Latin Americans in Canada support Tamil refugees

Barrio Nuevo
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Several Latin American community groups in Canada have come out strongly defending the hundreds of Tamil migrants, which include more than 100 women and children, who arrived in Canada aboard the MV Sun Sea.

The joint statement has denounced the Canadian media and public officials for "politically motivated stereotyping by classifying these refugees as terrorists", and has "called upon the people in Canada to express their solidarity with the Tamil people". The full text of the statement follows:

"We, the undersigned, in the Latin American community in Canada declare our support for our Tamil sisters and brothers ,and the estimated 400-500 Tamil asylum seekers aboard the MV Sun Sea, which include more than 100 women and children.


Canadian media and public officials are perpetuating politically motivated stereotyping by classifying these refugees as terrorists. These unfounded statements are based on already discredited sources close to the genocidal Sri Lankan government. We believe this to be a racist and xenophobic discourse that signals the predisposition and historical tendency of our government to deny the human and legal rights of these people.

Tens of thousands of Chileans, Colombians, Guatemalans, Salvadoreans and Uruguayans, among others, came to Canada under similar conditions – as refugees and exiles fleeing war and political persecution. Considering this historical experience, we recognize our solidarity with these women, men and children, who like us are simply looking to live their lives with the peace and dignity denied to them in their homeland.

We call upon the Canadian government to comply with its obligations under international law to respect the human rights of refugees and asylum seekers.

We also call on the people of Canada to express their solidarity with the Tamil people by contacting their elected officials and demand they begin to act in accordance with the principles and values of a just society."

Barrio Nuevo
CASA Salvador Allende
CELSAN (Canada El Salvador Action Network)
Circulo Bolivariano Louis Riel
Frente de Resistencia de Honduras
Hands off Venezuela (HOV)
Latin@s
Latin American Solidarity Network
Latin American Trade Unionist Coalition (LATUC)
Victor Jara Cultural Group

© Barrio Nuevo