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Jaffna uni students mark Remembrance Day, defying military

Posters, honouring the sacrifice of Eelam's heroes and proclaiming the continuation of the struggle for independence, were found across Jaffna University campus on Wednesday.

The posters, seen at the student's common room and parking area, had increased in number by the following morning.

Students reported that the posters read,

“We take a vow that we will travel in the ultimate path of our heroes who sacrificed their life for the truth.”

Jaffna university students are understood to have been behind it.

One student, who wished to remain anonymous, stated,

"Repression and murders will not wipe out our maaverar from our hearts, nor will it diminish the sacrifice they made for Tamils’ struggle and their goal. This is our clear message from these posters, SL Gov and the international community should understand that.”

"No matter how the SL gov continues its repression, our struggle for liberation will not diminish."

The Sri Lankan military, 50,000 of whom are deployed in Jaffna alone, have been patrolling the Jaffna area with increased vigilence as Remembrance Day approaches. The tolling of temple bells has already been prohibited by the military.

According to reports by the students, posters were then removed by Sri Lanka's 'investigative force’, and by a violent group of thugs. The thugs, who were armed and masked their faces with black clothing, entered the main entrance of the university and smashed the notice board where the posters had been stuck to.  

Students condemned the attack, as an act of shameless violence on university premises by the military.

Reports have also emerged, that Sri Lanka's intelligence officers and para-military forces have been patrolling the Jaffna area over past weeks, to quash any attempt to mark Remembrance Day.

A Jaffna university lecturer speaking on condition of anonymity said,

"This incidence only shows the Sri Lankan force’s fear of  the Tamil people’s quest for freedom. They thought they could cause anxiety among the students by removing the posters but the students seem more elated and their faith of liberation is on the rise. 

See Navy attempts to quash Remembrance events in Kaarainagar (24 Nov 2011)

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