Jaffna students deny “supporting the cause”
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SATURDAY, 29 DECEMBER 2012
A special meeting will be held between Faculty Deans and Jaffna University Lecturers, sequent to a meeting with the four students detained at the Welikanda rehabilitation camp before deciding on the future course of action.
The Jaffna University has come to a standstill after the students began boycotting lectures urging that the four students still under detention since the time they were arrested after the alleged ‘heroes’ day’ celebration held at the University on November 27.
Earlier Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had met the Faculty Deans and requested them to find a way out of the impasse and ensure that the students attended the lectures.
Meanwhile the students had denied making any statements to the Army to the effect that they would “continue to fight for the cause”.
The Deans met the students still in custody after they were requested by the Jaffna Security Forces Commander Mahinda Hathurusinghe to advise the students to disengage from activities relating to the LTTE.
The security forces commander is reported to have told the Deans and the parents that the students had been campaigning for the LTTE and that they had reiterated their determination to “fight for the cause”.
A source said the students were being detained in an isolated place away from other inmates.
“It must be because they are students but they have been kept away from the other detainees and spend time reading books. They have not been asked to engage in any sort of training or other activity” the source said.
He said the Camp OIC had been advising the students about their duty towards their parents and the need to educate them before engaging in politics.
“They are being told about the value of education and have always been advised to stay away from politics,” the source said. (Menaka Mookandi)
The Jaffna University has come to a standstill after the students began boycotting lectures urging that the four students still under detention since the time they were arrested after the alleged ‘heroes’ day’ celebration held at the University on November 27.
Earlier Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had met the Faculty Deans and requested them to find a way out of the impasse and ensure that the students attended the lectures.
Meanwhile the students had denied making any statements to the Army to the effect that they would “continue to fight for the cause”.
The Deans met the students still in custody after they were requested by the Jaffna Security Forces Commander Mahinda Hathurusinghe to advise the students to disengage from activities relating to the LTTE.
The security forces commander is reported to have told the Deans and the parents that the students had been campaigning for the LTTE and that they had reiterated their determination to “fight for the cause”.
A source said the students were being detained in an isolated place away from other inmates.
“It must be because they are students but they have been kept away from the other detainees and spend time reading books. They have not been asked to engage in any sort of training or other activity” the source said.
He said the Camp OIC had been advising the students about their duty towards their parents and the need to educate them before engaging in politics.
“They are being told about the value of education and have always been advised to stay away from politics,” the source said. (Menaka Mookandi)
