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Tamil Rehabilitation Organization / TRO ????
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Posted By:
???
Jan 03, 2005
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I strongly suspect this email I got is a fraudulent attempt to collect money
from idiots:
"Dear Friends,
It is with profound sadness that we are continuing to learn of the damage
caused by the tsunami in terms of human losses and damage to property. One
of the hardest hit places is the island nation of Sri Lanka. According to
the latest Reuter's report, more than 27000 alone died in Sri Lanka, and
more than 1 million displaced. In one instance alone, an orphanage in
northeastern part of the island got wiped out 170 children along with its
guardian priest.
There is no clean water; all dwellings swept away, no food, dead bodies to
be buried, and all the conditions compounds to create an environment for
severe disease epidemic and malnutrition.
At this juncture, we appeal to you to help generously by contributing money
and medicines. All your contributions will go directly towards the disaster
relief and rehabilitation efforts.
You tax deductible contributions can be made through TRO using following web
site or mail check/money order directly to the address provided below,
payable to TRO . Website : http://www.trousa.org
Postal address:
Tamils Rehabilitation Organization
517 Old Town Road, Cumberland, Maryland 21502
Tax ID: 52-19-43868
###
About TRO
Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is a non-profit organizations
registered in the USA and approved as charity by the IRS under 501c (3)
code. TRO have been helping in the North-Eastern parts of Sri Lanka, which
have been ravaged by civil war as well. On their behalf we appeal to the
benevolent nature of the people of the USA to come forward and lend them a
helping hand, however small it may be.
HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED. PLEASE DO WHATEVER YOU CAN TO HELP."
I doubt any legitimate organization would spam people like this.
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Comments
Myst
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 02:55 PM
You wouldn't happen to have the e-mail still? It would be interesting to see the full headers, minus your e-mail address of course. |
Charybdis
in Hell
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 03:23 PM
This group seems to have been around for awhile (yahoo group created c. 5/03, various other google mentions) but that doesn't necessarily make it a legitemate aid organization. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 03:57 PM
What I have been able to find so far is this is a real organization. According to my Spoof-Stick the link in the e-mail is not a spoofed. It appears this Tamil Rehabilitation Organization is somehow linked to the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).
I'm currently waiting on more information from the Better Business Bureau. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 04:35 PM
Good job Paul! 😉 |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 07:02 PM
Well Paul he did say "Several TRO members have been appealing their friends and acquaintances
to help in urgent relief efforts, on behalf of TRO.
If it is a legitimate organization he may be assuming the e-mail was sent by someone associated with TRO.
Just playing devil's advocate here. :cheese: |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 07:26 PM
LOL You are having so much fun with this Paul.
It will be interesting to see what they say next. One would think they would check out the name you gave them, especially with such a large amount of money being offered. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 07:58 PM
I agree Paul. There are so many jerks out there just looking to take advantage of people. Unfortunately not everyone is skeptical about the things they recieve in their e-mail.
I have to remind myself that not everyone in the world grew up a question box! I drove everyone crazy growing up, never taking anyone's word on stuff. I always had to know the why, where, when, how and who of everything. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2005 | 08:45 PM
:ohh: He tells me to shut up:exclaim: Meanie 😛 |
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA
Member
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 | 12:44 PM
I once knew a millionaire...he was a millionaire at 27. I asked him if he could go back & do anything differently, would he? He said he would not have gone to college, because he'd have been a millionaire 4 years earlier. I can't remember now why he is a millionaire. It was my piano teacher's brother-in-law. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 | 05:01 PM
Well Paul, I heard back from the BBB. I got the response I figured I would get, an auto-reply message. I won't post it here since it was very long winded and basically said to check their site for a list of reputable charities, of course they were quick to point out that the list there is not completely inclusive. Yeah I figured that out which was why I wrote them in the first place! LOL what a waste of time. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 | 05:47 PM
Oops, sorry. The Better Business Bureau (BBB). |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2005 | 06:17 PM
http://www.bbb.org/
Better Business Bureau^ 😛 |
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA
Member
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Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2005 | 08:32 AM
...I was 15 when I met him. He was involved. Besides, if I had married him instead of my (actual) husband, whose genes are apparently weak & useless...my baby wouldn't have been so damn cute. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2005 | 04:34 PM
I agree Paul. There are plenty of them out there.
If in doubt check the list at the Better Business Bureau, it isn't an all inclusive list but it is a place to start.
Link to the Better Business Bureau:
http://www.bbb.org/ |
pravs
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Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2005 | 06:33 PM
hi guys,
happened to come across while looking for something else - i just wanted to let you know that not only is TRO a genuine org, it's an international NGO and a registered charity in a number of countries including Aus and the USA.
i was part of a group of volunteers who've just come back from helping out in Sri Lanka - TRO is really active there, it plays a really big part in getting aid and development to NorthEast Sri Lanka.
i'm not sure how much they've been doing in the US, but the australian branch has taken on a really big role in helping tsunami victims - they're being listed by all the major newspapers here and have been given exclusive collection rights to quite a few events. so if you're worried about their authenticity, don't be - from what i've seen, they're one of the few NGOs that has been able to gain access to the rebel-controlled parts of Sri Lanka, and i think they're doing a great job!:) |
Dr Anita L
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 | 07:10 PM
Hi
The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation is a genuine organisation in Sri Lanka (that has subgroups eg in America). They are responsible for coordinating relief work in North East Sri Lanka - where the minority Tamils live (and have been doing this for a long time due to the civil war). Their work is essential to people on North East coast at present because the Sri Lankan government (majority Singalese) is not allowing equal distribution of foreign aid nor being particularly generous themselves. I am doctor in London and am going to volunteer for 2 weeks with 4 doctor friends and the TRO are coordinating it all. The collection will be genuine but it is a shame that the American lot sent an email that could be quite rightly interepreted as being spam. In the end the only people that suffer are those in Sri Lanka. I have personally collected over |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 | 05:39 PM
I wish the person who posted this e-mail had posted some of the headers. It is possible that someone received this information from TRO because they are involved with it, or requested the information. This person then sent this e-mail to a friend and that friend forwarded it on to a few more friends and so on. Without the headers we can't really say for sure whether the e-mail came from the TRO itself or if it was just something that was forwarded around. Even full headers may not help either, if it was a text e-mail than the original sender could have been removed.
Playing devil's advocate again! http://img2.imagevenue.com/loc34/172d1_teu42.gif |
Mark-n-Jen
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 | 06:06 PM
We just LOVE this site and these forums... and it's all thanks to people like Paul and Myst. Thanks for the laughs... it's good to know we're not the only suspicious ones out here... 😊 |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 | 10:23 PM
I agree Paul, and until someone does come forward with information that can be verified I am suspicious.
On another note, if, let's say, the organization is a real charity I have to wonder how much of the money donated actually makes it to the people. As I said in an earlier post there is a connection between this "charity" and the LTTE. So I wonder how much of the money gets funneled in to buying guns, etc. for the LTTE. Just a thought. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 | 10:26 PM
Mark-n-Jen, like Paul said, we LOVE you too!
I love this site too. There is nothing like rumors, myths, urban legends and hoaxes to get the heart pumping! :cheese: |
Dr Anita L???????
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Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 | 02:38 PM
I accidentally came across this site (for the second time) whilst searching for something else and, well, curiosity got the better of me.
I deliberately did not leave my surname because I dont particularly want randoms looking me up. There is no other doctor (or in fact any other person)in the UK with the same name as me.
I just hope that all you "suspicious" people donate money to a well known "reputable" charity (who will spend your cash on business class flights as they go!).
And as my final point, without talking politics, the LTTE did co-ordinate all of the initial relief work in the North and East because the government were slow to help (and the damaged road excuse doesn't hold because plenty of others made the journey). They collected all the bodies, are building and protecting new camps (with thousands of orphans) and the LTTE doctors are still doing a lot of medical work. I am not denying that they used guns but they were fighting for their people (not because they had a free weekend and got involved!) so I doubt they would steal aid from them now. I think people may be underestimating the devastation out there - guns and war are unlikely to be an issue for a long time - things are difficult enough!
(?????just my opinion having been there a few times).
and to Mr Paul "in Holland" - If you want to check I really exist, you can email me on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (the account i have for junk!) |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 | 03:15 PM
Dr Anita L
Just in case you find yourself back here, thanks for responding again.
I must admit to my ignorance concerning the LTTE and the politics of the area, heck I can barely keep track of it in my own country. When one reads the news or any other information it is hard to know just exactly who and what to believe, especially if one hasn't been to the area in question.
Yes I know how bad things are in the areas hit by the tsunami. No, I have not been there personally, but I have seen plenty of photos that have given me a good idea. One in particular is a photo of the Indonesian port of Banda Aceh, taken by Darren Whiteside (the one I have seen is not the cropped version either). It is a rather graphic photo, maybe you know the one I am talking about? Anyway I said all that to say that yes I do understand how bad it is for the people in these areas, that is why I want to make sure my money gets to those who need it!
Yes I am suspicious of many charitable organizations, even the ones I do know something about. You're right that some of the "reputable" ones spend money on things I personally don't agree with, this is why I ask questions and investigate, then I know exactly how my money is being used. |
Dr Anita L
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Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 | 10:16 PM
i think i am becoming addicted so will have to avoid coming back - i accept your point about my name (although technically it was meant to have an "N" at the end but the guy in the Colombo registry office didn't spell it as requested- which helped my dad as it sounds more singalese and i think he got less hassle at times.)
i was born and brought up in scotland and the first time I went to sri lanka was 2 years ago when i was 23. i wasn't brought up like a tamil, with pretty much no culture and no religion, and i can't speak a word of tamil - but you are right, i am biased because i do have a link so chose to make a specific effort in my fundraising for that area. The rest of the comments i tried to make without bias - i just remember what i saw in 2003. my dad took me to where his house used to be in colombo - it had been destroyed (and there was a dodgy car garage on the land) but all the neighbours' houses were in perfect condition. And then in the north, there were landmines everywhere and the people just lived around them. I was really annoyed about all the injustice i saw but my parents generation seem to just accept that was the way it was (eg your friends and neighbours turned against you) and you had to leave if you wanted a decent life. |
jan
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 | 03:58 PM
To all the guys who are TRO bashing above, the TRO is a legitimate organisation and the largest relief organisation in North east Sri Lanka where 20 000 are deade and 600 000 people are displaced due to the Tsunami.
If you are interested in helping out with Tsunami relief, please do so and if you are not why not just shut up and leave others do it ? Alternatively if you really MUST have your say how about a google search on TRO. Now that would not be too hard would it ?
Yours truly
A pissed off Tsunami volunteer in London who was in Sri Lanka to help with the aftermath. |
jan
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 | 04:06 PM
Having looked at this web site/board (which I found accidentally while looking for info) I realise that no doubt, the fact that I didnt leave my email on my last message will cause another round of speculation so have added my email - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and my company's web site. What the hell - I do get a lot of junk mail already. |
Myst
Member
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 | 04:33 PM
Jan,
I am not TRO bashing. I was simply questioning the validity of an e-mail which was apparently received as spam.
As for searching, I did. Unfortunately I wasn't able to come up with any information on the TRO from the places I would normally check (Better Business Bureau, Federal Trade Commission). You Can't blame people for wanting to make sure their money is going to a legitimate organization, there are many tsunami scams floating around e-mail these days. |
Dushy Ranetunge
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2005 | 02:21 AM
The Tamils rehabilitation organisation is a front organisation of a terrorist group known as the LTTE or the Tamil Tigers.
Canadian Security Intelligence Service alleges that some of the funds raised by this group is used for terrorism.
It applied for Charity status in Canada several years ago and the application has not been processed todate. In the UK, the British Charity Commission raided the TRO, froze their bank accounts and is now administered by an accountant appointed by the British Charity Commissioner.
further reading;
http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/Bul37.htm |
Dee
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 | 06:03 PM
Hey everyone,
NO need to worry about TRO being fraud.
TRO is a registered NGO in over 14 different countries working in rehabilitation and resettlement in the North-East of Sri Lanka. TRO is in no way linked politically to the LTTE . TRO works in war ravaged areas controlled by both the Sri Lankan government forces and LTTE forces. Both controlled areas were struck by the Tsunami and TRO has been on the ground working very hard feeding,medicating
internally displaced people of the Tsunami.
Dr, Arul Ranjithan, http://www.trousa.org, and the Maryland postal address are all correct and valid. The official TRO website is http://www.troonline.org. The TRO Disaster Management UNit (DMU) site is http://www.tsunami-trocsc.com.
I know all this because I work for UNICEF Australia and have been on the ground working with TRO in the North-East for the last 4 weeks. I returned home for a month of reporting on friday 4th. Funnily enough I stumbled onto your site and I'm glad I did. UNICEF, World Vision, FORUT, USAaid, Cityhope USA, Save the children are all programme partners of TRO. UNICEF's been working with TRO for over 10 years. Even though TRO don't have a huge publicity budget they are well known and reputable all over the world. If you need any more information you can email me at my personal account .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). |
Dushy Ranetunge
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Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2005 | 10:51 PM
It is accurate that the TRO works with UNICEF and other international NGO's.
This is not out of choice, but because they are FORCED to do so.
The Internationally Listed terrorist group which has trained hisbullah and has assassinated Rajiv Gandhi insists that ALL NGO;s operating in areas illegally occupied by it work via the TRO.
In order to deliver aid to civilians, International NGO;s are FORCED to work with the TRO.
The TRO then uses this in order to gain credibility world wide by stating that it is working with UNICEF etc.
The TRO was set up by the LTTE leader V Prabakaran who is on the most wanted RED Notice list of INTERPOL, the global law enforcement organisation.
It is a neat trick to fool the ignorent and raise funds for terrorism.
The IRA did the same by setting up NORAID in the United States and raising funds to blow up people in the UK and oppress the Irish.
The TRO acts as an intelligence arm of the LTTE and passes on information from Tsunami Refugee camps to the LTTE, who then visit these camps and abduct children to be used as child soldiers.
See UNICEF accusations of LTTE recruitment of child soldiers.
The UN is about to move against the LTTE on this matter.
read;
http://www.hindu.com/2005/02/25/stories/2005022503241400.htm |
jan
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Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2005 | 07:44 AM
I was forwarded this article some time back and it occurred to me while I was cleaning out my mail box that it provided background on some of the guys who post on this web site, Just goes to show that you never know the hidden agendas of people who write on these sites or their day jobs.
So here is the article:
How the Evening Standard Article Happened
by Manoharan
Last Tuesday (04/01/21005) a person visited the post office in London where I am the postmaster. It is a post office with a grocery shop. There is a collection box in the shop and a White Pigeon poster in the post office window for Tsunami victims of Tamil Eelam.
The person asked if I am the owner of the post office and he asked me for a copy of the White Pigeon notice and he wanted to have a discussion about that poster. I gave him a copy of the poster. He asked who gave me this poster and told me it is illegal to collect money for theLTTE because it is a banned organisation in the UK. I told him that White Pigeon is a registered charity organisation in the UK and we have a charity number on the poster. My intention is to help the tsunami victims in the NorthEast. I don |
TRO person
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Posted: Sun Aug 28, 2005 | 12:36 AM
Hello forum people
im a member of TRO and trust me, it is a very real organisation. CNN correspondants from the uk called it the most organised relief system they have seen post tsunami, i mean really, they have a registration, and they have an office in sri lankla |
tom
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 | 12:03 PM
I just read that the TRO is also rasing money for terrorist groups . this was from a homeland security article, not just a blog... many good groups get involved with others they should not.. this is certainly one I will avoid. |
John
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 | 02:34 PM
Its actually a terrorsit fundraising front
see
http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=BUSINESS&ID=565122335263557509 |
John
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 | 02:43 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush administration took action Thursday against a Sri Lankan charity with branches in the United States and in other countries for allegedly raising money to help bankroll terrorist activities.
The Treasury Department moved against the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization, with the acronym TRO, with headquarters in Sri Lanka and offices in 17 countries worldwide. Any bank accounts or other financial assets found in the United States that belong to the charity must be frozen. Americans are prohibited from making donations or otherwise doing business with the group.
The department accused the charity of acting ''as a front to facilitate fundraising'' and other support for the Tamil Tigers, known formally as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The United States has deemed the Tamil Tigers a terrorist group.
The rebel group in Sri Lanka has been fighting for an independent homeland since 1983. The 3 million mainly Hindu Tamils have long faced discrimination from the predominantly Buddhist Sinhalese majority in the nation of 19 million people. The conflict has killed thousands of people on the island, which lies off India's southern tip.
''TRO passed off its operations as charitable, when in fact it was raising money for a designated terrorist group responsible for heinous acts of terrorism,'' said Adam Szubin, director of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control. The agency administers and enforces the United States' financial sanctions programs.
The United States contends the Tamil Tigers oversee the TRO's activities.
The department alleges that in the United States, the charity has raised funds on behalf of the Tamil Tigers through a network of individual representatives. ''According to sources within the organization, TRO is the preferred conduit of funds from the United States to the (Tamil Tigers) in Sri Lanka,'' the department said.
TRO also was involved in the purchase of ''munitions, equipment, communications devices and other technology'' for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, the department alleged. It did not say how much money, if any, the charitable group has in the United States. Nor did the department provide a location for the charity's U.S. branch.
''TRO's efforts worldwide reportedly have allowed the (Tamil Tigers) to use humanitarian aid, which TRO collected from the international community after the December 2004 tsunami, to launch new campaigns to strengthen the (Tamil Tigers) military capacity,'' the department alleged.
---
On the Net:
U.S. Treasury Department: http://www.treas.gov
AP-WS-11-15-07 1234EST |
Bob
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2008 | 12:37 PM
I am so sad to know some of us really do not have any idea about TRO - It is genuine and really supporting the IDP in SL. To go a bit more, TRO is better understanding the need of Tamils than the Authorities (GOSL) to care for their citizens. I do not care or even worry about others (countries) trying to ban the organisation. I just hope at least those countries will try to help the IDPs, if they ban the TRO. |
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Note: This thread is located in the Old Forum of the Museum of Hoaxes.
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