Peace protest in Vaakarai

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 23 January 2001, 11:12 GMT]
Hundreds of people demonstrated in Vaakarai on Tuesday demanding the Sri Lankan Government reciprocate positively to the Liberation Tigers unilateral cease-fire and to begin negotiations with the movement. The protest was also intended to highlight that Tamil people's aspiration is their right to self-determination, organisers said.

A large number of school students, government and non-governmental officials participated in the protests despite heavy rains, sources said.

A protest march from Verukal and other from Pannichankerny, converged at Vaakarai Divisional Secretary's (DS) office where they burnt effigies of Sri Lanka's President, Prime Minister and Deputy Defence Minister.

Student representatives, school principals and members of public, spoke at a meeting held in front of the DS office, the sources said.