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Ilankai Tamil Sangam

Association of Tamils of Sri Lanka in the USA

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TRO USA Holiday Appeal

Dear Friends and Well-Wishers,

On behalf of the Board of Directors of TRO, I wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  May your hearts be full of joy and may 2007 be a year filled with happiness and good health for you and your family.

The Tamils living in the North East of Sri Lanka have had to endure a very difficult year.  2006, which started out as a time of peace and hope, has turned deadly to many with disappearances, killing, abductions and starvation being a daily occurrence.  In Jaffna over 600,000 civilians stare at starvation on a daily basis, with the A-9 Highway, the only land route (to the rest of the country), closed and dependant on an occasional ship to deliver food barely sufficient to keep them alive.  In the East, Vaharai with 40,000 internally displaced people, has been cut off from all contacts with the outside and as recently as two weeks ago, when a food convey of 110 lorries was arranged by NGO's after two months of blockade, the army allowed only 36 lorries to pass through their blockade.

We at TRO are determined that, in spite of all obstacles, we WILL get food to our brothers, sisters and children and not let food be used as a weapon to crush their spirits.  We are fully aware of our obligation to be the lifeline of a people conveniently forgotten by a world that gives lip service to issues of human dignity and rights. 

Please help us to help our people by sending your contributions to TRO USA.

TRO is an IRS approved, 501 (c) 3 organization (Tax ID: *****) with zero overhead.  All contributions will be matched by an anonymous donor, effectively doubling your gift.

I recall the dedication and hard work of all the TRO volunteers and employees, who have worked selflessly, with the single-minded purpose of alleviating our people's plight.  I recall the seven TRO workers who were abducted in the East eleven months ago, never to be seen again.  I recall the mother in Trincomalee who wanted us to bring her lovely little girl to the USA so that her daughter would have a better future.  I recall the blessings I have been given in life, which I am able to share with others.  Tears of joy mingled with sadness add to the determination that those of us who have been given a lot in life cannot sit by idly and let our people starve.  In this spirit, I ask each of you to heed this urgent appeal for funds and respond generously.

                                                          Sincerely yours,                                             

                                                          President, TRO (USA)

517 Old Town Road,
Cumberland, MD 21502, USA
www.trousa.org