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Prefix Firstname Lastname
123 Street Address
MyCity, St 12345
March 31, 2009
Mr. Brian Aitken
Sri Lanka Mission Chief
International Monetary Fund,
700 19th Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20431
Dear Mr. Aitken:
Recent news reports say that the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is currently negotiating a standby loan of $1.9 billion dollars from the International Monetary Fund. This is supposed to be granted "on concessionary terms" to a country "affected by the global economic crisis." We believe granting this loan will only exacerbate Sri Lanka's crisis, by freeing up funds for its genocidal war.
The Sri Lankan government claims the funds will be needed for "post war reconstruction." However, the regime is currently at the pinnacle of a genocidal war against ethnic Tamils in northern Sri Lanka. The government agent in the region reports there are 330,000 refugees encircled by the Sri Lanka Military, as fighting continues between Sri Lankan forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Most have been cut off from outside food and medical supplies for weeks, and their lives are threatened by the war and their resulting humanitarian needs. Human Rights Watch reports that 2,000 Tamil civilians have been killed since January, and 7,000 civilians have been wounded. The Genocide Prevention Project considers Sri Lanka one of eight countries on "Red Alert" - a ranking reserved for countries experiencing ongoing or imminent genocide.
We are concerned that IMF funds will enable the Sri Lankan government to divert funds for the procurement of arms and other war expenses. The Sri Lankan government's annual military expenditure of $1.8 billion approximates the $1.9 billion sought from IMF. This parity is further evidence that international funding at this pivotal time during Sri Lanka's conflict will be utilized for its military, not for financial stabilization.
Sri Lanka continues slipping towards status as a failed state, without financial controls necessary for fiscal responsibility. The Sri Lankan government continuously defies financial transparency, according to Transparency International. Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse has already pledged not to accept any conditions from the IMF on its loans. This intractability cannot be tolerated by the international community, particularly at a time when the government is sponsoring attacks that directly contravene international rules of war.
We strongly urge the IMF to refuse emergency funding for Sri Lanka. Funding during this volatile time would only further the government's military offensive, as economic priorities would continue to be neglected. We urge the IMF not be complicit in the Sri Lankan government's attacks on civilians, by refusing funding for undemocratic and destructive purposes.
Sincerely,
[Your name will appear here.]