|
|
 |
| Sunday, 10 March 2002 |
 |
|
 |
News |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
U'grads plead not guilty by FRANCES BULATHSINGHALA The newest paroxysm to the string of convulsions at the Colombo University, Faculty of Law, is a one-hour picketing by students of the faculties of Law, Science, Management, Education and Arts to be held tomorrow morning at the Thunmulla junction. Tomorrow's protest at which parents of law faculty students are to participate, is based on the cancellation on February 15 of the suspension order given to nine students found guilty by a special disciplinary committee of giving leadership to intimidation against the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Savithri Goonasekera and damaging University property on 29 November. The picketing will also be against the closure of the Law faculty (which is to be opened tomorrow for final year students only) and the re-imposing of the one year suspension on eight students and two year suspension of Lalin Amarakoon, who is the President of the Colombo University Student Union as well as the Law Faculty Student Union. According to the students union the protest organised by the Secretary for the union in the absence of the suspended union president, is to be attended by final year law students before they attend lectures. According to the Disciplinary Committee appointed by the Vice Chancellor, headed by Senior Professor in Physiology University of Colombo, Prof. Colvin Gunaratne, all nine students had been found guilty of the charges of giving leadership to intimidatory activities. Colombo University, Vice Chancellor in her statement to the media points out that this suspension order imposed had been temporarily withheld on 15 February on grounds of duress and intimidation after two of the suspended students had climbed the roof of the Law Faculty to perform a 'fast unto death', threatening to commit suicide if the authorities did not withdraw the suspension immediately. The statement further points out that as neither the Vice Chancellor nor the Dean or Rector of the university could change a council decision, the students were informed that the suspension letters would be withheld pending a decision of the council. "I clearly indicated to the gathered students, that under duress and criminal intimidation of a suicide threat, we were recommending withdrawal of the suspension", points out Prof. Savithri Goonasekera in her statement. The students however gave their version over what was seen as the first serious student upheaval at the Colombo University in recent years. "The VC in her statement had described our hunger strike against the suspensions as 'extra legal measures'. We were dragged into such a situation", laments Lalin Amarakoon, the student union leader who says that he pleaded not guilty to all the nine charges levelled against him. His explanations are lengthy, having come to Lake House to narrate his side of the story with three other members of the university student bodies, Diluka Silva (served with one year suspension) who is a student representative to the Faculty Board, Nilantha Pradeep, Secretary of the Human Rights Society Secretary and Thilanka Polgampala, Committee member of the Human Rights Society. "There are students from remote areas. We were fighting for them", Lalin claims, tracing back the original 'reason' for the November 29 student outrage. His 'explanation' is punctuated with pleas to give publicity to 'their side' of the story as well. "There was a notice on 28 November informing students that the hostel would be closed from 29 November until 22 December. Three days before student representatives were given the assurance by the VC that the hostel would be opened on December 10. Although December is the vacation month for law students, it is not for the arts faculty for which December is the period for study leave and for the science students, the examination period. On 28 November we were taken aback by the notice that students had to vacate the premises the following day. I was one of the students who participated in a discussion with the Vice Chancellor on 29 November attempting to urge her to change her mind and to open the hostels at least on 10 December but she said that the earliest hostels could be opened was 18 December", says Lalin. When asked whether he was justified under whatever the circumstances, the obscene language and the intimidation used against the Vice Chancellor his response was that he did 'not' but that he was 'merely the 'co-ordinator' for students. Excerpts from the interview with the 'Sunday Observer': Q. As co-ordinator of the students isn't it your responsibility to co-ordinate students in a decent manner to win their demands ? A. The students were pushed to this. As union leader on 29 November I merely headed a group of students who wanted to appeal to the Vice Chancellor to open the hostel and library on December. 10. We were on 28 evening informed by the Vice Chancellor that if we pay Rs. 75 a day that we would be allowed to stay. Q. The statement to the media by Professor Savithri Goonasekera states categorically that there was no suggestion to pay Rs. 75 a day as alleged by law students and that what was requested was to pay Rs. 75 for three weeks or Rs. 25 a week for hostel accommodation which is not offered normally during vacations unless there are special academic programmes ? A. This is free education. At the beginning of the year we pay Rs. 200 for hostel facilities. We are not prepared to pay even a cent extra. We were told that the campus will be closed till 22 December because there were repairs to be carried out. If this was a genuine reason, then how can hostels be kept open despite the repairs, if a fee is levied ? Q. Couldn't you have clarified this matter peacefully at the Student Counsellors office ? A. It would have been useless. We have no faith in the university administration. Q. Do you as a student of law justify the abusive acts which the students stooped to on Nov. 29 ? A. No. Q. Why didn't you then take steps to prevent such acts and as Union leader take steps against the students who resorted to acts which you say you do not justify ? A. The University Students Union and the Human Rights Society jointly issued a statement that it condemns the actions by such students. I could not prevent the abusive language heard against the VC outside the boardroom, as I was inside the VC's office. The union could not take action against students who indulged in abusive behaviour because we could not identify them. Q. Are you saying that you are not satisfied with the Disciplinary committee inquiry against you and the eight other students ? A. I am not satisfied. I had pleaded not guilty. There were nine charges against me, for 7 out of which I was found guilty. Q. According to the Senate and the Council of the University of Colombo which is understood to be the final authority on matters pertaining to student discipline, the nine students including you were found guilty of intimidation based on the verdict of a disciplinary committee appointed by the Vice Chancellor. As a student of law do you think it is lawful to give an ultimatum to the Vice Chancellor to cancel it despite it being a Council decision, using suicide as a threat ? A. We did not use suicide as a threat. On 15 February we were to go on a hunger strike until our suspensions mere withdrawn. Q. You say there was no suicide threat. Do you then deny that one of the suspended students who climbed the Law Faculty roof had in his hand what he claimed to be a bottle of poison ? A. I do not deny this. Pradeep Uluwaduge, the President of the Human Rights Society of the Colombo University, of which a majority of members are law students, when contacted by the 'Sunday Observer' claimed that the behaviour in which students resorted to were 'deplorable' but summed up the entire situation in the vein that students were 'pushed to the brink'. Asked why he, the President of the Human Rights Society did not take action to stop such 'deplorable' behaviour, his answer was that he was 'helpless'. The view of Ravindra Mudalige, Convener of the Inter University Student Federation who was interviewed by the 'Sunday Observer' was that the initial steps of the union, as a reaction to the notice that campus would be closed during the month of December should have been a pragmatic and peace abiding one, different to the scene of 350 students finding their way into the College House premises breaking the protective wire mesh and jumping over the side gate hurling abuse at the Vice Chancellor and the University Administration. "Each student was given a fair hearing. All nine of the students who were charge sheeted were recorded by steno typists in English and Sinhala according to the language chosen by them. These statements were signed by the students after making the changes they wanted, points out Prof. Gunarathne adding that the Disciplinary committee had perused carefully the written responses of the students and had been committed to give a complete fair trial. According to Prof. Gunarathne, his heading the disciplinary committee was despite phone threats by students that he would be assaulted. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
