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Buddhist Monks Insulted in CanadaBy Aloy Perera(A freelance writer based in Toronto & Editor "Dhamma Wheel", a Buddhist Journal published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; E Mail: stephenperera@rogers.com)Dear All, and Powers that Be! I am writing (not in any official capacity of any organization but as a Canadian of Sri Lankan Ethnic extract) to acquaint you with a lurid campaign of mudslinging and preposterous insinuations targeting our venerable Buddhist monks (the Maha Sangha) and the Sinhala people accusing them of having an agenda of calculated genocide to rid Tamils from the face of Sri Lanka. The blatant lie is repeated over and over again to dupe unsuspecting Tamils of the Diaspora in this country and mainstream Canadians. In this all too public campaign, the Sinhalese people are vilified distorting the reality that the majority of Tamils in Sri Lanka live, love, sleep and work to earn their living peaceably among the Sinhalese people enjoying a very high standard of living and a sense of freedom denied to their brothers and sisters living in the North, particularly in the regions now under control of the world's most ruthless and despotic terrorist leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, supremo of the LTTE, proscribed in the USA and Canada. There's nothing sacred to promoters of the above disorientation campaign. Today, for the first time in the history of the Tamil separatist propaganda activities in Canada this handful of renegade Tamil leaders who are experts in the art of commanding crowds through veiled threats and intimidation, have dragged in objects and symbols of worship sacred to all segments of the Sri Lankan nation, the Maha Sangha (the community of monks) into their information or disinformation campaigns, holding out the venerable Buddhist monks to ridicule. Sensibilities of Sri Lankans and particularly Sinhala Buddhists have been hurt beyond imagination and we are terribly offended. Offended by the senseless disinformation binge a handful of Tamils revel in with crass disregard to human decency and sanguine values and norms ordinary Canadians uphold. What seems more offensive is the audacious stance of these miscreants going public with hate propaganda on Canadian soil with impunity. Where do these fellows get their foolish bravado from? One wonders! The answer lies in the conduct of some not so honest, gutless and greedy Canadian politicians of all stripes who seem to adjust their cherished Canadian values from time to time to suit the vim and fancy of the most ruthless terrorist organization in the world, the LTTE. These politicians mistakenly believe they could get a piece of the nearly 300,000 strong Tamil vote in City Centres across the nation if they only facilitate the activities of these so called leaders of Tamils who are past masters of deception who could hoodwink the most vulnerable phenomenon of the day, the average Canadian politician, to get their kicks and a free ride on their (politicians') back and vice versa. Here's how the vilification blitz works: "Canadian Tamil Congress", a notorious organization purporting to be a cultural group representing Canadian Tamils, but acts like a true surrogate of the proscribed LTTE if one were to take onto account its racist and provocative propaganda against Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese people and their venerated monks it is wont to disseminate, seems to have gained a foothold in recent times in the City of Markham with the active support and blessings of its Mayor Frank Scarpitti (fscarpitti@markham.ca) who is often invited to address the events of the Canadian Tamil Congress or other related outfits. (The City of Markham has a sitting Tamil Councilor in its ranks in the person of Councilor Logan Kanapathi, (lkanapathi@markham.ca) the first Sri Lankan Tamil elected to a political office in Canada. One would expect him to be in the know of the fact that the Canadian Tamil Congress other clandestine activist groups often use the generosity of the Markham Civic Centre to spread hate against a specific groups of people - an indictable offence by any account - obiter dicta: This is not to cast any strictures on Mr. Kanapathi who is a respectable Councilor. I remember when Logan was elected to office one of our Theras (Monks) during an exhortation to our Sinhala Buddhist Youths while urging them to get involved in the mainstream of Canadian life, holding him (Logan) out as a role model worthy of emulation. Canadian Tamil Congress, LTTE Surrogate? These seemingly innocuous gatherings with some pre-advertised cultural aim woven into them become a favourite forum to denigrate Sri Lanka and spread hate targeting the Sinhalese people. Lately however, as seen in a recent events remembering the "Heroes of the Tamil Nation" or the "Black July Memorial", a new feature has been added to the malicious propaganda machinery of the Canadian Tamil Congress engaging the medium of Drama to elucidate its warped views targeting in particular, our venerated Buddhist monks. The Drama episode begins with the 'pompous' entrance on the stage of two portly Buddhist monks dressed rather awkwardly in yellow robes (civaras) fanning their faces with paper-'fans' (symbolic of ceremonial fans Buddhist monks are wont to carry with them) flanked by of two attendant army men (representing the Sri Lankan Armed Forces) and chanting " Yuddham Saranam Gacchami…….. (I take refuge in war..") , a mock imitation of Giving of Tisarana beginning with, "Buddham Saranam Gacchami…" I take refuge in the Buddha! etc. Buddhist monks remain on stage faded in background. Spotlight is now on a wounded (limping) hero leaning on a staff with pain written into his face who sings in a haunting tone (usually well executed for maximum effect) - the genesis of the struggle and the travails of the Tamil Nation in Sri Lanka and the immense atrocities of the Sinhalese army… including genocide! A seemingly genuine and passionate plea for freedom and an equally determined 'promise of vengeance and a fight to the last…'etc; along side the stage two little children dressed in black stand bewildered only to be hauled away (Kidnapped) by two people in black fatigues… (the maverick Karuna faction? Or Sri Lankan STF on Karuna's behalf - , as per LTTE propaganda? I can't be sure! No explanation is given) Tamil Actors in Saffron Robes Inviting Ridicule The evocative plea in song or chant goes on and on and finally turns verbally violent… as two youths join the singer on the stage…. and a few others too on the sides… The Two Buddhist Monks now begin acting their part…. First Monk calls for the victim with the words in Sinhalese, "Ado Miniho! Me! Me! Navatthapan! Den Navatthapan!"- Heigh! Man! Stop! (this nonsense now!) "Yapaneta palayan!" (Go back to Jaffna!") As the singer gets closer to the monks, the monks enquire in Sinhalese, "Ko me Army eka?" Where's the (blasted) army? Turning to the two army attendants on either side! The Monk is relieved! (Note: The Sinhalese words (slang) the script writer puts in the mouths of the venerable monks on the Drama are so derogatory, used only by guttersnipes and totally unbecoming of anyone to use. If it's not ignorance, it's definitely an act of calculated desecration and defamation and constitutes a statement of hate in terms of the prevailing laws of this nation. The whole world knows that Buddhist monks the world over never utter such stupid language or slang since they are trained from their young days to a bind - a monastic rule - that of "samma vaca" (Right Speech). There's universal adherence to this monastic etiquette among Buddhist monks! It is this great quality that had earned them from time immemorial to this day the appellation, "Samici patipanno Bhagavato Savaka Sangho." 'Of courteous manner are the disciples of the Blessed One!' The monks treasure this one rule and are reputed to observe proper etiquette and compassionate courtesies in the face of the worst type of provocation or circumstances. I pity the colossal ignorance the script writer of this Drama displays so foolishly!) The second Buddhist Monk takes a few steps forward saying in Sinhalese, "Ado! Ado Miniho!.. Navatthapan! Heigh (knavish/saucy) Fellow! Stop (your nonsense!) Me part-danna epa!… Don't try to show off! OK? (Pointing to the ground) Me ape bhumi! Me ape bhumi! This is our land! This is our land!" Two army attendants arrest the singer and others push them in a bundle into what one may imagine a waiting army vehicle? There's some resistance as one fellow pushes back or deals a blow to a Buddhist monk in anger.. (Here ends the single episode Drama) The performance receives wild applause from the audience as do the diatribes and insults delivered prior to the Drama by speaker after speaker in Tamil against the Sinhalese, their Buddhist Monks and the Army! The video shows among others, Mayor Scarpitti, who is clueless as to the contents of the fiery speeches of the Tamil activists, addressing the assembly just before the one scene drama commenced. The Drama has been very effective! However, the Drama is self explanatory needing very little elaboration if at all, as to the motives of the people who were responsible in putting it up on open air stage at the Markham Civic Centre before a crowd of over five thousand comprising Sri Lankan Tamils and a sizable proportion from the mainstream. Suffice it to say that It was unadulterated hate! Unmitigated verbal violence! In these times when there's ample reason to suspect any or all activities of some of the Tamil activists in Canada and question their bona fides, the onus is on the politicians to know what's happening at (permitted) gatherings at the Civic Centre… It is up to them to at least get the services of interpreters… or keep unrelenting vigilance for the sake of Canada's own security lest abating fires of LTTE terrorism are enkindled on Canadian soil. Purveyors of hate This Drama has been repeated over the last few months and indications are that the purveyors of hate of the Canadian Tamil Congress and others intend to stage it again and again on the GTA and in other parts of Canada. As far as Buddhist devotees who attend the two temples in the GTA and in Mississauga are concerned, I am sure, they have no problem with the influx of nearly 300,000 of their Tamil compatriots into Canada or Tamils using freedom of expression to give voice to legitimate concerns in respect of their culture and survival as one of the early groups of ethnic settlers in the island of Sri Lanka. And again, the powerful medium of drama is indeed an innocuous means of expression and we have no problem with that either. However, when the medium of Drama is engaged, such as in the above instance, to insult and denigrate religious monks of Buddhism and subject them to ridicule or for that matter any member of the clergy irrespective of their religious persuasions, it is definitely going beyond the boundaries of human decency and is in violation of the cherished values of all religions and all cultures. It neither promotes inter-faith dialogue nor will it serve the ideals of peace and harmony the world is badly in need of. As for Buddhist Monks resident in the Greater Toronto and its environs, they practice compassion irrespective of the anti terrorist war in far away Sri Lanka. When a person enters the precincts of a Temple, he or she is just a simple devotee irrespective of nationality, race, religion or any other difference! Our venerable Buddhist monks have reason, as they often do, to congratulate our Tamil Compatriots in Canada and their children upon their achievements and successes in many fields of endeavour and always consider it a matter of pride to our native Sri Lanka and our expatriate Sri Lankan Community here. That's the view our venerable Buddhist monks have always held and will in future hold. Racial Amity in Our Temples There are exemplary Tamils among our devotees, not to mention the Indo- Bangaladeshi communities to whom these temples cater to. A fair number of Tamils in the GTA are also among the volunteers of the two temples. At the West End Buddhist Centre there are Tamil Buddhists who are among its key volunteers helping in meditation sessions or are imparting the knowledge of Buddha Dhamma to the children of the Sinhala-Buddhist Community. Such is also the case with our sister Temple, Toronto Mahavihara located in Scarborough. And indeed, such therefore, is the spirit of tolerance, peace and harmony our Buddhist monks strive to practise in our own temples here! Our venerable monks here in Canada are not involved in politics no matter what happens in Sri Lanka. Our Temples and our venerable monks are just serving the community and spreading the liberating Dhamma of our Lord Buddha! Insulting the clergy in this manner shows a lack of breeding and an appalling disregard for values that Canadians cherish. In the circumstances, we can only sensitize the public, our Tamil Community, the majority of which are decent, peace-loving people and the mainstream politicians who have been duped by organizations like the Canadian Tamil Congress, an organization judging by what they say and do that appears to be in all respects the propaganda arm of the proscribed LTTE. We deplore the insults heaped upon our venerated Maha Sangha by these misguided elements of the Tamil Community and the cowardly stance of many sheepish politicians of all political parties who lend active support to these miscreants and the deafening silence of our law enforcement agencies which turn a blind eye to hate crimes of this type which violate the fundamental principles of the Canadian Constitution and the conventions Canada holds sacred. We urge all concerned, particularly the powers that be, to take immediate remedial action to redress our grievance and stop the purveyors of hate on their tracks as speedily as possible!
Mayor of Markham Frank Scarpitti, fscarpitti@markham.ca PC Candidate Prov. Gayani Weerasinghe e-mail: vaughanpc@bellnet.ca
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