School children in government held areas forced to attend protest march by LTTE

A large number of uniform clad school children were seen marching in protest campaign organized by the LTTE in Jaffna on Thursday (17) morning.

The protest campaign, instigated in support of few demands made by the LTTE and their sympathizers, started at the Nallur Kovil around 10.30 a.m. on 17th June 2004 and ended at the Jaffna Kachcheri after about and hour\'s march.

Approximately 800 hundred schoolboys and girls from different schools in the Government controlled area were forced to vacate their schools and join the parade by the LTTE. They were transported to a venu near the Nallur Kovil in Jaffna from Mutthu Vinayagar Kovil in Nelliadi where they had been asked to gather.

School administrative bodies were compelled have schools in the affected area closed due to non-attendance of students and teachers who were forcibly taken for the protest mach by the LTTE without prior permission from the Education authorities.