Facebook icon
Twitter icon
e-mail icon

Hartal shuts down North-East as protests against Sri Lankan repression step up

A hartal is being carried out across the North-East today, as Tamils were joined by Muslims and others across the region as they protested Sri Lankan attempts to ban the commemoration of those who gave their lives for Tamil rights and ongoing intimidation. This is the most wide-spread protest in Sri Lanka since Rajapaksa took power last year.

The hartal - a day long shutdown - took place despite intimdation from the Sri Lankan security forces, with reports that traders were threatened to continue business as normal.

See photographs from across the North-East below.

Mullaitivu

One of Tamil Guardian's Mullaitivu correspondent said the shutdown had been observed widely across the region, with Muslim communities also joining the protest. They too have faced a ramping up of intimidation and harassment from the Sri Lankan security forces, which has sharply stepped up its presence in the region.

“The number of checkpoints in Mullaitivu has steadily increased over the past few months,” our correspondent said. “There is a real sense of fear that the army can shoot you and get away with it. People are voicing their opposition to their presence.”

Jaffna

Chunnakam Central Market Complex, Jaffna

 

Point Pedro, Jaffna

Five Junction Area Jaffna

Muslim-owned establishments in the Five Junction area of Jaffna shut down in solidarity with today's hartal.

 

Manipay, Jaffna

 

 

Vavuniya 

Vavuniya Market Complex

According to Tamil Guardian journalists in Vavuniya, Sri Lankan police and Intelligence officials entered Vavuniya's Bazar today and ordered the reopening of closed trading centres and shops using loudspeakers. Despite this, staff and owners defied their orders and did not open their shops. Tamil and Muslim businessmen in Vavuniya are fully cooperating in the wide-scale hartal.

 

Kilinochchi

Pallai, Kilinochchi

Mankulam, Kilinochchi

Mannar

Batticaloa 

More to follow.

We need your support

Sri Lanka is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a journalist. Tamil journalists are particularly at threat, with at least 41 media workers known to have been killed by the Sri Lankan state or its paramilitaries during and after the armed conflict.

Despite the risks, our team on the ground remain committed to providing detailed and accurate reporting of developments in the Tamil homeland, across the island and around the world, as well as providing expert analysis and insight from the Tamil point of view

We need your support in keeping our journalism going. Support our work today.

For more ways to donate visit https://donate.tamilguardian.com.