CHOGM 2013_Booklet_by TGTE | Page 3

Lanka. Instead of suspending Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth for these violations in line with its precedents, the Commonwealth is rewarding Sri Lanka by holding its summit this year in the island of Sri Lanka. Allowing the genocidal Government of Sri Lanka to host CHOGM raises the important question about what the costs of such an action are to the basic and core values of the Commonwealth – our Common Wealth. The acceptance of the State of Sri Lanka to become the leader of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth for the next two years puts the very integrity and relevance of the Commonwealth movement itself into question in the international arena. The moral fiasco is not going to end on the 20th of November when the CHOGM event concludes. The damaging repercussions will continue well after the conclusion of the summit, domestically on member nations and internationally on our common good. The challenges posed by International Civil Society to the governments of the member nations will escalate. The justice of our cause and our passion towards international institutions that they observe accountability and put an end to impunity will ensure that we shall prevail. We hold the hands of the protectors and promoters of human rights across the globe. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran Prime Minister TGTE Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) is a new political concept, formed after the mass killing of Tamils in the final months of the war in 2009. It is a new political formation based on the principles of nationhood, homeland and self-determination. The raison d’etre for the TGTE is lack of political space inside the island of Sri Lanka for the Tamils to articulate and realize their political aspirations fully due to Constitutional impediments, racist political environment and military strangulation; and the coordination of diaspora political activities based on democratic principles and the rule of law. 3