Police block Jaffna student protest

[TamilNet, Monday, 26 July 1999, 15:50 GMT]
A march organised by Jaffna University students, demanding that thegovernment open a route into the Vanni, was blocked by the SLA and Police atParameswara college junction at noon today.

The march started from the University and was heading towards the Jaffna

Secretariat, where the students were to hand the Government Agent (G.A.) a

letter adressed to the Sri Lankan president, when it was stopped.

The organisers of the rally said that they had obtained permission from from

the Jaffna police to stage the march but the police at the scene blocked the

march saying that permission had not been granted.

Mr. T. Vaithilingham, the additional G.A, and the co-ordinator for the

Jaffna Human Rights Commission, Mr. S.Sreetharan, were also present.

Unable to reach the G.A himself, the marchers handed the letter to the

additional G.A and concluded the march at the junction after a peaceful

blockade action to protest against the behaviour of the police and SLA.