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Teachers' union condemn military presence at Jaffna Uni

The Jaffna University teachers' union condemned the heavy presence of military personnel around the university, stating that it was leading to widespread fear amongst students, reports Uthayan.

The heightened military presence comes days before the Tamil nation's remembrance day event - Maaveerar Naal - on November 27, which has been a focal point of military deployment across the North-East since the end of the armed conflict in an attempt to clamp down on memorial events.

"This [military presence] cannot be accepted, this has caused fear amongst not only the university students but amongst the entire university society.  The opportunity to learn independently will only occur when the army is discharged from the university environment," the union said on Friday.

The police's media spokesperson however dismissed the union's concerns however.

"The army are not based near the university on a special operation but just on a routine action. It is usual to position army in some areas in ivew of the need for a routine presence. Students need not be worried about this," the spokesperson, Ranjith Mallavaratchi told Uthayan.

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