UNHCR refused to accept student requests

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 July 1999, 15:54 GMT]
Vanni students held a protest march yesterday demanding the opening of a civilian route into the region.

The march started at the Thunukai junction and worked its way towards the offices of the ICRC and UNHCR in Mallavi.

The marchers called on the international community to intervene and handed over written requests at the offices of the ICRC and UNHCR.

While the ICRC representative was willing to accept the student's request, the UNCHR representative refused to accept separate requests addressed to both the UNHCR and UN Secretary General stating that the march had disrupted normal office activities.

Sources said that the representative later managed to accept the pieces of paper.