NP ISSUES STATEMENT ON LETTER TO JAPANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS IN SRI LANKA - 26 October 2009

BRUSSELS, Belgium - 26 October 2009 - It has been erroneously reported that Nonviolent Peaceforce (NP) signed an October 22nd letter to the Japanese Foreign Ministry regarding Sri Lanka.  Nonviolent Peaceforce does not endorse such a letter. 

Nonviolent Peaceforce is an international organization that provides civilian protection and peacekeeping support.  NP, which is not an advocacy organization, only works on a nonpartisan basis at the invitation of local entities. NP has been working with the government of Sri Lanka since 2003, as well as with a variety of civil society organizations.

The Japanese letter was signed by two members of NP-Japan who did so without authorization or consultation with NP administration or the governing council of Nonviolent Peaceforce International, NP-Sri Lanka or NP-Japan. The names have been removed from this letter per the request of Nonviolent Peaceforce-Japan.