Sri Lankan military intimidation as Mullivaikkal commemorations begin

by Thusiyan
May 13, 2020

Armed Sri Lankan soldiers and police officers threatened to send a group of Tamils to coronavirus quarantine centres, as they marked the beginning of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Week in Jaffna this morning.

As members of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) gathered in Chemmani, Sri Lankan police officers immediately arrived and attempted to stop commemorations from taking place, claiming the organisers were not maintaining social distancing.

Armed soldiers soon arrived, with security forces warning that people would be sent to coronavirus quarantine centres that the military has set up in recent weeks. The military proceeded to take photographs and details of attendees in an attempt to intimidate those present.

“We were under surveillance by Sri Lanka Police and military throughout the event,” tweeted the TNPF. “The details and photographs of everyone gathered were also taken.”

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