Tamils - a Trans State Nation..

"To us all towns are one, all men our kin.
Life's good comes not from others' gift, nor ill
Man's pains and pains' relief are from within.
Thus have we seen in visions of the wise !."
- Tamil Poem in Purananuru, circa 500 B.C 

• Sri Lanka troops open fire on demonstration in Jaffna, Lecturer shot, VC attacked
  - [TamilNet, December 19, 2005]

Sri Lanka Army troopers opened fire at a peaceful demonstration march by Jaffna University students and staff, wounding at least seven demonstrators including Prof. N. Perinpanathan, a Senior Lecturer, and a student leader of the medical faculty T. Kandeepan. Professor C. Mohanadas, the Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University, Prof. R. Sivchandran, Dean of Arts, and S. Kajendran, Jaffna MP were severely beaten by the soliders. The demonstration march from Jaffna University towards the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission (SLMM) did not proceed beyond Parameswara Junction where the troopers began firing at the demontrators around 11:00 a.m. Monday. Tension prevails in the area.

Sri Lanka Army troops at Parameswara Junction.

At least seven people were injured and rushed to Jaffna Hospital. The demonstrators were scheduled to hand over an appeal to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission protesting the increased harassment by the Sri Lanka Army soldiers on the student community in Jaffna and the alleged involvement of Sri Lanka Navy men in the killing of a young woman in Punguduthivu on Saturday. Journalists covering the students demonstration were also attacked by the soldiers at Parameswara junction.

Thinakural staff reporter Mr. N. Sabeswaran, Uthayan reporter N. Pradeepan, Thinakaran (Lake House) reporter Wintson Jeyan and Namathu Eelanadu reporter Mr. I. Jerad were beaten up by the troopers. The soldiers also smashed their digital camera equipments, media sources said. The peaceful demonstrators were dispersed by the sudden gunfire and the attacks launched by the soldiers.

Arts faculty student Mr. Thiruchenthuran, 22, and a Management faculty student Mr. I. Senthil,23, were also among the wounded admitted at the Jaffna Hospital, medical sources said.

Mr. T. Rooban, 38, who was driving the three-wheeler leading the march with loudspeakers fixed on his vehicle to broadcast slogans, was also attacked. The three-wheeler was also smashed by the soldiers.

The Jaffna University Student�s Union has called for an emergency meeting following the attack on the demonstration.

Meanwhile, a large number of autorikshaw drivers gathered in front of the SLMM office at Temple road Monday noon to protest against the recent attacks on their colleagues by SLA soldiers.