Meetings mark Jaffna May Day

[TamilNet, Saturday, 02 May 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eleven public meetings were held in Jaffna yesterday as part of the May 1 celebrations. Eelam People's Democratic Organisation (EPDP) organised 6 public meetings in Jaffna yesterday. Approximately 40-50 people attended each of these meeting, said sources in Jaffna.

Roughly 1000 people took part in the procession arranged by the PLOTE and EPRLF, which started in the Jaffna Town and ended at Gurunagar.

24 people took part in the procession arranged by the governing SLFP, which started at 1st Cross street in the Jaffna Town and ended at Duraiappah Stadium.

Most of those who went in the SLFP procession were young female volunteer school teachers who had been called for a seminar near the SLFP office. They had aparently come with the hope that the seminar would help them make their appointments permanent.

A Police vehicle escorted the procession and 21 police personnel were on guard.

The TULF held its meeting at Kailasapillayar temple premises. Mayor for Jaffna Municipal Council Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran and Mr. Aanandasangari spoke at the meeting, which were mainly focused on development of Jaffna.

New Democratic Party (Puthiya Jananayakak Kadchi) held its meeting at Thirunelvely which was attended by about 200 people.

Many speakers spoke against the war and said the people should rise against the oppression.

Many Policemen and intelligence officers attended this meeting and speeches were recorded by them, according to the TamilNet correspondent in Jaffna.

Police sources said that the extra precaution was being taken in view of the fact that the NDP is the only party that was present in Jaffna before the army moved into the peninsula.

In Batticaloa, in the eastern province nearly one thousand people attended the joint rally arranged by the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE).

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