GTF invited to South African state funeral


May 7, 2012

By Shamindra Ferdinando

The UK based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) will be represented at the funeral of top South African politician, Roy Padayachie (62) at the Cricket Stadium in Durban tomorrow (May 9).

The GTF is scheduled to be represented by Suren Surendiran, its UK based chief spokesman.

Well informed sources told The Island that Surendiran would address the state funeral of the veteran ANC member on behalf of the Sri Lankan Tamil community. Surendiran has been involved in talks with UN and US officials on behalf of the group established at the conclusion of the conflict in May, 2009 to pursue their right to self determination.

Public Service and Administration Minister Roy Padayachie was found dead in his hotel room in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was visiting Ethiopia to attend the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Padayachie joined the public service and administration ministry in October last year. He was former minister of communication and before that deputy minister of public service and administration.

Germany based GTF leader, Rev. Father S. J. Emmanuel issued a condolence message on behalf of the organization.

GoSL sources alleged that the GTF was one of the frontline organizations pursuing the eelam project, though the LTTE no longer retained a conventional military capability. With a vast network spread in all continents, the GTF was campaigning for an international war crimes inquiry, sources said. Obviously an invitation for a state funeral in South Africa would boost the GTF’s image overseas, sources said, pointing out that it was at the forefront of the anti-Sri Lanka campaign at the 19th sessions of the UNHRC in Geneva in February-March.

The GTF also participated at the centenary celebrations of the ANC several months ago causing a dispute between the GoSL and the SA government.

Sources said that the both GTF and one-time LTTE negotiator, V. Rudrakumaran’s outfit TGTE were competing with each other for international recognition, though the former seemed to be leading the way.