Action Alert Archive

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Ask Congress to Support the Release of Tamil IDPs

September 23, 2009

Nearly 300,000 Tamil civilians are still suffering in government-run internment camps in Sri Lanka and unless the United States government and the international community take immediate action, these Tamils will be forced to remain in unsafe conditions without relief and aid. In response to this, Representatives Danny Davis and Sheila Jackson-Lee have sponsored resolution H. Res. 711, “Calling on the United States Government and the international community to address the human rights and humanitarian needs of Sri Lanka's Tamil internally displaced persons (IDPs) currently living in government-run camps by supporting the release of such IDPs, implementing and facilitating an independent oversight of the process of release and resettlement, and allowing foreign aid groups to provide relief and resources to such IDPs.”

For the sake of these detained Tamil civilians, we urge you to call your Representative and ask him/her to co-sponsor H. Res. 711. Representatives Davis and Jackson-Lee need all the Congressional support they can get to ensure the success of H. Res. 711. Calling your Representative is simple and takes only a few minutes of your time.

1. Find your Representative and his/her D.C. Phone number by putting in your zip code here.
2. Tell them your name, that you are a constituent in the Representative's district, and that you are calling on behalf of People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL) regarding Sri Lanka.
3. Ask to speak to the Foreign Affairs Legislative Aide.
4. Tell the aide (or his/her voicemail) your name, that you are a constituent in the Representative's district, and that you are calling on behalf of People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL).
5. Tell the aide that you are hoping your Representative will co-sponsor H. Res. 711. Give the aide some background about the resolution and the situation in Sri Lanka. All the information you need is in the first part of this Action Alert.
6. Let us know that you called hereso we can follow-up with your Representative.

Your calls are the most important and effective way to ensure the passage of H. Res. 711. Please urge your family and friends to call their Representatives as well. This resolution, which states the United States government's official stance on the Tamil IDPs and their situation in the camps, is a positive step towards providing these Tamils with the protection and security they desperately need.