'Pongu' Tamil continues in East

[TamilNet, Monday, 19 February 2001, 20:50 GMT]
The Independent Students Union in Batticaloa has called on pupils and teachers to boycott schools and take part in 'Pongu Thamil' (Tamil Upsurge) programmes scheduled to be held at the Eastern University campus on Tuesday. Tuesday's event, organised by the Eastern University community and more than 50 non-governmental organisations, will begin at 9 a.m by lighting the 'freedom- flame', organizers said.

The organizers have requested all Tamil people make the 'Pongu Thamil' declaration at 12 noon tomorrow from their respective places.

The Tamil Upsurge programmes are being organised to impress the fact that any political solution to the ethnic conflict of the island should recognise the Tamil people's right to self-determination, their traditional homeland and the distinct nationality of Tamil people, a leaflet issued by the organizers said. "Until these demands are met our agitation will continue" the leaflet further said.

Meanwhile the annual Inter House Sports meet of several schools in the Trincomalee district, scheduled to be held tomorrow, have been postponed to a later date due to the one day hartal being held in connection with the 'Pongu Thamil' program.

Also, the Trincomalee District Graduates' Union has organized a one-hour prayer campaign for peace in Trincomalee town on Wednesday morning from 8 to 9. The prayer will be held at Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall.

The main aim of the prayer campaign is to enlist the support of all communities in the Trincomalee district to usher peace in the country by bringing the war to an end, a spokesman of the Trincomalee District Graduates' Union said.