Lanka Government Clamps Down on Jaffna University
by
Rajesh Ramachandran, NDTV, November 26, 2006
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In a community that is spread across the world from Australia to Norway and has been reduced to half of its original population, these Tamil students stand out.
They speak of their alienation - the divide between the Sinhalese and the Tamil nations and their total commitment to their cause - a separate Tamil homeland.
"Tamil Eelam is not an LTTE proposal. It became our demand after the death of Thanthai Selvam in 1977. It is our need. We'll always seek a homeland and the LTTE is also part of that struggle," said a student.
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 The humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka is getting from bad to worse with every passing day.
NDTV travelled to the Jaffna University, which the Sri Lankan government claims is a breeding ground for training the LTTE.
The Sinhalese perception of Jaffna University is that it's a nursery for Tiger cubs. The university, which was unable to feed its students, was forced to close in August.
Also closed to students was their road to learning - the A9 highway - which brought many of them to the temple of Tamil studies from LTTE controlled Kilinochchi and Mulativu districts.
Recruitment base
About 1,300 students have not returned to Jaffna after the war resumed on August 11 - all because the Sri Lankan government believes the university is the biggest recruitment base for the LTTE.
"The road was closed because there was information that the LTTE was going to recruit 6,000 students from Jaffna and going to send them for training. Now the university has been closed," said Dr Palitha T B Kohona, Secretary General, Peace Secretariat, Sri Lanka.
Jaffna commander Major General MA Chandrasiri also considers the university a dangerous zone.
"When we raided the university, we found grenades, satellite phone and a cutout of Prabhakaran. There are some hardcore LTTE cadres in the university, who are also student leaders. We cannot allow that," he said.
However, it's a different story at the university. Those supposed to be hardened LTTE cadre and supporters don't even face the camera.
They are truly afraid that they could be the next target after a student, they claim, was brutally killed by the gangs unleashed by the Sri Lankan forces to counter the Tigers.
"Truth has died here. Those who speak the truth are targetted. That's why we are scared to speak out or show our faces," said a student.
VC rubbishes claim
However, Prof R Kumaravadivel, Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University, rubbishes the government claim, pointing out that there aren't even 6,000 students in the university.
 "There are just 5,300 students, of which 75 per cent are from the LTTE controlled area of Vanni. They would have joined the LTTE there. They don't have to come to Jaffna to join the LTTE," countered Kumaravadivel.
In a community that is spread across the world from Australia to Norway and has been reduced to half of its original population, these Tamil students stand out.
They speak of their alienation - the divide between the Sinhalese and the Tamil nations and their total commitment to their cause - a separate Tamil homeland.
"Tamil Eelam is not an LTTE proposal. It became our demand after the death of Thanthai Selvam in 1977. It is our need. We'll always seek a homeland and the LTTE is also part of that struggle," said a student.
Moreover, they consider themselves special - the educated youth in a war torn community who have a historic role to achieve the dream of a Tamil homeland.
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