Jaffna Undergrads burn government magazine

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 April 2001, 15:11 GMT]
The students of the Jaffna University burnt copies of the 'Amuthu', a Tamil magazine published by the state run Lake House news papers Thursday evening as a mark of protest against its anti-Tamil stance, sources said. The 'Amuthu' is dedicated to propaganda aimed at subtly or balatantly promoting the policies of the People's Alliance regime and the activities of the Sri Lanka army. The magazine is edited by Mr. Manoranjan who is a close confidante of the Sri Lankan President and is a director of Rupavahini, the state run TV station.

The Jaffna undergraduates said that the latest issue of the magazine had not only demeaned the Tamil people but had carried an obscene portrayal of the leader of the Liberation Tigers. They said that the Amuthu's attitude reflects the government's approach to the current negotiations to begin peace talks with the Liberation Tigers.

They said that they will launch a campaign to oppose the sale of the magazine in the peninsula despite the vindictive nature of the Amuthu's editorial board which has close links with the Sri Lanka army's high command in Jaffna.

Mr.Manoranjan is a member of the University Teachers for Human Rights (UTHR) (Jaffna).