Sri Lanka Update #4

["Nonviolent Peaceforce" <MelDuncan at NonviolentPeaceforce.org>]

Sri Lanka Update #4
(English herein)
Espanol:  http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/spanish/news/Tsunami4.asp

My Dear Friends:

I am happy to report that both Kathy Orovwigho and Frank Mackay
Anim-Appiah are out of the hospital.  Kathy returned home to Nigeria
today to recuperate.  Frank will go back to Ghana soon.  Both want to
return to their peacekeeping work in Sri Lanka as soon as they are able.

Rita Cruz has returned to service in Sri Lanka from Portugal and joined
Rita Webb in reopening our office in Matara that had been closed
since Kathy and Frank were hospitalized.  Since arriving in Matara
they have been helping PAFFREL, a coalition of 400 Sri Lankan NGOs,
to establish a national system for civil society to monitor the relief
and reconstruction process.  They also plan to stay with PAFFREL staff
overnight in at least one refugee camp.  There have been reports of
abuse of children and women in camps in the southern part of the country.

Last week a grenade attack on a funeral gathering in the eastern
town of Vakaneri killed three and injured 20.  An NP team provided
protective presence following the attack as well as accompanied staff of
a humanitarian NGO.  Our team also helped open up communication among
the conflicting parties to diffuse the situation.  By the end of last
week our overnight protective presence was no longer needed.

Our teams have been actively monitoring and reporting
on delivery of relief and actions in the refugee camps:
http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/news/TrincoPhotos.asp

Project director, William Knox, participated in a meeting with UN
Secretary General Kofi Annan on 8 January as part of the Secretary
General's consultation with major NGOs on the conflict and human rights
situation since the tsunami.

Over the past few weeks, many of us have contributed $120,000 USD through
NP to Sarvodaya.  With this money they were immediately able to distribute
food and clothing, organize medical care and manage several welfare camps.

Rick Brooks, executive director of Sarvodaya USA wrote:  "I also want to
reiterate our thanks for your help right after the tsunami occurred.
When neither Sarvodaya itself nor we in the U.S. had online donation
mechanisms in place, the NP's willingness to serve as a collection point
was a godsend...  We appreciate the grace you have shown under pressure;
the generosity and openness...  The Nonviolent Peaceforce has contributed
impressive amounts to Sarvodaya in these weeks.  I now strongly urge
you to attend to the specific support needs of NP as well.  It would be
tragic if NP's mission and operation were impaired in any way because
of inadequate funding."

Based on the advice of Sarvodaya and that of William Knox we will no
longer collect donations for them.

In addition to donations, hundreds of you have sent well wishes and
prayers to our teams.  People from all over the world are fasting on
Fridays in January in solidarity and support.

NOW WE MUST GO BEYOND IMMEDIATE RELIEF and tend to the medium and
long-term work.  As demonstrated in Vakaneri, our civilian peacekeeping
will be required now more than ever.  We have expanded our mandate (below)
to address the tsunami crisis.  We have an additional peacekeeper from
Kenya joining us next week and two more joining the team in February.
We are now recruiting a second team and to date have received 210
applications.  We presently have enough money to send an additional
12 peacekeepers.  More are needed.  Depending on how much we can raise
between now and 26 January when our Executive Committee meets, we could
be able to send an additional 11 people.  It costs $30,000 to recruit,
assess, train, and support a peaceworker for one year.  Please continue
to support us in your thoughts, prayers, meditations, fasts, words and
donations:
http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/english/help/donation.asp

The Nonviolent Peaceforce in Sri Lanka and worldwide truly has performed
with grace, strength and effectiveness during these tragic times.
Thank you everyone.

With love and gratitude,
Mel

Adapted Mandate

·  To provide non-violent protection to affected communities and groups,
including Sri Lankan relief and reconstruction workers, to enable them
to live and carry out their work in freedom from actual or threatened
armed, political or physical interference or violence

·  To monitor in areas where NP is active and provide information by
the issuing of regular written and verbal reports to concerned parties:

   ·  To identify relief and reconstruction activities that promote
   inclusivity and community participation as well as to identify
   activities where harm is being caused by partisan and excluding
   practices

   ·  To assist agencies new to areas where NP operates to pursue such
   principles of community inclusivity and participation

   ·  To identify improvements or deterioration in the underlying
   national and local conflicts that the current peace process is intended
   to address

·  To encourage and support community involvement in relief and
reconstruction activities not only to promote the fundamental human
rights to food and shelter but also, to promote communal harmony and a
Sri Lanka at peace.

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