Picketing in Jaffna as EPDP stays put with armed forces' guard

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 November 2002, 14:40 GMT]
Several hundred people Thursday picketed the headquarters of the para military Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) located in Jaffna town, demanding their immediate withdrawal from the Neduntheivu (Delft) islet. Sources in Jaffna said Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and armed police personnel are now guarding the EPDP headquarters.

Picketing outside the EPDP office in Jaffna.

Earlier today, the picketers clashed with the police when the latter attempted to remove loudhailers used by the protestors.

Meanwhile, the Jaffna District People's Movement (JDPM) has announced that the picketing would continue in front of the EPDP headquarters on a rotating basisuntil the EPDP withdrew its members from Neduntheivu.

Armed police on guard outside the EPDP headquarters.

In the meantime the Jaffna University Students' Union has started collecting food rations to be sent to Neduntheivu as acute shortage of essential items prevails in the islet. The passenger boat services between Neduntheivu and islets have come to a halt following the agitation campaign by the villagers against the presence of EPDP members, the sources said.