Deploring the attacks on Jaffna University students, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), called for the immediate releas of students detained by the Terrorism Investigative Division (TID).

In a statement GTF said,

"GTF supports the mass protests denouncing the security forces, which was staged in Jaffna by the key Tamil parties, supported by like-minded democratic political forces in the South, trade unions and many civil society organisations. In addition, the solidarity shown by student unions in Eastern University, Ruhuna, Peradeniya Universities in Southern Sri Lanka and Youth organisations overseas, with the plight of those at Jaffna University, underlines the desire to end the State’s repression of the Tamil people in the area."

"The Government’s response has been to increase heavily armed military personnel around the Jaffna University, spurring arbitrary security checks and raising fear that there could be more arrests of University students on false charges under the sweeping powers granted to military under Terrorism laws. State authorities and security personnel have used these laws to criminalise dissent, supress politicians, human rights activists, journalists, trade unionists, restrict freedom of expression and commit human rights abuses with impunity."

"GTF is encouraged by the US Embassy’s continuous monitoring of the prevailing situation and urge the US and other international governments to continue monitoring the situation to ensure the safe release of those Jaffna University students who were arrested."

An 18 year old student was abducted by the Terrorism Investigations Department (TID) whilst in Valveddithurai (VVT), in Jaffna, reports TamilNet.

The studnet, Arulampalam Dhishokraj is believed to have been abducted on Wednesday. The parents of Dishokraj received a telephone call from the TID the next day, informing them that their son was in custody.

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), run by the World Bank, has said the risk of expropriation is rising in several countries, highlighting Sri Lanka as one of the countries where it is prevalent.

"Expropriation—which was an important threat to foreign investors in the developing world a few decades ago, but had since abated—is becoming more prevalent," MIGA said in a new report released today.

"Several new direct expropriations occurred in 2011-2012, notably YPF S.A. in Argentina partly owned by Repsol YMP S.A. (Spain) and Transportadora de Electricidad, a power transmission company in Bolivia owned by Red Electrica Española (Spain), and some local companies in Sri Lanka."

Six more students were arrested by the Terrorism Intelligence Department on Thursday reports Uthayan and TamilNet.

Five of them were handed over by the Dean of the Medical Faculty, Prof. Balakumaran, the other - a student within the Science faculty - was handed over by his father.

Tamil politician, M K Sivajilingam, has confirmed that the Sri Lankan government has made at least 3 attempts to assassinate him, after details of alleged attempts to murder him were revealed.

His comments come after a former Sri Lankan Army Captain told Canadian officials that he was ordered to place explosives at the home of the politician, who at the time was with the Tamil National Alliance.

Speaking to the National Post, Sivajilingam said,

“At that time, especially during the wartime, the Sri Lankan government made several attempts to kill me”,

“I escaped so many attempts. Definitely that particular captain’s statement may be right”.

See our earlier post: Sri Lankan Army deserter 'aware' of crimes against Tamils (30 November 2012)

Published 10:07 GMT

According to emerging reports from civil society activists in Jaffna, the Sri Lankan police have sent a list of 'wanted' students to the authorities at Jaffna University.

The list is reported to include 5 students from the medical faculty, and presidents of the Jaffna University Student Union, Science Union and Management Faculty.

The police have demanded that the 10 students be handed over for further investigations.

The Sri Lankan government said that it will declare forests in the Northern and Eastern provinces as conservation areas, reported Colombo Page.

Noting the severe damage to forests in the North, the government announced that it planned to increase forest coverage. The proposed 2013 budget allocates funding to help expand the forests to cover at least 35% of the land.

The government commitments towards forest conservation in the North come as, Tamil students in the North and across the world, condemning the violent silencing and imprisonment of university students in the North, called for the conservation of their basic rights of freedom of speech.

Amnesty International has called for “urgent action” to release four students taken into police custody by Sri Lanka, as reports of more arrests emerged earlier on Thursday.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the human rights group stated that,

“There are concerns for their well-being given evidence of the persistent use of torture in TID custody”

The group went on to say that during the peaceful protest that Jaffna University students held on the 28th of November,

“At least 20 undergraduates were injured and beaten by riot police and officers in civilian dress”.

See the full statement here.

As many as 25 people have been arrested for "terrorism" in the Jaffna peninsula and transferred to Vavuniya, reported the BBC.

Police spokesman Prishantha Jayakody told the BBC that 10 people were detained on Wednesday, but more are thought to have been arrested since. Jayakody said,

"They were arrested at different places on the Jaffna peninsula and are now in Vavuniya... All the families have been informed."

”The fact that they moved to a compound behind the unversity campus kit last week is no coincidence.

They were and continue to be involved in the government’s counter-insurgency project”.

See our earlier post: Jaffna University students arrested by Sri Lankan TID (01 December 2012)

Published 12:02 GMT

At least another 7 young Tamils were arrested by the Terrorism Investigation Department in Jaffna on Tuesday afternoon, reported the Uthayan newspaper, citing officials at the Human Rights Commission.

According to the paper, whilst 7 complaints were lodged by families of the arrested, the actual figure of arrests could be as high as ten. Uthayan went on to report that 5 Tamils were arrested by police in Koppay and 2 by police in Chavahavcheri under the PTA legislation, and remanded in custody before being moved to Colombo for questioning by the TID.

All seven Tamils are reported to be originally from the Vanni.

The European Union’s delegation in Sri Lanka has expressed concern over recent incidents concerning the rule of law and individual freedoms on the island.

In a statement, the EU said it looks towards Sri Lanka to ensure “that all citizens, including students, journalists and opposition politicians, are able to exercise their fundamental rights without impediment.”

See full statement below.

“The European Union Delegation in Colombo is concerned by a number of recent
developments in Sri Lanka surrounding the rule of law and individual freedoms.

"The European Union looks to the Sri Lankan authorities to ensure that the independence of the judiciary is protected; that investigations into the large number of deaths at the Welikada prison are speedy and impartial; and that all citizens, including students, journalists and opposition politicians, are able to exercise their fundamental rights without impediment.

"The European Union Delegation notes that several other domestic and international actors have also expressed concerns, including the Commonwealth Secretary General, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers and the Asian Human Rights Commission.”

The Bishop of Mannar has written to Australian authorities calling on them to halt deportations of people from the North-East of Sri Lanka, stating it was “highly dangerous” for them to return.

Revealing the fate of those who have been returned to the island following deportation, Bishop Rayappu Joseph stated that they were considered “traitors by the Government and its armed forces” and forced to become “informants”.

In a letter dated 3rd of December, the Bishop Rayappu Joseph went on to say that those who are forced to return from Australia are subjected to “restrictions, threats, intimidation, questionings, surveillance and other forms of harassments and discrimination by the military, police and intelligence officers”.

His letter comes as more than 50 Australian asylum seekers filed an injunction against their scheduled removal from Australia, claiming that the Australian government has ignored their pleas that they face persecution upon return to the island.

See the full text of the letter reproduced below.

To whom it may concern,

Regarding deportation of Asylum Seekers from the North and East of Sri Lanka who are presently in Australia

I wish to urgently bring to your kind attention the pathetic plight of the deported Asylum Seekers back here in the North and East of Sri Lanka,

It is common knowledge that those deported back after seeking political asylum abroad are left to live in fear and fright due to being considered traitors by the Government and its armed Forces. Some of them are being forced to become informants creating tension in the communities.

They all are meted out with restrictions, threats, intimidation, questionings, surveillance and other forms of harassments and discrimination by the Military, Police and the intelligence officers.

The INGOs who could bring solace and needed protection to such persons are all send away from the North and East of Sri Lanka and in most cases out of the country by the Government itself as unwanted.

This, it is my considered opinion that it is highly dangerous for the asylum seekers from the North and East of Sri Lanka in Australia to be sent back to Sri Lanka in the prevailing political situation in our regions.

Thus, while remaining very much appreciative and grateful to the Australian Government for the kindness shown to accommodate asylum seekers from Sri Lanka, I strongly recommened that political protection be given these asylum seekers by the Australian Government, I wish them well.

Yours sincerely,

Bishop of Mannar
Most Rev Dr Rayappu Joseph

Published 10:58 GMT

Protesters have gathered since the morning by the Jaffna main bus stand, condemning the arrest and intimidation of Jaffna University students by the Sri Lankan military and police.

Organised by the students and the Tamil National People's Front, the protest has been supported by a wide range of political figures, such as TNA MPs as well as civil society activists.

Photograph Uthayan

Four students - Paralingam Tharshananth (Secretary of the Jaffna Students Union), Ganesamurthy Sudarsan (Medical Faculty Student), Kangasundaraswamy Janamejeyanth (Arts Union President) and Sanmugam Solomon (Final year Science Faculty Student) were arrested last week, after students at the university attempted to mark Tamil remembrance day on the 27th November with candles.

Photographs Uthayan