Jaffna teachers to continue protest

While seven of the 11 Jaffna University students in TID custody were released today, Jaffna university teachers said they would return to work only if the others in custody were also released.

Police arrested 11 students following a tense situation that prevailed at the Jaffna University last week where students were involved in a violent clash with police and army personnel.

Jaffna University Teachers Union said university activities came to a standstill after the incident and this situation might continue if all the students were not released.

Union President R. Vigneswaran said university teachers were informed that the university general body would meet today to decide if teachers should return to work or continue to stay away until the other four students were released.

“We will stay away from work even if students come for lessons,” he said.

The university Vice Chancellor and faculty deans had left to Vavuniya yesterday to bring back the seven students from TID custody to Jaffna. The university Vice Chancellor and other senior university officials are looking forward receive information on the release of the other four students,” he said.

The Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) charged that the students were arrested on false charges and urged for their immediate release.

“Armed personnel in civilian clothing and uniform are still present in the university premises. This situation must change immediately,” IUSF leader Sanjeew Bandara said.

The clash between security forces and university students took place when the students held an event called Maaveerar (Martyr' Day) to commemorate former LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran’s birthday on November 26. The students were arrested under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Students were also interrogated over a petrol bomb explosion at the TELO political party office in Jaffna and posters put up to commemorate the slain LTTE leaders birthday.

Several students were injured during the clash and students accused the police of attacking them while the police allege the students of throwing stones at the officers which compelled them to act. (Olindhi Jayasundere)