20 years and is renowned for high quality Spices and Curry Powders. With changing market trends in terms of cooking and more people looking for easier and faster ways of cooking an authentic curry, the EDRO brand has developed a range of high quality curry mixes. You can now prepare your favourite curry by just using 2-3 table spoons of these mixes.

The mixes are available in Chicken, Beef, Mutton, Pork, Crab, Prawn, Fish, Ambulthiyal and Tandoori flavours. In addition, they have also introduced a range of Ready to eat products under the same banner. A favourite would no doubt be the Dry Fish range (Karawala Thel daala) which is in bottled form where you will not have to worry about the strong smell which will stay on your cloths, curtains and carpets, days after cooking it at home! In addition, firm favourites such as Coconut Sambol, Katta Sambol, Seeni Sambol and Cashew Curry are also available. They also carry a range of rice mixes such as Yellow Rice Mix and Biriyani mix.

As Mohan Perera, the owner of M&M Twins points out, the key features of these new items in the rage is that these products are 100% compliant with all the food safety and labelling regulations in Canada. As Mohan points out, there are many regulations set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), especially for fish products. He affirms that all these products have been tested by the CFIA and have been found to be compliant with all regulations such as for chemicals like mercury and histamine which are found in excessive amounts in most fish imports from South Asia. M&M Twins hope to further expand their range of products and would like to get feedback from the community on what they would like to see available. You can email your comments to feedback. mmtwins@gmail.com

Sri Lanka’s first post-war parliament must get rid of draconian emergency laws that have allowed for decades of widespread human rights abuses, Amnesty International said in a press release on April 20th. Ahead of the first sitting of Sri Lanka’s first post-war parliament on 22 April, Amnesty International is calling on Sri Lanka to lift the State of Emergency that has been in force almost continuously since 1971, and to abolish the Prevention of Terrorism Act and other associated emergency security laws and regulations, replacing them with human rights-friendly laws. The emergency laws grant state authorities sweeping powers of detention and permit the use of secret prisons, a practice that encourages human rights abuses like enforced disappearances, torture and death in custody, which could constitute crimes under international law.

In the last thirty years, thousands of Sri Lankans have spent years in detention without trial. Over the past year, the government has increasingly used these laws to crack down on journalists, political opponents, and trade unionists. “Sri Lanka must repeal these laws and end impunity for human rights violations if it wants to move forward,” said Madhu Malhotra, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific Deputy Director. “The Prevention of Terrorism Act, the Public Security Ordinance and other emergency provisions in Sri Lanka enable security forces to systematically violate human rights.” Since the war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ended almost a year ago, Sri Lankan legislators have continued to extend the State of Emergency on a monthly basis. Successive governments have ignored calls for repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

“The war is over. Perpetuation of the emergency is now just being used as a weapon against political opposition, and as a quick fix for poor law enforcement practices and a dysfunctional justice system,” said Madhu Malhotra. Amnesty International is calling on the new parliament to press for the release of people detained under Sri Lanka’s emergency laws unless they are charged with an internationally recognized criminal offence, and are tried in regular civilian courts to international standards for fair trial.

[IRIN News] Healthcare services in Sri Lanka ’s conflict-affected east should not be forgotten as humanitarian agencies focus their efforts on rebuilding the country ’s north, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. Since the end of the civil war in May 2009, agencies have concentrated on assisting hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Vanni, an area comprising a number of northern districts. “With the international community focused on the rehabilitation of the Vanni area in the north, support needed for the rehabilitation work in the east will remain difficult,” Edwin Salvador, WHO’s technical officer for emergency humanitarian action, told IRIN. “As programmes to rebuild public infrastructure, food security and livelihoods have been prioritized ahead of health in the east, delivery of essential services to the people will remain a big challenge,” he added. Sri Lanka’s war was based on demands by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who fought for an independent Tamil homeland in the country’s north and east.

The Eastern Province was retaken by government troops from the LTTE in July 2007, with more than 200,000 displaced people returning after the conflict, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). Recovery and development measures were announced for the area, which suffered heavy damage during the conflict. But Salvador said shifting funding priorities and a lack of human resources were undermining efforts to provide health care for scattered communities of resettled people. “International NGO partners, including health partners that had played an important part during the emergency phase during the eastern conflict, have been forced to abandon the east and concentrate on the north due to funding constraints or due to lack of development work experience,” said Salvador. According to WHO, of the numerous health-related international NGOs initially operating in the east, only the Comité d’Aide Médicale (CAM) remains.

It provides mobile medical clinics for resettled communities and support for government mental health programmes. Provincial and central health authorities are trying to repair damaged health facilities but only have limited funds to do so, WHO says. Health facilities, especially those outside major towns, suffered collateral damage during decades of fighting in the east. “Rehabilitation of damaged health facilities in the east has taken place at a slow pace. This has resulted in [the] resettlement population needing to travel long distances in order to access health services,” said Salvador. “Mobile clinics and outreach services are in place to provide primary health care services but due to the many [small resettlement areas], it has been difficult to reach all of them through mobile clinics,” he said. Finding enough health workers to service communities is also a challenge. “There are also many health posts that remained vacant in the health systems. As a result, doctors and nurses are required to rotate amongst the different health facilities,” he said.