Shut down observed in East despite SLA threats
[TamilNet, Friday, 30 January 2009, 17:07 GMT]
A shut down in the North and East Friday called by the Tamil National Alliance to condemn the killing of Tamils in Vanni was totally observed in the East in a peaceful manner despite harassment and threats by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) of severe consequences for those taking part in the shut down, sources in Batticaloa said.
People in Batticaloa, Ampaa’rai and Trincomalee districts observed the shut down closing their shops and refraining from attending offices, schools and other public activities though the SLA and the SLA-backed paramilitary men threatened the traders not to close their shops. The schools in the Eastern Province did not function Friday as students did not attend schools. Most of the government offices in the Tamil areas remained inactive as the majority of the officers did not report for work. The banks too remained closed while transport service was very much limited. The paramilitary groups in Ampaa’rai and Trincomalle districts had issued threats Thursday night by phone and in person to the government officers to report for work Friday. Despite the threats of the SLA and the SLA-backed paramilitary men the people in the Eastern province observed the shut down expressing their support and sympathy to the suffering Tamils in Vanni.
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