ROMANIA.

As the International Buddhist Relief Organisation (IBRO) we have taken a particular interest in the situation in Romania.  In the last 8 or 9 years we have sent a truckload of clothing, toys and other essentials, and helped in the construction of a beautiful playground for children.   Since then we have felt rather concerned that there has not been too much locally generated enhancement and improvement, and the Human Rights situation for children and the mentally ill is still causing concern.  Even years after initial visits children were still tied up and emancipated.  In some places really appalling conditions persisted for children and others but there were some signs of improvements on various fronts, and some hope for a better future.

SRI LANKA.

Recently the Government and the Army have been successful in defeating one of the most deadly terrorist groups in the world and the hope now is that all the community can work and blend together for a lasting peace.  However, instead of helping them the West, perhaps mostly led by Britain and the EU has tended to favour the Tamil minority forgetting the Human Rights abuses which went on for at least 26 years mostly against the Singhalese people, who comprise 85% of the population and who are predominately Buddhist. Many hundreds of innocent people including women and children were most cruelly put to death and injury.  The West did not seem to care very much for the Human Rights of  the Singhalese people.  Clearly this discrimination must cease if there is to be a real chance of peaceful living for the people of Sri Lanka who have suffered so much from terrorism.