Clarification on donations
In its effort to help victims of the May 12 through May 15, 1998 tragedy, the Team of Volunteers for Humanity has enjoyed broad support from the community, all the way from moral to material support and from information to logistics. It is difficult to measure in figures and statistics or to place in a certain framework the significance and influence of this support.
The Team of Volunteers herewith expresses heartfelt gratitude for the support and contributions from the civil community. One of the forms of this actual support is financial assistance.
Financial assistance rendered from the first week after the bloody riot, which severely tarnished our civilization, up to the present time has amounted to Rp 300 million. Of this amount, about 60 percent has been extended to victims who were burned, tortured or persecuted, sexually harassed or raped during the riots. The Team of Volunteers will spend 75 percent of the entire financial assistance on the direct interests of the victims and the remaining 25 percent on operational costs of the team.
We are aware that most donations have been contributed out of good intentions in the interests of the victims, but we have also obtained information that the name of Team of Volunteers for Humanity has been abused for the purpose of collecting money beyond the interests of the victims and the Team of Volunteers. To avoid any uncalled for matters, the Team of Volunteers for Humanity emphasizes that:
1. The Team of Volunteers for Humanity (let alone I. Sandyawan Sumardi) has never drawn up a fund-raising proposal.
2. We request that all parties should confirm with us at our secretariat any fund-raising proposal under the name of the Team of Volunteers for Humanity which they happen to receive.
3. We object to any mention or use before the public of the bank account of the Team of Volunteers for Humanity;
4. The mechanism under which donations are received is that the funds should go through the treasurer of the Team of Volunteers for Humanity, and this will be attended to by I. Sandyawan Sumardi.
I. SANDYAWAN SUMARDI
Secretary of the Team of
Volunteers for Humanity
Jakarta