Protest, shut down in Jaffna on Sri Lanka's Independence Day

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 2004, 09:21 GMT]
Jaffna town was deserted Wednesday while Sri Lankan armed forces hoisted lion flags and observed Independence Day amid tight security in many parts of the peninsula. Several civil society groups and public organisations urged the people of Jaffna last week to observe Sri Lanka's Independence Day as a black day. Jaffna University students flew black flags and decorated the campus' main entrance with curry plantain trees. Jaffna Mothers' Front protested in front of the District Secretariat as Police in riot gear stood guard.

Tamils use curry plantain trees to mark death.

A spokeswoman for Mothers' Front said that the secretary of the Jaffna Missing Persons' Guardian Association, Mr. S. Satkunam could not come for the protest in the morning because he was threatened by Sri Lankan armed forces personnel last night.


Jaffna Mothers' Front protest at the District Secretariat

Police in Jaffna town told TamilNet they were not aware of the threat to Mr. Satkunam.


riot Policemen near the Mothers' Front protest at the Jaffna Secretariat Wednesday

Few persons and vehicles were on the roads and shops and offices were closed in the northern town Wednesday.


Black flag and curry plaintain trees at the Jaffna University main entrance


Sri Lanka's lion flag hoisted at a military sentry in Valvettithurai, Jaffna Wednesday