While expressing their shock over the killing of two university students by the police last week in Jaffna, university teachers have underscored that the police cannot ‘arbitrarily’ assume powers of authority that go beyond their function.
In a statement issued, the teachers said, “We as University teachers are shocked at the wanton killing of two university students by the Police in Jaffna last week. While condemning the act in no uncertain terms, we are also perplexed by the fact that members of the police, who have been endowed with the task of maintaining peace and look to the safety of the people, could arbitrarily assume powers of authority that go far beyond their function. Obviously, something is very wrong with how we in this society understand governance and power.”
“The post war period has offered them some space to reevaluate the texture of life, governance, politics, authoritarianism, and most emphatically, the oppressive nature of the politics of the gun and violence. With the election in 2015, relatively greater democratic spaces were created where discussion, debate and dissent could thrive. However, the situation on the ground is far from rosy. There is little evidence of improvement in people’s lives, and aggressive neo liberal economic policies pushed through in the name of development and reconciliation are a matter of grave concern; there is no policy on resettlement and rehabilitation and the marginalized people are in a perpetual state of destitution; arbitrary arrests and disappearances are still not uncommon and the experience of the people demonstrates that the post war period is still entrenched in violence and the questionable conduct of those in governance and the armed forces. The killing of two young men on a motorbike, for no apparent reason other than that they were speeding, is a chilling indication of the militarized regimen of governance that we continue to be a part of. One can only think of, in sadness, how much the families would have hoped for their children, and would have welcomed the advent of a war-free climate for their young sons to study in,” the statement said.
The statement has been signed by; Liyanage Amarakeerthi Univ. of Peradeniya, Harini Amarasuriya Open University of Sri Lanka, C.S.de Silva Open University of Sri Lanka, Nirmal Dewasiri Univ. of Colombo, Krishantha Fedricks Univ. of Colombo, Camena Guneratne Open University of Sri Lanka, Ranil D. Guneratne Univ. of Colombo, Shahul Hameed Hasbullah Univ. of Peradeniya, Mihiri Jansz Open University of Sri Lanka, Prabhath Jayasinghe Univ. of Colombo, Pradeep Jeganathan Shivnadar University, India, Nandaka Maduranga Kalugampitiya Univ. of Peradeniya, Danesh Karunanayake Univ. of Peradeniya, Kumudu Kusum Kumara Univ. of Colombo, Shamala Kumar Univ. of Peradeniya, Kaushalya Kumarasinghe Open University of Sri Lanka, D. H. S. Maithripala Univ. of Peradeniya, Prabha Manuratne University of Kelaniya, Madhava Meegaskumbura Univ. of Peradeniya, K P Nishantha Open University of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Parakrama Univ. of Peradeniya, Nicola Perera Univ. of Colombo, Ramindu Perera Open University of Sri Lanka, Vihanga Perera Univ. of Jaywardenepura, Aboobacker Rameez South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Harshana Rambukwelle Open University of Sri Lanka, Rohana Ratnayake Open University of Sri Lanka, Athulasiri Samarakoon Open University of Sri Lanka, Dinesha Samararatne Univ. of Colombo, Janaha Selvaras Open University of Sri Lanka, Sivamohan Sumathy Univ. of Peradeniya, Esther Surenthiraraj Univ. of Colombo, Jayadeva Uyangoda Univ. of Colombo, Amali Wedagedara Univ. of Hawaii, USA, Ruvan Weerasinghe Univ. of Colomboand Dileepa Witharana Open University of Sri Lanka.
The teachers recalled with sadness the numerous other instances in which violence had destroyed or maimed the lives of university students throughout Sri Lanka’s post-independence history. “We stand in solidarity with those who grieve these lives, and today we stand in solidarity with the family members grieving the lives of Wijayakumar Sulakshan of Kandarodai, Jaffna and Nadarasa Gajan of Kilinochchi,” the statement said.
“The spaces for democratic action have to expand and it is incumbent upon the authorities to assure all of us that life in the streets, in our workplaces, homes is violence-free. We demand that the President, the Prime Minister and all others in positions of authority undertake this assurance without fail. As a step toward this, we unequivocally demand that:
An inquiry into the killings is expedited and all state forces brought under democratic forms of governance. As an initial step towards the latter, a process of demilitarization in the north and the east carried out speedily and effectively. Such a process should fall within a broader process of demilitarization in the rest of the country and include the dismantling of all surveillance teams that had sprung up during the war, such as TID and other agencies.
Repeal the PTA and prevent all other forms of undemocratic legal measures that might replace it.
Finally, it should review and take steps to make the police accountable to the public for acts of violence and revoke the decision to arm the police.
While such a process would clearly not address the economic and social effects of years of war and violence, it would give families and communities space to work towards a better future,” the statement said.
jim softy / October 28, 2016
A sergeant and a police constable of Chunnakam police , Jaffna were cut with a sharp instrument on 23 rd noon , an officer of Jaffna police revealed.
Both of them were admitted to Jaffna Hospital , while the police constable had sustained more injuries, reports say.
The cops have faced this attack when they travelled on a motor bike towards the funeral house at Kandarodai , of the Jaffna University student who was allegedly murdered. The attack took place when they were waiting near a trade stall en route.
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malik / October 28, 2016
Very True, This group proudly claim that they have done so and call themselves a gang. Not a condemnation by any of these overseas article writers, Wonder why?
Yet ready to jump on these two boy’s graves to play the ethnic card. This tragic incident has occurred else where in the country by the hads of the police and not the military. This is due to VERY bad policing methods that needs to be improved. But hey leave the facts ouut. the SL police are hated in every part of SL..
When would these eelamist stop playing the ethnic card. They dont give two ************* about these boys, where were they when during the war years many boy’s their age and younger were pressed into service by the LTTE????? not a peep. Oh sorry they were busy raising funds to give them the bullets and guns to die. but not the coffin. No life has been lost in the north east and the rest due to military conflict since 2009.
Lets call a spade a spade. SL police needs to be Improved. and that is the main problem which will benefit us all. Also pls condemn these gang, a nes item seems to be missing on CMB telegraph site wonder why?
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Saro / October 28, 2016
Malik,
The DIG of the area said the police should not have shot at these students or anyone else for traffic offences. 5 policemen were arrested for their part in the shooting and killing. There is no point in calling what LTTE did when they were controlling some areas. You call LTTE terrorists and compare the police with them, whereas the latter should not behave like terrorists.
For the last 9 years the army has been in control of Tamil areas. Now for an year the police took control. How come there are terrorist gangs roam the roads as they please? Don’t you think the army might have played a part in the emergence of gangs so that they can justify their presence and the other activities they are indulged in.
They have no right to grab the private lands and do agriculture and run hotels while the owners have no lands to cultivate or houses to live in. Is it a military rule? The military is there to guarantee the security of the country and not in making civilians oppressed.
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malik / October 29, 2016
@ Saro
As you have stated, you have agreed with me. The police are Terrible, and like I said this is not a isolated incident to Jaffna alone, If you bother it has happened else where. And the police are far worse and need reform.
For the last 9 years the army has been in control of Tamil areas
Yes Underline the word HAS BEEN, no gangs and no deaths, The corrupt police took over the criminal gangs reared its head.
A lion share of the land has been handed back, as per UN and EU reports. mostly during MR period. But these are missed by the propaganda.
But what of the gangs how do they operate in the community??? how can you justify that and blame the Army?
May be the rhetoric of politicians and writers of articles who play the communal card. like using this incident.
If it barks and sound like a do, then it is a dog, Nothing else. No conspiracy theory as you have stated.
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Native Vedda / October 29, 2016
malik
“Yes Underline the word HAS BEEN, no gangs and no deaths,”
Well, have you been living in that part of the island to see, hear, feel, smell, …. the existence or non-existence of gangs?
I was told the gangs were made up of members of armed forces, thugs recruited from splinter groups or imported from the South, former members of Pottu amman department, …………
And hope you are not living in ” Hilbert space”.
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Malik / October 29, 2016
@ Native
I was told the gangs were made up of members of armed forces, thugs recruited from splinter groups or imported from the South, former members of Pottu amman department,
For someone who is away from the country living else where in another country in front of a computer anything said is becomes a reality and news. Somehow facts become baseless.
If they say Rio is located in Galle then I suppose you would believe it over there, wouldn’t you?
Like I said to saro
If it barks and sound like a dog and looks like a dog, then it is a dog, Nothing else. No conspiracy theory as you have stated.
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Native Vedda / October 30, 2016
Malik
“I was told the gangs were made up of members of armed forces, thugs recruited from splinter groups or imported from the South, former members of Pottu amman department,”
Next time around, I will ask those who whispered me the message to make moving pictures of those operatives, interview them and collect enough information so as to convince you.
“If they say Rio is located in Galle then I suppose you would believe it over there, wouldn’t you?”
I am sure there is Rio in Jaffna, a popular ice cream parlor where some members of police (with their family) make frequent visit for free ice cream.
“Somehow facts become baseless.”
Thanks you are being very honest.
I have never experienced outer space experience, however my Elders tell me the Milky Way contains more than 200 billion stars and 100 billion planets. I am not planning to visit Black hole just to prove its existence, which you may consider baseless.
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Ajith / October 28, 2016
First you should find out the truth. Do you know where the Chunnakam police stationis, where the funeral was held at Kandarodai, and where in Chunnakam the incident happened and why they were near the trade stall? You people want another 1983 because you want Mahinda back to his dictatorship with White van murders.It is the same lies that created 1977 butcherism and 1983 genocide by Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalists like you. Do you understand the suffering of the poor Sinhalese who are the real victims of the Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism. You want Tamil blood but who pays the price? Only poor Sinhalese, not Mahinda or people like you. Buddhism never teach lies but you all are liers and enjoy human blood.
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Saro / October 29, 2016
Ajith says
“Do you understand the suffering of the poor Sinhalese who are the real victims of the Buddhist Sinhala Fundamentalism”.
True.
But poor Sinhalese keep on electing the dishonest elitists. Why can’t they vote for intelligent and truthful leaders like Dr Vickremabahu Karunaratne , Lal Wijenayake? They have a vision for the country and for the poor masses.
Look at Singapore. A country without any natural resources. Lee Kuan Yew single handedly made all three languages official (whereas Malaysia made Malay only ) and people live in harmony by working hard. No racism or communal riots or destruction of wealth.
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AJ / October 28, 2016
If I were to use your hearsay logic based on your history of previous posts, I would say :
Everybody knows that army attacked the police and blamed it on somebody else.
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Nayakka Pandaram / October 28, 2016
jim softy,
Why you cannot give up lying to make your argument look correct – if you conceal a fact or add some as has been told by someone to make your argument valid – you are a stupid that does not deserve a corrected version
Arguing with stupids is a waste of resources!
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Real Siva Sankaran Sarma / October 29, 2016
He and many of the Sinhalese Buddhist extremists listen to and follow that Sinhalese extremist Karawa woman Jenali Borukiyanage, who is anti Tamil to the core. They think everything that all the lies and distorted history, that this woman posts on Lankaweb is 100% true. This woman constantly calls all the island’s Tamils including the indigenous Eelam Tamils from the north and east, as outsiders not belonging to the island and should be chased off to India, when ironically it is the ancestors of most of the present day Sinhalese who had arrived from South India a few centuries ago, including this woman’s Karawa ancestors. However they all thing they now belong as they have now changed their ethnic identity from Tamil to Sinhalese and their religion from Hinduism to Buddhism and Catholicism. Because the indigenous Tamil have refused to do this and have maintained their ancient Tamil identity, either as Hindus or Christians, which their own ancestors have not done, it is a source of concern to her and the rest of the recently Sinhalised so called Sinhalese and they are out to destroy them.
This woman and her ilk became prominent during the Rajajpakse era and were encouraged to spread their lies and hatred towards the island’s minorities, especially the Tamils and are still continuing to do so even under this present government, that only pays lip service to reconciliation and equality but in reality still follows the same racist policies like the former government. She and the rest of the nasty Sinhalese Buddhist extremist on that site should be banned, as all they do there is post lies distorted history and advocate the destruction of the island’s Tamil population, their language culture and lands. This is what the United Nations Special Rapporteur for minorities had investigate and has found. Her investigation was impartial and many Sinhalese Buddhist extremists did not like this. Basically what these university professors are stating. Everything about reconciliation and equal rights is only talk but nothing on the ground. The discrimination ethnic cleansing and dispossession of the island’s Tamils continue. To add insult to injury the South Indian origin Karawa recently Sinhalised governors of north and east. keep on sending letters in Sinhalese to the predominantly Tamil speaking population of the north and east, despite Sinhalese and Tamil given parity and are the official languages of the country. They are sending out a message that despite language parity on paper, in real life importance and official/government patronage is only given to Sinhalese and Buddhism , even in the Tamil north east.
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Amarasiri / October 28, 2016
University Teachers
RE:University Teachers Say Jaffna Shooting Is A Chilling Indication Of The Militarized Regimen Of Governance
“While expressing their shock over the killing of two university students by the police last week in Jaffna, university teachers have underscored that the police cannot ‘arbitrarily’ assume powers of authority that go beyond their function”
Who gave them those arbitrary lowers without the due process of law?
he “Good Governance” which ,most of the Tamils voted for? VP did the same, after all. However, the people to expect the rule of law.
How can you expect the rule of law when the “President” Gon Sirisena Gamarala, himself tried to set free criminals and killers, based on the payoff from the stolen billions?
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Nallasamy - Talawakella / October 29, 2016
The Police have no authority to shoot and kill. The Police killed two University students while they were travelling to the University by a 125 cc motor bike. The Sri Lankan Police were recently given 1000 CC Motor Bikes.
This shooting itself shows to the world that Northern Province is under military Jack Boot with a racist Governor at the helm. The Northern Tamils been surrounded by Over 150,000 armed Personnel.
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Lone Wolf / October 29, 2016
Nallasamy- Talawakella,
“The Police have no authority to shoot and kill.”
This is exactly what they have been given to protect citizens however they are not allowed to use excessive force.
There is no justification except panic for the attempt of the cover up by the police who claimed the deaths were due to a traffic accident.
The shooting itself can may be justified as self defense if the young men attempted to drive through the check point potentially injuring or killing police men. If the shooter(s) considered the motorcycle speeding towards colleague(s) a threat he/they had the right to shoot even from behind. Note that the police men at a check point do not stay together. Some with flash lights check documentation while others with weapons are for stopping and security.
Due to an (Aava??) incident on the same day the police in the area were on extra alert for young guys on motorcycles.
I have read that the victims were not drunk. Have the bodies been tested for cannabis? Were the police men sober?
“The Police killed two University students while they were travelling to the University by a 125 cc motor bike.”
I have seen pictures of a 100CC bike and the university was not open at mid night.
Why don’t we wait for the investigation and court case to finish instead of being the JMO, CID and judge? It might take 15 years but I am a patient man.
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thrishu / October 28, 2016
The whole country is militarized not just Jaffna. Have n’t you heard of Rathupaswala saga. It has to be, because the fear of terrorism has not gone away; there are a lot of former terrorists now free and we know that tigers never change their stripes; in Sinahal areas civil disobedience can raise its ugly head any time and could start rioting in streets. In the hill country estate workers and muslims are constantly in tension with their grievances. The whole conutry and people still live in tension, not because of the military, but because we have a load of ambitious, mischievous, and apparently sil redi or vaytti wearing politcians waiting to roude rabbles to get their ambitious and dirty work done. Why do you think the Prez and Ranil ive in fear of Rajapakshas. Because the latter are waiting ready to rouse 5 million of their supporters to riot and on to the street, and then we will have another 6-million fighting with them from the opposition on the street. Yes the numbers fighting is an exaggeration, but I bet you have got the idea of street fighting and indiscipline, generated by damn politicians. We have the most undisciplined and law less society in the world that I could think of. I can still remember the general strike and riots in 1952, where deomnstrating workers in the street were shot by the Army. Again it was those two pompous idiots Jayawardana and Goonetilaka who were behind the root cause of those riots. Ever since that time, to my recollection, the Army has been in and out of streets to keep the undisciplined and rioting mobs off the streets. 75-years have passed by and there has been no progress. Don’t blame the Army, blame the idiotic politicians and the undisciplined Sri Lankan people for this state, and that includes that lot in Jaffna. Sinhala Muslim riots in the early 1900s was before my time. I have only read about it, so we know Sri Lanka is an ungovernable country for more than a century now. British were really glad to off-load their liability to the rioting citizens of this god forsaken place.
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jim softy / October 28, 2016
What does this statement say about two students in a illegal motor bile of 1000 CC, crashing a police barricade in the middle of the night ? Was the barricade there for no reason. Why they wey were riding in a hurry ?. Were they making way for another group ? Did these students know that there was terrorism a few years back.
In two situations, four police occers have been violengly attacked. Why is that ? Who are behind all these ?
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karan / October 28, 2016
idiot what the hell you are talking who gave the permision to 1000cc binke in srilanka get better treatment from angoda
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AJ / October 28, 2016
No Jim they didn’t know there was terrorism few years back. Because you always claimed Indians are illegally moving to Jaffna and claiming government land. These Indians probably didn’t know there was terrorism.
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priya / October 28, 2016
Let us face tbe issue.No point saying they were riding an illegal bike or two ploiceman were attacked also kind of things.They are lame excuses. The cruial issue is why poloce men shot them without using the minimal power.The students seem to be un armed.
We need to get into to the roor cause of this issue.Have they provoked policeman.Whatever it is young productive lives should be protected and police or armed forces should have extreme restrictiins when using fire power.When the lives are lost nothing will bring them back.We daw the bloodshed in Rathupassala.These are painful experiances to watch.
if we think this is an issue of North we are badly mistaken.Our civil society should take action to protect the rights of citizens and no one should die of indiscrminate use of fire.Should try in a civilized legal system if a crime has commited and we should fight for this disciplined civil society like in many other decent civilesed countries.
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Liverpool Suddha / October 28, 2016
Karan
Dont get excited man.This Jim Softy is simply exaggerating the issue to support the Sinhala Buddhist Ideology.He knows that only the Armed Forces can have 1000CC bikes.
Just ignore him.He is always like this.He only gets worried when another Sinhala Buddhist gets hurt.
The way things are progressing a lot of people will get hurt in future!
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jim softy / October 28, 2016
Those days when suicide bombers were blowing up every where, when black tigers were running in every street, where were these Teachers ?
Now, they are crying out loud ?
what is behind ?
This kind of people should not be teaching in universities.
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srinath.gunaratne / October 28, 2016
If I can remember Nihal Silva, Sergent Nalla Thambie shot dead in colombo for not stopping at a barrier!
One should be mindful about our trigger happy cops, But I do not think it is any worse than in US!
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Native Vedda / October 28, 2016
srinath.gunaratne
“One should be mindful about our trigger happy cops, But I do not think it is any worse than in US!”
Alright, lets arrange a competition among cops of various countries and declare Trigger Happy Cops a fixed in a year.
It should help you select the best Trigger Happy Cop in the world if that you want.
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Shrikharan / October 28, 2016
srinath.gunaratne
You failed to show any emotion or remorse for the two young lives and that should have been your first statement.
I hope you will tell the same if your own loved one perished in such a manner and seek satisfaction.
Before you dirty others remember you dirty yourself first.
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justice / October 28, 2016
You may ask the same question with regard to attacks on civilians in the past.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_attacks_on_civilians_attributed_to_Sri_Lankan_government_forces
None were punished.
There is a sense/climate of impunity in the minds of law enforcers and defenders of the nation.
This may be why police shot dead students riding a motorcycle at night.
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Native Vedda / October 29, 2016
jim softy dimwit
“Those days when suicide bombers were blowing up every where, when black tigers were running in every street, where were these Teachers ?”
Ever street, there must have been millions of them.
Blame your arithmetic teachers, your opticians and the psychiatric.
“This kind of people should not be teaching in universities.”
Alright, lets appoint Dr Gota, Wimal, Duminda, Gamanpilla, Namal …… as professors and you as the Vice Chancellor.
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AJ / October 28, 2016
You indicated in your previous post in response to police shooting :”this kind of killings are normal in the west.”
Guess what , suicide bombers blowing up the innocents are ALSO normal in the west. So stop your double standards
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AJ / October 28, 2016
LTTE forcefully abducted Tamil students and children to join them and used other Tamils as human shield. They controlled the north which was separated from rest of the country. Who do you complain to in that situation? To the LTTE? Or to our super hero,Jim Softy, who would have saved everybody from forceful abduction, human shield, and suicide bombs ?
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senthil / October 28, 2016
Good sign that the educated society among Singhalese are now providing their opinion openly unlike they kept silence in the past. Only 3rd grade academics like GP ruined the country without any input from intelligent Singhalese. Srisena is better than MR but he is not the right person or a capable person for the present junk status of our country. Our country is suffering from cancer – softy approach will not work – need chemotherapy means destroying the cancer cells. Now srisena or MR is approaching end of their life time and they should give way for a revolutionary young capable person not the present politician’s off springs. Hope we will become civilised soon before the west colonise other planets. Very doubtful any Asian country will ever overtake the west.
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Fedrick / October 28, 2016
Nice person to talk about justice. This is one of person who gave cover-ups for the most corruptive VC (now emeritus in his own family dept) in Arts faculty in the Colombo University history.
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kumaran / October 28, 2016
If I were My3 and Ranil just gave-up and handed over to MR and Co. what would you say?
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Eusense / October 28, 2016
This has becomes ridiculous. Nobody knows what really happened. University teachers and writers in this forum are making blind statements condemning each other!
Was there anybody who witnessed the incidence? What are the Police personnel who were involved say? Without having any clue of these happening it is moronic to start writing and blaming. It is reasonable to arrest the policemen involved because they killed two people. But under what circumstances did they have to shoot is the important aspect of this whole thing.
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Shrikharan / October 28, 2016
Eusense
“What are the Police personnel who were involved say? Without having any clue of these happening it is moronic to start writing and blaming”
Then the same is true when the suicide bomber blasted and killed herself with others.
What has the suicide bomber have to say? The bomber is now dead! Without having any clue of these happening it is moronic to start writing and blaming. So this should be an unsolved event and so do not start blaming!
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Roshan D / October 29, 2016
I have driven through a police stop in Colombo and Ratnapura. I knew I should have stopped because I was also driving a bit recklessly. But I… probably like these boys… felt like avoiding the hassle of a police ticket or harangue… However they were shot in the head for the same offense.
Whatever stories we are told….lets have courage to see inequality instead off trying to dress it up or justify it.
The police have no right to shoot you dead for driving recklessly.
If any of these bloggers drive in Sri Lanka they would realise that a couple of 100,0000 people disobey the police on a daily basis. they don’t get SHOT!
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Rajash / October 29, 2016
It’s like in USA where the blacks are treated the same way “shoot first”
due to many incidents of black being shot
There is a world wide movement “Black lives matter”
Tamil lives matter!
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jim softy / October 30, 2016
Rajass –
There is a world wide movement “Black lives matter”
hat the income and wealth disparities between African Americans and whites in North Carolina are far worse than the national average. It states that:
…black households, at the median, claim only about 13 percent of the wealth and, stunningly, about 4 percent of the net worth of white households. The corresponding figures for the nation are bleak: 15 and 13 percent respectively. Median wealth for white households is roughly seven times that of black households…Nationally, black households have about half the home equity of whites. In North Carolina, it’s about a third.
The study goes on to state that half of all black households in North Carolina have under $100 in savings. At the median, black heads of household aged between 50 and 65 own $17,000 in assets compared to white households’ median of $143,000, which seriously hampers older, black workers from retiring comfortably. This data paints a picture of a state that fails to allow black communities from advancing economically and obtaining some semblance of equality.
The issue is further exasperated by lack of access to health insurance. A North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services study found that 13% of North Carolina whites have no health insurance as compared to 22% of blacks. 16% of whites were reported to be in “fair or poor” health as compared to 23.2% of blacks. The Kaiser Family Foundation research shows that the majority of non-elderly uninsured North Carolinians were minorities: 30% Hispanic and 14% black, while 10% were white. This is especially concerning considering minorities experience disease at a higher rate than American whites, and visit the doctor at much lower rates. The result: communities most in need of medical assistance are least likely to attain it.
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jim softy / October 30, 2016
govt should check about this university teachers who signed into this petition.
Those two students who killed had previous cases against them and had been suspended from the university.
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Roshan D / October 30, 2016
is that your justification for them being shot dead?
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Michael / October 30, 2016
See, from what I see the only way is segregation. Tamils can have their own homeland and all the Tamils should go live there. We are not making each other happy and diversity is NOT a strength.
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Plato. / October 30, 2016
The University Teachers who have signed this petition are all,more or less,from the Peradeniya,Colombo and Open University.Hats off for their principled stand.A good many have also not signed.Maybe,Prof:Jayadeva Uyangoda,a principled academic had this circulated only to those whom he felt stand for reason.However,there are a good many academics,in our University system who do not want to identify themselves as Anti-Establishment to feather their own nests;Or they do not condone the shooting of Tamil students!
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sekara / October 31, 2016
Plato
We do not need a long list of academics.
I do not think that the persons who took the initiative had the time or resources to mobilize a larger number.
Many do not get involved not for fear or favour, but because they feel that such protests serve no real purpose. (This is no defence but only an attempt to understand.)
What matters is that the point has been made, and those involved deserve to be commended.
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