Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TORONTO86
2009-04-27 20:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Toronto
Cable title:  

Pro-Tamil Protestors Stage Sit-In in front of U.S.

Tags:  PGOV PTER PHUM CE CASC CVIS CA 
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VZCZCXRO0226
PP RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHON #0086 1172040
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 272040Z APR 09
FM AMCONSUL TORONTO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2796
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0018
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0030
RUEHCG/AMCONSUL CHENNAI 0002
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0040
RUCNFB/FBI WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS TORONTO 000086 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAN, SCA/INS, S/CT
HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
DHS PASS TO CBP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM CE CASC CVIS CA

SUBJECT: Pro-Tamil Protestors Stage Sit-In in front of U.S.
Consulate

Ref: (A) Toronto 52 (B) Toronto 84

UNCLAS TORONTO 000086

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAN, SCA/INS, S/CT
HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
DHS PASS TO CBP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM CE CASC CVIS CA

SUBJECT: Pro-Tamil Protestors Stage Sit-In in front of U.S.
Consulate

Ref: (A) Toronto 52 (B) Toronto 84


1. (U) A pro-Tamil Tiger demonstration that began Sunday April 26
carried over into Monday, with 500-1,000 plus protestors in front of
the U.S. Consulate General. After spending the night outside on
Sunday, protestors began a sit-in on the street early Monday
morning, forcing police to cordon off several blocks of University
Avenue, a major artery in the downtown core. Police have been very
supportive of the Consulate and are in full gear for the
demonstrations, which have been peaceful and are expected to
continue for two to three days.


2. (U) The demonstration was organized by a group calling itself the
Coalition to Stop the War in Sri Lanka, part of the Tamil Youth
Organization. Protestors are using sound equipment to call for
support for Tamils and a "free Tamil Eelam" in Sri Lanka. As in
previous protests, the red flag associated with the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is being flown alongside the Canadian
and American flags. They also have numerous other banners calling
on Canada, the United States, and the United Nations to intervene
and save Sri Lankans from "genocide" and some complete with
swastikas comparing Sri Lanka's current government to Hitler.


3. This is another in a series of protests here at the Consulate
since January, along with dozens of others elsewhere in the Toronto
area. The crowd is larger than during the other demonstrations just
outside the Consulate, and has grown somewhat during the day. It
also has been a bit more boisterous than during previous
demonstrations and managed to get closer than normal to the
Consulate on Sunday before being blocked off by police. Post
processed our normal consular workload (applicants entering via the
rear door as is normal),and after today's visa interviews are
completed, we plan to dismiss staff early.

NAY