OTTAWA -- Tamil-Canadian protesters took down their flags once again yesterday, hoping to facilitate a meeting with the federal government.
But Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon's office dashed their hopes by refusing to meet. Protesters have been on the sidewalks along Wellington St. in front of Parliament Hill around the clock since April 7 and vow to stay until the government helps achieve a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
The protest includes people who have been staging a hunger strike since April 8.
TERRORISTS
Government representatives have refused to meet the protesters as long as they continue to support the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, a group fighting for a separate state in the south Asian country. They are listed as a terrorist group by Canada.
The protesters' red tiger flag has also been a source of controversy. The government believes it is that of the rebel army, but the protesters say it's the national flag.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jack Layton addressed the hunger strikers yesterday, telling them he'd do what he could to pressure the government to take a stronger stance to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
Layton spoke to them on a speaker phone belonging to former NDP candidate Alamgir Hussain.
Hussain, who ran in Scarborough Southeast in the last election, said Layton sent him there to meet with the hunger strikers, as a couple are from his riding.
"We are going to do our very best to convince the government (they need to do more) ... so far they have been reluctant to take a stance," Layton said. "I don't know whether they'll agree but we have to try."
Layton said the hunger strikers were sending a strong message to stop "injustice" in their homeland.
Hunger striker Kanapathipillai Thulasigamony, 74, spoke to Layton and said he hoped the NDP leader could do something.
"You're a very brave man," Layton told him. "I hope to meet with you soon."
Thulasigamony said he's prepared to end his hunger strike if the government recalls Angela Bogdan, Canada's high commissioner to Sri Lanka.
STRONG MESSAGE
Layton said bringing Bogdan home would send a strong message.
The strikers are down to three after one of their number was taken to hospital yesterday morning.
A 54-year-old woman had difficulty breathing and requested paramedics take her to hospital. She's expected to be fine.
Another striker, Julius James, 34, was taken to hospital Monday with stomach pains. Protesters said he has diabetes and has been transferred to a hospital in Mississauga.
KENNETH.JACKSON@SUNMEDIA.CA
