150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: 41 22 791 6033 Fax: 41 22 791 6506 e-mail: [email protected] Appeal Coordinating Office
Sri Lanka
Assistance to Riot Affected Communities ASSL-32 Appeal Target: US$ 21,119
Geneva, 6 June 2003
Dear Colleagues,
Muttur, in Trincomalee district on the north- eastern coast is an area where Muslims and Tamils have coexisted peacefully. But the two decade long violent ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils in Sri Lanka had a severe impact in this area and its mixed communities.
Following the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed more than a year ago, between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka, this violent ethnic conflict between the Sinhalese and the Tamils in Sri Lanka subsided substantially raising hope for lasting peace. It also meant that both Muslims and Tamils were now able to access freely each others areas, the so called “cleared” and “un-cleared” areas representing the areas under the control of Sri Lankan forces and those under LTTE control respectively.
However, since the signing of this MOU, the conflict between the Muslim and the Tamil community, that had laid dormant for some time, begun to re-emerge in certain areas. Recently two riots have taken place between the Muslims and Tamils in the Muttur area, the latest one being the most severe. These riots were triggered by the disappearance of two Muslims who went into an un-cleared area. The disappearance was blamed on the Tamil community which refuted the claims. The situation very quickly got out of control and the Government had to impose a 24-hour curfew and send additional security forces to the area. Eight regions of Muttur were very badly affected.
ACT member, the National Council of Churches, Sri Lanka (NCCSL) is proposing a relief and rehabilitation programme comprising: dry rations, mats, house repair materials and mediation facilitation. The relief assistance has already been implemented and it is hoped that those expenses can be recovered through this appeal.
ACT is a worldwide network of churches and related agencies meeting human need through coordinated emergency response. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland. Assistance to Riot Affected 2 ASSL-32 Appeal
Project Completion Date: 30 September 2003
Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested
US$ Total Appeal Target(s) 21,119 Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd. 0 Balance Requested from ACT Network 21,119
Please kindly send your contributions to the following ACT bank account:
Account Number – 240-432629.60A (USD) Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together UBS SA PO Box 2600 1211 Geneva 2 SWITZERLAND
Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address [email protected]) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.
For further information please contact: ACT Director, Thor-Arne Prois (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or ACT Appeals Officer, Mieke Weeda (phone +41 22 791 6035 or mobile phone +41 79 285 2916)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org
John Nduna Acting Director, ACT
Assistance to Riot Affected 3 ASSL-32 Appeal
I. REQUESTING ACT MEMBER INFORMATION