Student protests to widen

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 07 December 2005, 01:57 GMT]
Jaffna Student Consortium said Tuesday evening that they have decided to expand the protests across Jaffna district schools Wednesday since the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has not met the demands by the protesting Hartley College students and has continued to use force to suppress student actions the last two days, sources in Jaffna said.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) members had told the students that it is unlikely that additional SLA troops brought to the Vadamaradchy region will be removed any time soon.

In Valigamam East comprising towns of Nallur, Irupalai, Kopay, Kondavil, Atchuvely and Vadamaradchy region remained deserted and buisnesses closed following the claymore attack in Irupalai and the student unrest near the HSZ in Point Pedro.

Since public transport came to a standstilll following the attack people who had travelled in the morning were left stranded and there were reports from Jaffna that people have seen walking in groups from Atchuvely to Point Pedro.

Meanwhile, a Police jeep returning to the Police station located 400 meters from Nelliady junction came under grenade attack. No injuries were reported. Residents said that a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter circled the town and surrounding villages for some time after the incident.