Violation of Students’ Basic Human Rights

Written By: Senthamil Stefi

I am writing this to bring to your attention a hidden time-sensitive situation going on in the international sphere, specifically towards a particular ethnic group of university students. It is interesting how despite the seriousness of the issue, it is not in the forefront of mainstream media. I will let you, yourself decide the extent of the issue.

On Tuesday November 27th, 2012, Tamil students at Jaffna University in Sri Lanka were partaking in Tamil Remembrance Day events when they were harassed and intimidated by Sri Lankan military forces in their female residence to put an end to the commemoration. The following day, they carried out a silent protest on their campus grounds to address their concerns and question the assurance of their safety and their rights, even within their own campus. During this protest, Tamil female and male students as well as a journalist were brutally attacked by military forces.

Head of the Jaffna Uthayan paper stated that plain-clothed soldiers beat his editor, T. Premananth who was covering the story on site. As a student stated, “Army people in civilian dress were holding a guy by the neck of his shirt, then they punched him against the wall. I saw it was the editor of Uthayan, T. Premananth. He was hit twice.” This definitely makes you question the level of transparency and legitimacy in Sri Lanka’s so-called “reconciliation” being in effect.

But not only did the Sri Lankan military force attack the students, they also detained four Tamil university students who are still in their custody.

What did the Sri Lankan military force have to say for themselves? The Jaffna army commander, Mahinda Hathurusinghe said that the MP on site who told the press of the ill-doings of the military towards the students was “paid to spread rumours against the military” and that the “security forces had acted to stop students throwing stones and bottles.” He stated, “The army is doing a good job. The people are peace-loving but there are some disgruntle elements. We don’t have a problem with students, only with a section of the students, people with ulterior motives.” However, a Jaffna University professor tweeted that it was the other way around. She stated that as soon as the students stepped out, the Sri Lankan military forces attacked them.

For those of you who don’t know, this is not the first such incident. Many premeditated incidents have taken place in the past against Tamil university students in Sri Lanka. During a May Massacre Remembrance Day event, Secretary of Jaffna University, Paramalingam Tharsananth was attacked by Sri Lankan military forces. There was also another recent attack at the Eastern University of Sri Lanka.

As it is clearly evident in the aforementioned statements, these are clear violations of a student’s basic rights to freedom of expression and freedom to conduct peaceful assemblies.

Students around the world have since begun to come together in solidarity with the Jaffna University students. They are urging international governments, the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations to recognize these brutal acts of oppression and violence taken against the Jaffna University students during their peaceful protest and to push for the Sri Lankan government to release the detained students to ensure their safety.

Peaceful Demonstration being carried out by Canadian University Students:

Information of Protesting Universities:
1. York University students standing in Solidarity with Jaffna University students
Date: Tuesday, December 4th 2012
Time: 2:00 pm- 3:30 pm
Location: Keele Campus, York University
Facebook Event Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/473484986027817/473565262686456/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

2. Carleton and Ottawa University students standing in Solidarity with Jaffna University students
Date: Tuesday, December 4th 2012
Time: 12:00 pm- 4:00 pm
Location: Carleton University
Facebook Event Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/137711556379775/

3. University of Toronto Scarborough Campus (UTSC) students standing in Solidarity with Jaffna University students
Date: Tuesday, December 4th 2012
Time: 2:00 pm
Location: Student Centre, University of Toronto, Scarborough
Facebook Event Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/315487818565817/

4. University of Toronto St. George Campus (UTSG) students standing in Solidarity with Jaffna University students
Date: Tuesday, December 4th 2012
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Medical Science Building
Facebook Event Link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/174946455985018/

5. Ryerson University students standing in Solidarity with Jaffna University students
Date: Tuesday, December 4th 2012
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Student Centre

6. Waterloo University students standing in Solidarity with Jaffna University students
Date: Tuesday, December 4th 2012
Time: 4:30pm- 5:30pm
Location: MC 2034, Waterloo University
Facebook Event Link:
http://www.facebook.com/events/553199278039106/

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