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There will be serious repercussions

The view expressed by the Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University, Prof T Mohanadas, that the barbaric actions of the security forces on December 19th inside the university will be a black day in the history of the university, is an important one. Those who know the political history of this island will understand this.

The views of the VC about the attacks by the military on peaceful demonstrators in which a Dean, a Professor and several students were injured, is correct.

Tamil people and Tamil students have faced many black days in the past. These have not forced them to accept the Sinhala oppression lying down. Instead these incidents gave them the outraged determination to fight back. An example is the massacre of hundreds of Tamils during the Black July of 1983. This one barbaric act strengthened the Tamil struggle by pushing the youth into taking up arms in very large numbers.

One can say with confidence that December 19th that has become a black day in the history of the university will also be a milestone in the freedom struggle of the Tamil people.

Tamils should now realize that the Sinhala chauvinistic government will not hesitate to let loose its State terrorism on any sector of the Tamil community. If this is not the case then the December 19th attack could not have taken place. In the long struggle of the Tamil people there has never been an attack like this on the University community. While there were attacks on the University students in the past, the university teachers and professors were never attacked before.

When the GOSL appointed hardliners as head of the military, observers deduced that the GOSL is getting ready for a violent strategy. Yet, no one expected this strategy to include attacks on the University community.

It should also be noted that the Vice Chancellor had already discussed the peaceful protest on December 19th by the University community with the Sri Lankan army chief of Jaffna. When the military attempted to stop the protest the Vice Chancellor explained the aim of the protest to them. Military refusing to accept this explanation started to attack and the VC was forced to take cover from the onslaught of the military.

It is therefore clear that this attack was preplanned. Such an attack could not have been carried out without the permission of the GOSL.

Contribution of students in the history of world liberation struggles is great. Students step into the struggle when the oppressor’s violent tactics reach its peak. Presently, Sri Lankan military is creating such a condition. The attack on the university community is an aspect of this. The Sri Lankan military will soon be forced to face the repercussions.

21 December 2005

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