TNA parliamentarians join teachers' protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 03 April 2003, 00:31 GMT]
Five parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Messrs Selvam Adaikalanathan, Raja Kuhaneswaran, Sivasakthi Anandan, K.Thurairetnasingham and Mavai Senathirajah, joined the sit-in-protest campaign of the volunteer teachers, which entered 31st day Wednesday in front of the offices of the northeast provincial ministry of education and provincial department of education in Trincomalee, sources said.

Northeast volunteer teachers began their sit-in-protest on March 3 without obstructing the main gates of the two offices. Hundreds of volunteer teachers Wednesday decided to block the the offices of the provincial ministry of education and provincial department of education and prevented education officials and employees entering therby bringing the administration to a halt.

TNA parliamentarians also joined in the picketing campaign.

Volunteer teachers demand that they should be made permanent as approved by the cabinets of the past Peoples Alliance government and the present United National Front government. For more than ten years they have been teaching in schools in the northeast province mainly in difficult areas where acute shortage for teachers prevail for a paltry sum of money being paid to them from facility fees collected from parents by the school administration, sources said.

Members of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union led by its President Mr.S.Thandauthapani and Secretary Mr.T.Mahasivam and several other officials also joined the picketing campaign. Members of the East University academic and non-academic staff also participated expressing their support to the struggle of the volunteer teachers in the northeast province.

In the afternoon police officials visited the scene and ordered the picketers to make way for the employees to enter the offices. Picketers agreed to disperse after three p.m. and to continue their sit-in-protest as usual without obstructing the main gates of the two offices, sources said.

But the Police were at the scene to ensure that the blockade be removed at three p.m. as agreed. After TNA parliamentarians who were present at the site addressed the closing session of the picketing, volunteer teachers and others dispersed from the area.

Related Articles:
01.04.03   Vanni MP lends moral support to protesting teachers
27.03.03   CAET appeals to PM in support of volunteer teachers
27.03.03   Killinochchi, Mullaitivu teachers join Trincomalee protest
24.03.03   Volunteer teachers extend their protest to Jaffna
20.03.03   Volunteer teachers threaten hunger strike