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“There is no guarantee that our souls will be saved”

The Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University, S Mohanathas, made a public statement about how Jaffna University is coping with the recent violence and threatening incidents that have been committed by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on campus this week. Vice Chancellor Mohanathas’ statement is as follows,

“There has been no development on decreasing tension in Jaffna. There is no guarantee that our souls will be saved, so we have stopped all university classes and functions until 2 January. Two days ago lecturers, deans, and heads of students discussed the recent violent activities conducted by the SLA that involved the SLA forcefully entering our campus and opening fire at the students. We also discussed educational activities and how the recent events have been a threat to all. It was apparent from the discussion that the students were highly emotive consequent to the provocative acts of the military.

“On the 18th and 19th of December, the SLA attacked students and opened fire at their protests during different instances. On 20 December a police vehicle arrived at the university’s Ramanathan Road, causing fear among students due to the previous day’s incidents. The SLA began to open fire for no reason, making students defend themselves by throwing stones at the vehicle. The vehicle left, and moments later a large number of police and SLA armed vehicles forcefully entered the university. The students who were on campus were attacked, and one of our lecturers was also attacked and arrested.”

“An education free of disruption and fear should be available to students, but the SLA threatens this by conducting military operations and violent actions that affect the students and people’s daily lives. If this continues, there will be a large loss of life. If students’ lives are lost, as Vice Chancellor, I must respond to the parents. After the loss of their loved ones, they will blame us as we are responsible for the safety of our students. Before any loss occurs, preventive actions need to be taken, thus we have stopped classes until 2 January. This decision is a step toward repairing the situation.”

“Our university community not only includes our campus, but it encompasses our technical college, civilian homes, shops, etc. As we are a part of this greater community, we unanimously decided to temporarily suspend classes. We will arrange a means for the final year students to submit their dissertations. The students who are living in our dormitories have returned home.”

“We have sent reports of the SLA’s violent actions that occurred in our university to the Education Ministry Secretary and the University Grants Commission. We will not continue our students’ education in this tense environment.”

“Everyone’s lives are threatened in Jaffna. I spoke to the Government Agent of Jaffna district and submitted three points that need urgent attention:

1. To remove the Sri Lankan military from the university areas

2. To stop interference with university students

3. To stop the military’s threatening presence in the areas where students live

“No progress has yet been made in de-escalating tension in the Jaffna district”.

22 December 2005

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