The sudden re-establishment of several checkpoints in Jaffna has raised concerns from locals, as the military occupation of the Tamil homeland continues.
Residents of Pannai, Mukamalai, Mandaithivu and Eluthumadduval region reported the reinstallation of military checkpoints earlier this month.
For years, political party representatives and the public have been urging successive Sri Lankan governments to remove these checkpoints. Despite the end of the armed conflict and promises of reconciliation, the pervasive presence of the military in everyday life has raised concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the persistent control over the Tamil population.
After the change in the government and the arrival of Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Jaffna, many of the checkpoints were promptly dismantled. However, the recent reinstatement of these checkpoints has raised questions about the new government's actions, especially given their initial removal.
