Civilians picket garrison work outside Jaffna Fort

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 May 2003, 10:29 GMT]
Hundreds of civilians Monday morning picketed the entrance of Jaffna Fort preventing Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and Police from clearing the area outside the Jaffna fort in preparation for relocating the Jaffna garrison of the SLA. The Jaffna District Peoples Organizations and Jaffna University Students Union organized the picketing campaign, sources said.

Tense situation prevailed in the area when more SLA soldiers rushed to the site following picketing. The monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) visited the scene immediately and held discussion with the security forces and representatives of the picketers.

The clearing work was stopped around 10.30. a.m. due to the intervention of the SLMM monitors. Thereafter soldiers and police withdrew from the site and civilians also abandoned their picketing, sources said.

However, SLA soldiers and the police are continuing clearing work inside of the Jaffna Fort in order to shift the Jaffna garrison of the SLA which is now located in two hotels and about eighty civilian homes in the heart of Jaffna town, sources said.

Related Articles:
01.05.03   New HSZ location not compatible with CFA - Thamilchelvan
01.04.03   Tamil MPs object to new Jaffna garrison
31.03.03   Military complex in heart of Jaffna unacceptable - Thamilche..
25.03.03   PM urged to stop SLA camp in Jaffna municipal land