The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) called on leaders to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) due to take place in Sri Lanka later this year.
In an open letter to the heads of government of members states of the Commonwealth, the GTF's president, Rev. Dr. S.J. Emmanuel, called on them to "make a stand on Sri Lanka and boycott CHOGM 2013" and "to bar the Government of Sri Lanka from chairing the association for the next two years."
Detailing the lack accountability for past crimes, and the on-going human rights abuses taking place on the island, the GTF president wrote,
"Sri Lanka should not have even been allowed the right to hold this year’s event, but Commonwealth Heads of Government can still send a powerful message by staying away from Colombo in November."
He added,
"It is astounding that a Government accused of involvement in war crimes and of complicity in continuing human rights abuses will then sit on bodies, such as the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, mandated to deal with serious and persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental values.
This will be a stain on the Commonwealth and will undermine efforts to improve the association’s political and diplomatic influence. The principles that the Commonwealth is meant to espouse must be upheld or they mean nothing."
See full letter here.
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