Sri Lanka is Descending Towards a Lawless State by Suren Surendiran

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
www.tamilsforum.com
December 8, 2012

Image by Shahin Shahablou @ Eyes on Rights via Flickr

Issued for immediate release

PRESS STATEMENT

8 December 2012

Sri Lanka is descending towards a lawless State – Global Tamil Forum

Global Tamil Forum (GTF) strongly deplores the attack, by members of the Sri Lankan security forces on Jaffna University students staging a peaceful protest, on Wednesday November 28th and calls for the immediate release of four Tamil students subsequently arrested by the Terrorism Investigative Division (TID) on trumped-up charges and remain in custody.

Never Again Says The UN, Yet Again by Suren Surendiran

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
November 17, 2012

(November 17, 2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) I wrote in the UK Guardian on 30 May 2009, eleven days after the tragic end of the war titled ‘The ÚN has failed the Tamils’ where I referred to and identified many of the failings and weaknesses now being acknowledged after an internal inquiry within the UN, three and half years later. If I had known all of these then and during the war, it begs the question why an international body which was formed fundamentally to protect humanity didn’t know or did it know and failed to act?

Sri Lankan Buddhists Burn Muslim Flag by Suren Surendiran

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
28 April 2012

Issued for immediate release

PRESS STATEMENT
28 April 2012

Global Tamil Forum stands in solidarity with the Muslims in Sri Lanka

Global Tamil Forum (GTF) strongly condemns the Sri Lankan Government’s complicity in the orders for the removal of the Muslim mosque in Dambulla, central Sri Lanka. GTF is profoundly disturbed by the attacks on the mosque by a minority, yet in their thousands as reported, of extremist Sri Lankan Buddhists led by monks on 20 April 2012, calling for its destruction claiming it was constructed illegally.

Global Tamil Forum on UN resolution on Sri Lanka

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
24 March 2012

Issued for immediate release

PRESS STATEMENT
24 March 2012

Global Tamil Forum on UN resolution on Sri Lanka

Global Tamil Forum (GTF) commends the passing of the UN resolution on Sri Lanka, at the current Human Rights Council (HRC) session in Geneva, as a crucial first step towards accountability and justice for victims on the island. Tamils all over the world are thankful to the United States for spearheading the initiative and to all those who have made this first meaningful step possible.

Global Tamil Forum on the 19th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
3 March 2012

Issued for immediate release

PRESS STATEMENT
3 March 2012

A true international effort, with the backing of key regional Governments, will bring real accountability for war crimes and reconciliation between communities in the island of Sri Lanka.

The United Nations Human Rights Council which is in session in Geneva right now presents a great opportunity for the international community to address the issues of accountability, for the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, committed by both sides during the final stages of the war in Sri Lanka.

Global Tamil Forum on Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil National Alliance ‘Talks’

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
14 January 2012

Issued for immediate release

PRESS STATEMENT
14 January 2012

Global Tamil Forum on Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil National Alliance ‘Talks’

In the history of political societies, there are times, which come very rarely, when individuals, groups, organisations and peoples in general within it are required to shed their differences and connect one with another, united to repel the aggressive forces threatening their existence in order to promote the general good of society.

Global Tamil Forum Press Statement on LLRC by Suren Surendiran

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
24 December 2011

Issued for immediate release

PRESS STATEMENT
24 December 2011

Global Tamil Forum on LLRC

Global Tamil Forum (GTF) welcomes the long delayed publication of the ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ (LLRC) report. Its findings only serve to emphasise the importance of establishing an international, independent accountability mechanism to investigate whether Government forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) breached any international law, committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the last months of the war.

Tamil APPG and Global Tamil Forum Parliamentary Reception Rallies Support For Truth and Justice In Sri Lanka + Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
7 July, 2011

Issued for Immediate Release

PRESS STATEMENT

July 6^th 2011

TAMIL APPG AND GLOBAL TAMIL FORUM PARLIAMENTARY RECEPTION RALLIES SUPPORT FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE IN SRI LANKA

A packed reception in the British Parliament on July 5^th highlighted the level of support amongst parliamentarians and key decision-makers for truth, accountability and justice in Sri Lanka.

Global Tamil Forum formerly met with Senior Civil Servants at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
7 May, 2011

Issued for Immediate Release

As part of bringing awareness to the current plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka and the wider engagement of governments around the world, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) met with senior civil servants at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London, yesterday.

Mr. Andrew Patrick, Director for South Asia, Deputy Director William Middleton and Ms. Christine McNeill, the Head of Sri Lanka Desk at the FCO were met by the GTF delegation lead by its President Rev. Father S.J.Emmanuel, members of British Tamils Forum (BTF), British Tamil Conservatives (BTC) and Tamils for Labour.

Global Tamil Forum meets with U.S. Assistant Secretary Blake by Suren Surendiran

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
29 March, 2011

Global Tamil Forum met with US Assistant Secretary Blake as it continues to engage the Global community to bring focus to the resolution of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The GTF delegation lead by its President, Rev. Father S.J.Emmanuel (Germany) included President of the USTPAC, Dr. Elias Jeyarajah, Mrs. Grace Williams (USA) and Suren Surendiran (UK).

Sonia Gandhi: We are with the Tamils and I am very concerned about Sri Lanka

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
19 March, 2011

In an opportunity to speak with Mrs Gandhi following her Commonwealth lecture, at the reception for invited guests, senior members of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) raised issues regarding the plight of Tamil women in Sri Lanka.

Mrs. Gandhi said that she is very concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka. She said that the Congress lead coalition government has asserted their serious concerns to the Government of Sri Lanka.

British Tamil Women Fight for Justice by Suren Surendiran

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
6 March, 2011

British Tamil women joined hundreds of thousands of women marching through London to mark the 100th year of international women’s day to call an end to violence against women, highlighting the suffering of Tamil women and children in Sri Lanka and demanding justice for the victims.

British Prime Minister Supports An Independent Inquiry by Suren Surendiran

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
27 October, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

Please find below the link to BBC iPlayer showing Prime Minister’s Questions from yesterday. Ms McDonagh asks her question at 21:02.

http://www.bbc.co.uk

The voice recording is also attached of the question and the PM’s reply.

[Note: the BBC video is not available for viewers in the US.]

A full transcript on the official parliamentary record, Hansard is as follows:

New Sri Lankan civil war photos threaten to overshadow Britain visit + Call for investigation into Sri Lanka war deaths

Updated: Oct. 20, 2010

compiled by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
19 October, 2010

Image via Wikipedia

New Sri Lankan civil war photos threaten to overshadow Britain visit

By Dean Nelson, South Asia Editor
Telegraph
18 Oct 2010

The campaign for a war-crimes tribunal to investigate alleged atrocities in the Sri Lankan civil war has intensified following the release of photographs which appeared to show a massacre of Tamils.

The photographs, which showed blood stained bodies of young men and women who had been blindfolded and had their hands tied behind their backs, were released by the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), a group which includes former supporters of the Tamil Tiger rebels.

British Parliamentarians to Raise Issue of Sri Lanka in House of Commons

by Suren Surendiran
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
http://www.tamilsforum.com
12 September, 2010

PRESS ALERT
September 12^th 2010

“The first Foreign and Commonwealth Office Oral Questions session since summer recess will throw a spotlight onto the current human rights situation in Sri Lanka. Taking place on 14th September, the Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon William Hague MP and other Foreign Office Ministers will be answering questions on Sri Lanka. Amongst others, on the access to alleged ex-combatants by the International Committee of the Red Cross, when the last time discussions were held between the British government and her Sri Lankan counterparts on human rights issues and when discussions last took place between the British government and the UN High Representative for Human Rights on the situation of Tamils in detention camps.