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Message: <blockquote data-quote="rapa" data-source="post: 203982" data-attributes="member: 212">Strength of Resolve of Tamils:And most correctly in the debate whether to boycott or not the onus was put on the Tamil Diaspora; appealing to their strength of resolve in an issue that demands a bit of sacrifice and inconvenience for a period of time until alternative arrangements are made. "My view is not to target the Tamil stores to boycott the Sri Lankan goods. It's the public who should boycott the Sri Lankan goods which should result in Sri Lankan goods disappearing in the stores."Stop Buying Items Marked Sri Lanka:To say the debate is heating up is putting it mildly. "I came to Canada ten years ago. I stopped buying items marked Sri Lanka. I encouraged others but nobody listened to me. However I rigidly stuck to my policy. I stopped drinking Ceylon Tea, Chinese Tea is far healthier. I am aware of the chemicals sprayed on Tea bushes as I worked in the plantations and I know the leaves are plucked before the effects of the chemicals are gone."There was a fervent cry for people to act now. "It would be too late to do so later. We cannot depend on others to do what we need to do ourselves. We do not need to carry the flag to tell others what we are. Just think beyond you and your family, and then we can make a difference. We should avoid giving foreign currency to a blood thirsty GOSL and let them know we are not paying to 'Kill' our own. Also we must frequent Tamil businesses that are not selling Sri Lankan products and encourage other businesses to do the same."Negative Publicity for LTTE:There are a few who were worried about the negative publicity the boycott would bring. The concern was that "the GOSL and the media will spin the story 'Tigers intimidate Tamil shop owners from selling Sri Lankan goods in Toronto' I think boycotting Sri Lankan Airlines would be more effective." There is also the worry that the boycott could hurt the Northeast people with GOSL taking its revenge on them.Use Another Airline But Do Not Stop Sending Money:Some expressed pessimism calling the idea not a socially feasible one for our Tamil Community here. We should see other best ways to use our energy. "Will Tamils agree not to go to Sri Lanka and would they stop sending money home?"The short answer to that many say is there is nothing to stop any Tamil from the Diaspora from going to Sri Lanka, those who want to go despite the present climate could use another airline and as for sending money no one was asking for that to stop at all. "We cannot stop the lifeline to our people. It would be a crime to deprive sustenance to a people already deprived."Another Sri Lankan Promotion at Trafalgar Square:What's important is whether the Tamil Diaspora should allow Sri Lanka to carry on with its marketing pursuits as normal without a semblance of protest? There is word that another promotion/cultural event by the Sri Lankan Tourist Board has been planned this time in London Trafalgar Square in June. To that an eminent US lawyer suggested "Tamils in the UK should organize their own cultural event at Trafalgar Square complete with photos and signs. You know what photos, not ones of lovely beaches" she added.A Tamil "British Councilor" seemed to agree: "advising tourist of the true situation of Sri Lanka will have greater impact. I will not dream of going to Sri Lanka for a holiday under the current situation.Appeal to American Conscience:Further an appeal to the "American conscience" is the right way to go was the advice of a veteran of the tourism and hospitality industry. "If Americans are coming then they should be aware …of the plight of the North East people who are undergoing hardships on account of the state's historic discriminatory policies and consequent neglect of one section of the body polity; they must be aware of the aspect of the ground reality before they spend their dollars.(Boycotting) for the sake of it without a strategy does not help in this globalized era entwined with trade/commerce and bilateral pacts/interests etc." Admitting that there was an uneven-playing field even in the tourism industry where incentives were given to places outside of the North East he said "perhaps bringing about the structural discrimination that has in fact already taken place since the Tourism Act/master plan of 1966 that resulted in discriminative practices adopted by the state for the virtual 'non- development' of the Northeast."Buying Power of the Tamil Diaspora:A Tamil experienced in the travel and shipping business was advocating a total boycott to "create a 'psychosis of fear' on the Sinhalese as they 'feel' the nuisance on trade and tourism. More like a psychological war… increased costs in security and insurance as well as the advertising costs on countering bad publicity would bring pressure to bear on the GOSL. Americans and Europeans do not like any conflict or physical danger. Show them the bloody pictures of Alaipiddy, Trincomalee and the Katunayake airport attack.Also caution them that a full scale war may be imminent. The cost of insurance for ships and aircrafts in and out of Sri Lankan ports and airports has doubled. A 10 percent reduction in the sales of seats will make the difference in loss or profit and a10 percent loss in gross earnings as well as reduction in tourism would have Chairman Harry Jayawardene worried. 'Let them know the buying power of the Tamils; some solidarity among Tamils to push the boycott, except products which have the authentic 'NorhtEast' product seal. Do not listen to vested Tamil interests; we will not go any where." The Campaign theme against Sri Lankan Airlines should be " Wrong Place, Wrong Time and Wrong Airline'. Slogans should read Sri Lanka is Paradise lost; Sri Lanka is dangerous; Sri Lanka is at war.Hurting Sri Lanka's Tourism:A distinguished sportsman was of the view Tamils should have a strategy to counter the propaganda by the Sri Lankan Government and its tourist industry and address those who benefit by tourism such as the hotel industry and the ADB; give them a message; a short history on the conflict, the human rights violations of the GOSL and its practice of racism.Educating People of the Atrocities Committed by GOSL:An Australian radio political analyst and Tamil activist was much against boycotting products like Katta Sambal etc from the Marketing Department of Sri Lanka fearing it would affect "our own (Tamil) businesses; We would end up alienating ourselves from the business community who are important to the struggle." His strategy is to boycott Sri Lankan Air Lines and hurt the Sri Lankan tourism industry; educating people of the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan Armed Forces and of the dangers of going to Sri Lanka as tourists by having exhibits in shopping malls etc.A Tamil from the Diaspora who is very much on the ground, volunteering his services to the people of the NorthEast commented on this very 'Katta sambal' aspect of the boycott that would interfere with the tastes and comforts of the typical Tamil man who wouldn't be willing to "sacrifice his Arrack or for that matter his bottled Acharu or his instant Ambul Thial." One couldn't disagree more for some Tamils are still hooked on 'Maliban' biscuits. It's a known fact. His optimism on the boycott succeeding was sadly nil, his faith in the Tamil man running at a low ebb!Success Will Depend on the Tamil Consumer in the Diaspora:This then is the whole crux of the matter; that the boycott of Sri Lankan products and services would ultimately depend on the Tamil consumer and his attitude. One's faith and confidence in Tamils has not yet waned; what is envisioned is cooperation and a change in habits and thinking; that involves avoiding Sri Lankan products and services at least for the foreseeable future. It shouldn't be too difficult for the Tamil Diaspora to avoid the products and services of a country that's killing its kinsmen. It must almost become second nature.Must Make the Greatest Impact Where it Hurts and Make a Difference:With apologies to the Sinhalese people but not to those who have taken them on a path of destruction this boycott may well be telling. As one remarked "( Sri Lanka's) budget deficit is likely to rise to double digit proportions and the trade deficit could reach a mammoth US$3 billion." He quoted the Sunday Times as saying Tamil expatriates can help worsen the "health" of the economy, one such option "is the ban on Sri Lankan products including tourism."As to the role the Diaspora could play he believed that (at least) the 600,000 persons in the Diaspora could be spending a minimum of US$10.00 each a month on Sri Lankan items not to mention the amount spent on flying Sri Lankan Airlines and his view was that "we could make a difference."Rajapakse Has to be Stopped:This is one way to stop the hawkish, Sri Lankan president says a Tamil who believes Makinda Rajapakse is two faced, who says one thing to the IC; i.e. what it wants to hear; but thinks, feels and acts otherwise. Rajapakse's call to "Expatriate Sri Lankans" (Tamils included) to "contribute" to the "Motherland" with a promise of "equitable distribution" to all communities in Sri Lanka is typical of the way he operates.The Tamil Diaspora Has the Means:"The Tamil Diaspora should know its responsibility; that in its hands it has the means to stop a terrorist state (that 's Sri Lanka) from having the means to harm the NorthEast people; the Diaspora must do everything it can, with all the commitment it can muster to make this boycott a success. Whilst conducting this boycott on a worldwide basis the goal is to show the enemy the GOSL as well as draw the IC's attention to not only the potential strength and buying power of the Tamils but their solidarity in the struggle for emancipation of the NorthEast.""It's now or never" seems to be the cry of the majority of those who want a boycott.Boycott from July 2006:Having heard the views and concerns of many one cannot but draw the conclusion that a boycott could deliver a powerful message. And in the words of a group calling itself 'Tamils for Peace' the Tamil Diaspora is being asked "by the 1st of July 2006 in solidarity and without harm to Tamil businesses to fully commit itself to a total boycott of Sri Lankan products (and services)."Will the Tamil Diaspora take heed?</blockquote>

Verification: Hath warak paha keeyada? (hatha wadikireema paha)

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