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| Sunday, 8 December 2002 |
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Politics |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Picket campaign turns violent A picketing campaign was staged last week in several places of the Jaffna peninsula where the Eelam People's Democratic Party (EPDP) has its offices and camps, demanding the withdrawal of the party from the entire North, including the Delft island. This picketing was an extension of the continuing agitation of the Delft-islanders against the EPDP, according to Jaffna sources. Several hundreds of people were reported to have participated in the two-hour picketing in front EPDP offices and camps in Chunnakam, Mallakam, Manipay, Atchuveli, Velanai, Kayts and Mandativu. The police and army had provided security to the EPDP, the sources informed. Security personnel were forced to baton charge and lob teargas shells at the picketeers in Manipay and Mallakam, injuring several, some of them seriously, the reports further said. The crowd had attacked the EPDP offices in Mandativu and Vadamarachchi causing damage to the tune of Rs. 1.5 million, further reports said. The fore-noon picketing had disrupted transport services and other civilian activities. The picketeers had warned of another similar protest on the 15th of this month, unless the EPDP evacuated the peninsula before that date. But the EPDP appeared to be firm on the stand that they had the right to operate as a recognised political party in the peninsula, the reports said. The EPDP has issued communique reiterating on its right to engage in political activities in the peninsula and criticising the LTTE for its atrocities on them. |
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