UK minister turned GTF policy advisor in CHOGM sabotage bid
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Joan Marie
By Shamindra Ferdinando-November 3, 2013,
By Shamindra Ferdinando-November 3, 2013,
Former British Labour Party Member of Parliament Joan Marie Ryan, on behalf of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), has thanked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for backing its ongoing efforts to prevent Indian participation at the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Sri Lanka.
She represented Enfield North between 1997 and 2010. Ryan, is a former minister as well as UK’s Special Envoy to Cyprus, has written to Tamil Nadu CM J. Jayalalithaa in her capacity as the GTF policy advisor. The Oct. 25 dated letter has been jointly endorsed by Ryan and GTF President, Rev. Dr. S. J. Emmanuel.
The GTF dispatched the letter to CM Jayalalithaa in the wake of the Tamil Nadu assembly passing a resolution that the central government of India should boycott the summit. GTF spokesperson, Suren Surendiram made available a copy of the letter to The Island.
Expressing ‘sincere thanks’ for the resolution, Dr. Emmanuel and Ryan have said: "The support shown by you and the Assembly for truth, accountability, justice and human rights in Sri Lanka is most welcome, as is the commitment displayed to the fundamental principles of the Commonwealth. Your actions have been an eloquent expression of the solidarity of Tamil Nadu with the on-going Tamil struggle for an honourable existence in Sri Lanka."
The duo claimed that Canada and the British Labour Party, too, supported the GTF efforts to deter Commonwealth member states from attending the Colombo summit. The GTF has also urged Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC) Gwede Mantashe to take up the Commonwealth issue with the South African government. Interestingly, the letter dated Oct. 25 sent to Mantashe has been signed only by Dr. Emmanuel.
External Affairs Ministry sources told The Island that the GTF and the British Tamil Forum (BTF) had been able to secure the support of several sitting MPs as well as those voted out of parliament.
