Jaffna-wide schools boycott enters second week

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 February 2007, 10:33 GMT]
The boycott organized by Vadamaradchy Tamil Students union throughout Jaffna peninsula entered its second week on Monday, with no information received about the whereabouts of the two students abducted in Vadamaradchy three weeks ago. Most students in Jaffna district responded to the call by the Students Union to boycott school activities until the abducted students are released.

Posters calling for the active participation of all students have been plastered on the walls of all schools in the North and the boycott is expected to intensify in the near future, sources said.

Fearing student violence, a large number of Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops have been stationed in the vicinity of most schools. The identity cards (ID)of some of the students who attended schools on Monday were confiscated by the troops promising to return their IDs Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the troops have approached the principals of schools in the peninsula requesting them to persuade students to return to their classes

Silence of education department officials and security officials in the peninsula has cast a pall of gloom over the student population causing great concern for the safety of the abducted students, a student union leader said.

SLA soldiers and collaborating paramilitaries in the Peninsula have abducted a number of undergraduates and high school students in the last several months. The recent escalation in number of abductions of civilians in Jaffna has once again created fear among the residents.

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