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Jaffna University Vice Chancellor, Professor attacked by SLA

A group of Jaffna university students, members of the public and member of parliament for Jaffna, S Gajendran, started off in three vehicles from Jaffna university region at 3.00 pm on Sunday to attend the funeral of the Pungudutivu woman whose body was recovered from a well near the Sri Lankan Navy camp at 1.00 pm on Sunday. The SLA stopped them near the university and refused to allow them to proceed. However, people attempted to proceed in spite of it. At this stage the SLA attacked the vehicles, its passengers and civilians who were standing by.

Further reinforcement was brought in by the SLA and there were more than 400 armed troops stationed around the Students Consortium building near the university. The troops also opened fire. The troops entered the Student Consortium building and started to break the furniture, windows, and documents inside. Parked bicycles were also broken. People were throwing stones at the troops.

SLMM arrived at the scene only two hours after the violence has broken out. People lodged complaints with the SLMM. The troops continued to attack the people even in the presence of the SLMM. 35 people were injured by these attacks and the situation calmed down only at 7.30 pm.

On Monday morning at 10.30 am the university community lead by the Vice Chancellor took a complaint to SLMM by procession. SLA troops started firing at the procession and prevented them from proceeding to the SLMM office. Several people including the Vice Chancellor and the Dean of Arts were injured in this incident. Several of the injured were admitted to the hospital.

Some reports say that journalists covering the incidents were also attacked and their equipment was broken. Tension prevails in Jaffna and fear is expressed that casualty figures may rise.

19 December 2005

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