Demonstrations mark Human Rights day

[TamilNet, Friday, 10 December 1999, 21:54 GMT]
A large number of people took participated in a demonstration march and a public meeting held at Vantharumoolai in the government controlled part of the Batticaloa district this morning to mark the Human Rights Day.

Human Rights Day in Batticaloa, 10 December 1999.TamilNet

The demonstrators carried placards with texts as "Withdraw troops", "We want our land, We want freedom", "Remove Press Censorship", "We condemn attacks on civilians."

A young woman speaking at meeting at Ganesha Vidyalayam (school), after the march said "The Sri Lanka Army which could not bare the losses during the 'Operation Unceasing waves-3' has shelled the refugees at Madhu Church. The Sri Lankan Government and its army have unleashed attacks on us because we are asking for our rights, and are arresting and torturing innocent civilians under the Prevention of Terrorism Act".

Human Rights Day in Batticaloa, 10 December 1999.TamilNet

She appealed to the international society to condemn this.

Meanwhile several demonstrations were held in Colombo to mark the Human Rights Day. One was held at Liptons Circus this afternoon by Non Governmental Organisations.