Global Tamil Forum (GTF) a global organisation involved in international advocacy for justice, peace and security of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka held its 3rd anniversary on Wednesday, 27 February 2013 at the UK Parliament. Various international and local institutions were represented at the event. Also many political and non-political dignitaries attended the conference, including the UK Conservative Party Chairman on behalf of the Prime Minister, The senior Foreign Minister of the FCO, Deputy Prime Minister/Leader of the LibDem Party and Labour Party Leader/Opposition Leader.
The order of the day was as follows:
10.00-11.00
Prayer, Minute Silence, Welcome Address
Rev. Dr. S.J Emmanuel, GTF President
Welcome Address
Ms Siobhain McDonagh MP, Chair of Event and Vice Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T)
Speakers
Mr Robert Halfon MP, Treasurer and Secretary, APPG-T
Ms. Frances Harrison Former BBC Foreign Affairs Reporter and Author of “Still Counting the Dead”
11.00-12.30
Speakers
Mr Peter Kellner, Chair Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS)
Dr. Elvira Dominguez-Redondo, Senior Lecturer Middlesex University, speaking on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) initiative
Cde. Ms Ribbon Mosholi, African National Congress International Relations Manager
Mr Bawa Abdul Kader, former Deputy Chairman of the Sri Lanka’s Teacher’s Union
Dr Danny Sriskandarajah, Secretary General of Civicus
Mr Gordon Weiss, former UN Spokesman in Sri Lanka & Author of “The Cage”
12.30-14.00
Speakers
Rt. Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Hon. Mr R. Sampanthan MP, Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
Video
Director Callum Macrae introduces excerpts ‘No Fire Zone’ documentary
Speakers
Rt. Hon Mr Nick Clegg MP, UK Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party
Rt. Hon Mr Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change
Cde. Mrs Yasmin Sooka, Member of the UN Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka
Hon. Mr MA Sumanthiran MP, Human Rights Lawyer and Member of Parliament
Rt. Hon Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party & Opposition Leader
Mr Lee Scott MP, Chair of APPG-T
Video Message
Rt. Hon David Miliband MP, former UK Foreign Secretary
14.00-15.30
Speakers
Ms Kerry McCarthy MP, Shadow Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Minister with responsibility for Sri Lanka
Video
Mr MCM Iqbal and Mrs R Iqbal, Human Rights Activists – Introduce excerpts of film on plight of women in the Vanni
Speakers
Mr David Mepham, UK Director Human Rights Watch (HRW) on HRW’s new report ‘We Will Teach You a Lesson’ - Sexual Violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces
Professor Joshua Castellino, Head of Law Department Middlesex University
Ms Yolanda Foster, Senior Researcher on Sri Lanka for Amnesty International
15.30-17.00
Speakers
Rt. Hon. Grant Shapps MP, Chairman of the Conservative Party representing the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. David Cameron
Rt. Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary
Hon. Mr Erik Solheim, Former peace negotiator in the Sri Lankan peace process and Norwegian Government Minister
Professor William Schabas, International Law Expert Middlesex University
Rt. Hon Baroness Warsi, Senior Minister of State Foreign & CW Office
Rt. Hon Mr Simon Hughes MP, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader and Vice Chair of APPG-T
Rt. Hon Mr Keith Vaz MP, Chair of UK’s Home Affairs Select Committee and Member of APPG-T
