SLA condemned for opposing student participation in LTTE events

[TamilNet, Thursday, 22 July 2004, 22:23 GMT]
Several peoples' organizations including leading student groups in Jaffna district have condemned the request made by Major General Susil Chandrapala, Jaffna area commander of the Sri Lanka Army, to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) to stop students participating in events organized by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), civil sources said.

The Jaffna University Students Union (JUSU) in a statement issued Thursday told SLA that it has no moral right to stop students participating in LTTE organized events. The statement added that it is hypocritical of the SLA for seeking assistance from the human rights group to curtail students voluntary activity while occupying several schools and imposing restriction on the free movement of students.

The statement also accused the SLA of violating basic human rights of Tamil people not allowing internally displaced parents to return to their own villages behind the cover of high security zones, sources said.

Education of Tamil children has been adversely affected in areas near high security zones by the occupation of the SLA. Students go to schools from refugee camps. Their parents are not allowed by the SLA to return to their houses and cultivate their agricultural lands, the statement said.

JUSU cited two leading schools, Tellipalai Union College and Tellipalai Mahajana College where students learn under immense difficulties without free movement and other related difficulties due to the occupation and the presence of army soldiers in the vicinity. Teaching also has been hampered by the restriction on teachers by the SLA, civil groups said.

The JUSU reminded the Jaffna area commander of the SLA that soldiers belonging to Sri Lanka Army were responsible for killing students Krishanthy Kumarasamy and Sanjeevan. Krishanthi's mother, brother and a neighbor also were murdered by the soldiers at the same checkpoint, the students said.

The JUSU further charged the SLA for cultural degradation now taking place in the Jaffna district with the blessing of army soldiers.

The JUSU has asked Major General Susil Chandrapala has no rightr to request to the HCRSL to prevent students from participating in events organized by the LTTE, which is fighting for cultural and political liberatin of Tamil, sources said.

The International Thamileelam Students Federation and Jaffna Technical College Students Union also issued statements condemning the request made to the HRCSL by Major General Susil Chandrapala, sources said.

The Student Groups submitted copies of their statements to the HCRSL in Jaffna, sources said.