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Jaffna University Students burn a coffin symbolizing Sinhala chauvinistic policies

The protest started inside the Jaffna University complex at 10.00 a.m. The coffin and the effigy were placed on a stage built especially for the purpose. The coffin was marked as containing "Sinhala Buddhist Chauvinistic policies". The tradition funeral rites were conducted for both the coffin and the effigy. The students then carried the coffin like in a funeral.

The procession of the coffin and the effigy wound through streets lead by members of parliament, university students, academic staff, and deans of faculties and was accompanied by the traditional funeral drum. The streets were also decorated according to tradition. Students wearing costumes cried out loud behind the coffin. When the procession reached the Thirunelveli-Parameswara junction the coffin and the effigy was placed in the middle of the road.

A meeting followed with thousands of people in attendance. Member of parliament N Raviraj and university staff Dr Sithamparanathan gave speeches.

At the end students set the coffin and the effigy alight while shouting slogans. "The activities of the Buddhist monks against Tamil people and the joint structure must be immediately stopped. Otherwise we will rise up against it", shouted the students. They also shouted, " This is only the start of our uprising and will be intensified unless the activities against Tamils and the joint structure are not immediately stopped."

14 June 2005

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