IUSU representatives threatened with death in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 June 2010, 15:14 GMT]
Unknown gunmen on motor cycles speaking fluent Sinhalese threatened Inter University Students’ Union (IUSU) representatives Sunday as they were returning after being denied entry into Jaffna University for the second time during the week-end, IUSU representatives staying in a lodge in Jaffna University surroundings said. IUSU representatives had been turned away at the main gates by Jaffna University Vice-chancellor Saturday morning when they wanted to get in to give the war affected Vanni undergrads relief materials including wheel-chairs for invalids they had collected in the South. The gunmen had warned that the IUCU representatives will be killed and their vehicle burnt threatening with revolvers if they do not leave Jaffna immediately, they further said.

Meanwhile, Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU) has expressed its deep dissatisfaction against JU administration while demanding permission to meet the IUCU representatives within their university in a media report released Sunday.

The IUCU representatives were not allowed to enter JU premises Sunday by the guards at the main entrance directed by JU Vice-chancellor.

IUSU representatives speaking to the local media asked why they were not permitted to enter Jaffna University where political leaders of ruling UPFA and UNP were allowed to hold even election campaign meetings.

“Jaffna University VC tells us that he had to act on orders from above and we want to know who are the persons above and said it could only be the ruling government as it had declared that the Liberation Tigers have been completely annihilated in the war,” they added.

“The truth behind this incident should be revealed,” they demanded.

The Vice-chancellor of Jaffna University did not permit Saturday more than seventy representatives of Inter University Students’ Union (IUSU) from South who had come to Jaffna to give the war affected Vanni students in Jaffna University things they had collected, to enter the university premise.

The IUSU representatives led by Uthila Premaratne were stopped at the entrance as Jaffna University VC directed the security guards to close the main gate. Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU) representatives were told curtly by the VC that Jaffna University was not a place for their political activities.