In the aftermath of May 2009, Tamil Diaspora organizations around the globe united in grief around the Mullivaikal Massacre. That is when the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) began. For Tamil Diaspora, they became a hope for justice. After Tamils lost their functioning government of Tamil Eelam to Sri Lanka’s genocide, GTF tried to go to the world courts for justice. From 2009 to 2012, GTF fought for justice for Sri Lanka’s war crimes against Tamils. However, as time passed, it started to act as a broker between Tamil Diaspora and the world's nations on Tamil issues. GTF initially formed with 14 member organizations, and together they earned credibility thanks to these Tamil organizations and grassroots contributions.

On September 5, 2009, the GTF press statement stated that “Tamil Diaspora representatives from 5 continents assembled in Paris, France between 29 and 31 August to hold the first convention of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF). The dire situation faced by the Tamil people in Sri Lanka was discussed and action programs were deliberated to address their immediate needs. Over the 3 days of the conference, the GTF constitution was also adopted unanimously by the country representatives.”

Many Tamil activists contributed to several GTF projects. It was the grass-root organization, the British Tamil Forum (BTF), and other 13 organizations that gave the GTF credibility in the global arena. A small group of GTF later used this credibility for their own actions that not only undermined the interest of the Tamil Diaspora but also lead to the non-transparent nature. In fact, there were no annual account details provided by GTF after 2013, and nobody gave auditing power to inspect its undisclosed donors. Since most of the 14 member organizations left or made them to leave over the years, it’s hard to know what type of fund the GTF received and where these funds coming from.

In 2012, after the frustration of the GTF activities, some European Tamil organizations started to leave.  British Tamil Forum reported their disappointment through their letter published on January 23, 2014. 

“Despite some initial successes, GTF and its leadership have gradually lost their way – principally because they have turned their back on GTF’s founding values with its mission and vision, such as collective decision-making, democratic governance, transparency, inclusiveness, and grassroots activism. Office bearers have neither displayed the leadership required to keep founding member organizations within GTF nor have they undertaken the effort to expand GTF to include currently unrepresented Tamils across the world. Furthermore, GTF’s Annual General Meeting has been overdue since 2010. Therefore, it is of little surprise that GTF’s support base has dwindled and many country organizations have left.“ “We hereby declare openly that we have been denied any representation on the GTF Board – i.e. that we play no part in the decision-making process at GTF; hence we publicly distance ourselves from any of GTF’s initiatives or actions.“

Since the Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) and the USA Tamil organization also left GTF in 2020, we would like to request the following immediately: 

1.  GTF President Rev. Dr.  S.J. Emmanuel and spokesperson Mr. Suren Surendiran to take responsibility for the failure of GTF in the last 6 years and resign immediately.

2.  The last remaining country organization, the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) takes responsibility for enabling GTF’s non-transparent and hiding annual accounts from its members and leaves the GTF immediately and let another Tamil Organization in Canada be part of it in the future once it is restructured.

3.  To call upon the 14 country organizations that initially formed the GTF to take immediate steps to get GTF back to its original form and function as a truly transparent and accountable Tamil Diaspora organization by forming a committee with all the country representatives.

After 2013, a group of people took control of GTF and each member organization subsequently left. We eventually learned that the USA Tamil organization, United States Tamil Political Action Council (formally known as USTPAC) also left in 2020. The failure of GTF is a huge humiliation for Tamil Diaspora. It continuously weakens various diaspora organizations. If this group of individuals continues to function like this any further, it will not only tarnish any hope but also stop any coordinated Tamil Diaspora in the future.

We, the undersigned, who helped form the GTF by contributing to several human rights projects before 2013, call upon its president Rev. Dr.  S.J. Emmanuel, and spokesperson Mr. Suren Surendiran to immediately resign from their roles in GTF. Rev. Dr. S.J. Emmanuel is no longer considered to be a part of any diaspora organization and has been living in Sri Lanka with supporters of the Sri Lankan government for the past 5+ years. We, the former supporters of GTF,  request them to deliver an apology to Tamil Diaspora for using this organization in the last 6 years without Tamil Diaspora consent. We, the former supporters of GTF, also call on them to deliver an apology to the 14 organizations who once supported them, for 6 years of ineffectiveness.

We, the undersigned also call upon the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), which is the only organization left in the GTF, to immediately leave the GTF and let another Canadian Tamil Organization or coalition be part of GTF. CTC should also take responsibility for enabling GTF failure. We also call upon the 14 member Tamil organizations, who helped form the GTF in 2009 to take responsibility in 2021 by restructuring to its original form. 

Sincerely,

Former Global Tamil Forum organization members, contributors, supporters, and sponsors.

Ref.: 

1. http://www.globaltamilforum.org/media/press-releases/tamils-convene-in-paris-for-global-mobilisation.aspx  - Tamils convene in Paris for global mobilization Saturday, September 5, 2009

2. https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/gtf-has-lost-their-way-no-transparent-and-no-democratic-governance-british-tamils-breakaway/ “Issuing a statement on BTF’s relationship with Global Tamil Forum the BTF says that the GTF has failed to articulate the ongoing structural genocide of the Tamils”

3. https://archive.org/details/gtf-inaugural-2010-london - Member organization’s statements in 2010.

4. https://archive.org/details/statement-on-gtf - British Tamil Forum Statement on GTF