JU students held in SLA internment camps seek Jaffna HRC help

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 May 2009, 11:39 GMT]
Fourteen Jaffna University students from Vanni district detained in Kaithadi Sri Lanka Army (SLA) internment camp along with other civilians from Vanni have complained to Jaffna Human Rights Commission (HRC) officials that their human rights have been violated by denial of permission to continue their studies in Jaffna University, Jaffna HRC sources said. HRC Jaffna has called for a detailed report on this issue from SLA Jaffna Commanding Officer, Jaffna Government Agent and the Vice-chancellor of Jaffna University.

Jaffna University VC, Prof. N. Shanmugalingan, said that he had already appealed to the President of Sri Lanka, Defence Secretary, Jaffna GA and Jaffna SLA Commanding officer to permit Jaffna university students detained in the SLA internment camps in Jaffna and Vavuniyaa districts to attend lectures in Jaffna University.

Though this appeal had been sent months ago there had been no response, the VC said.

Prof. N. Shanmugalingan who is preparing the report called by Jaffna HRC said that he had repeatedly stressed on the need to permit the university students held in SLA internment camps to continue their studies.