Hartley, Methodist Re-open amid unease
Student turn out was very low when the Sri Lanka army permitted
the reopening of Hartley College and Pt. Pedro Methodist Girls High
School in Jaffna Monday amid tensions, teachers said. The two
schools were shut down by the SLA last week when students and
parents, who were protesting against the military, urging it to
remove its bunkers and defence positions around the two schools,
stormed the checkpoints and demolished some.
Education officials in Vadamaradchi said the attendance of students
was very poor on Monday. Advanced level students from the two
schools did not attend classes due to fear, teachers said.
Of more two thousand students at Hartley College only around 180
attended classes Monday, teachers said. Of about 3000 students at
Methodist Girls High School only 440 attended. Armed Police units
have been posted in sentry points at the junction of the main road that
leads to these schools.
Members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Jaffna were seen at the
Police sentry points close to the schools.
Additional police personnel were brought in four buses and were kept
till evening on Monday to ensure security in the area.
The Defence Ministry Secretary last week at a conference held in
Jaffna said that Point Pedro still remains a high security zone and it
won't be possible to open the coastal road for public.
Courtesy: TamilNet, September 09, 2002
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