Over forty concerned Canadian Tamil youth gathered at the cultural hall of the Richmond Hill Hindu Temple to participate in a 30 hour famine (with only water) to create awareness within the Canadian Tamil community about the humanitarian crisis in Vanni, while raising funds for CARE program.
"Now that all international aid agencies and NGOs have left the Tamil areas, we the Tamil diaspora have to take care of our people in our homeland" said Arani Kanagasabai, a participant in the famine.
The famine kicked off at 4 pm Friday, September 26 with commemoration to Lt. Col Thileepan who fasted unto death in twelve days putting forward five demands to the Indian government to meet the aspirations of the Tamil people, during the occupation of the Indian Forces in
The hall continually was filled with members of the Tamil community showing support to the participants. For moral support over ten adults also joined the youth in the awaraness creating famine campaign.
Local radio and television promoted the event through regular updates and the Canadian Tamil Radio broadcasted live on location from beginning to end of the famine.
Out pouring support was noted Saturday as the countdown neared the end, with members of the crowd providing words of encouragement and the entertainment of Vaanampaadikal music group who themselves conducted a 27 hour band-a-thon a week ago for the same cause.
Staff of CARE Program were on site to receive the donations as well as the pledges from the participants.
"The support of the members of the community, media including print, audio visual, radio and television has been overwhelmingly phenomenal and we ask that this momentum be continued until the sufferings of our people end in our homeland" said Sarva Jeyapalan.
As the 30 hours came to a close, each participant got the opportunity to share their feelings with the crowd, which by no doubt left the audience in tears at many instances.
Mrs. Pararajasingam, wife of Late Mr. Pararajasingam, TNA Member of Parliament, ended the famine at 10.01pm by providing milk for all the participants followed by the blessings of the priests of the Richmond Hill Hindu Temple.
