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A protest against landgrabs by the Sri Lankan military, organised by the Tamil National People’s Front and the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, concluded earlier today in Kilinochchi, despite the detention of the party’s regional coordinator last week by the Sri Lankan army.
Protestors called for the release of Thangavel Jegatheeswaran, who was arrested after defying threats by army officials, who demanded that this demonstration be cancelled.
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The demonstration was organised to demand the return of land in the Northeast, acquired by the Sri Lankan military, to their rightful owners.
A number of people gathered for the protest in Kilinochchi town, watched by Sri Lankan police and military officials.
TNPF officials, including the president of the party Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam and General Secretary Kajendran Selvarajah were joined by TNA MPs Suresh Premachandran and Sritharan and NPC Councillor Shivajilingam at the protest.
Speaking to the Tamil Guardian, National Organiser of the TNPF, Viswalingam Manivannan, said the government was trying to intimidate people and stop protests from happening.
“The Sri Lankan government is campaigning saying that the resettlement of displaced people is completed. We want to highlight the fact that this is false propaganda and several places remain to be resettled,” he said.
“Our district organiser Jegatheeswaran was arrested under the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act by the TID, for organising this protest,” he said, adding that this was designed to intimidate the organisation of protests.
“The recent UNHRC resolutions have not had an impact on the government, as they are continuing with their actions with impunity,
“It is also unfortunate that the arrest has not produced the attention amongst southern [Sri Lankan] human rights activists which previous arrests of activists have had.” Mr Manivannan added.
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