LIVE - Protests continue in Jaffna as outrage over Mullivaikkal monument destruction grows

 09 January 2021

Updated 11:28 GMT

A hartal has been planned for next week as dozens of Tamils continue to stage a protest outside the university of Jaffna this morning amidst heightened security presence after authorities bulldozed a memorial monument last night. 

Protesters persisted in their demonstration, sleeping outside the University throughout the night. Protesters included Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP Sritharan and Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) MP Selvarajah Kajendran. 

The demonstration began last night after Sri Lankan troops blocked off the university entrance as authorities bulldozed a monument inside the university campus dedicated to the tens of thousands of Tamils killed in a genocidal offensive by the Sri Lankan state in 2009. 

Reacting to the protests, Jaffna University's Vice-Chancellor threatened that if protesters continued with their demonstration, they would be "dealt with". 

A photograph circulating on social media purportedly shows the Vice-Chancellor showing Sri Lanka's army one of the many monuments inside the university campus. 

Canadian politicians have condemned the destruction of the Mullivaikkal memorial and called on Canada and the international community to stop such acts of destruction. 

 

See more on the events of Friday night in our feature: Protest at Jaffna University as authorities destroy Mullivaikkal memorial

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08 January 2021 : Protest at Jaffna University as authorities destroy Mullivaikkal memorial