EPDP enforces shutdown in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 October 2008, 11:12 GMT]
Eelam Peoples' Democratic Party (EPDP) brought about a forced shutdown Thursday in Jaffa peninsula assisted by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and police to protest against the Sea Tiger attack on Sri Lankan ships Wednesday early morning, affecting normalcy of life in Jaffna peninsula. EPDP obstructed distribution of a local newspaper Thursday prompting the daily's Colombo head office to release a protest report besides lodging a complaint with the relevant authorities.

EPDP men had called the people of the peninsula Tuesday night using loud speakers attached to vehicles to observe the shutdown Thursday.

The people, however, began their daily activities Thursday morning as usual but were sent back home by EPDP men who stood at key junctions with the SLA soldiers and police.

All public and private transport services were not allowed to function on the orders of the EPDP men.

The SLA and the police carried out strict checking of the people who were on their way to work and other places.

School children were unable to attend school as there were no transport facilities.

Residents remained in their homes while business establishments had to be closed, civil society sources in Jaffna said.