- Tamil Information Monthly, 15 November 1984
Schools in Tamil areas in Sri Lanka, particularly Jaffna, today function
in a state of fear. Some schools like Hartley College, Point Pedro, and
Methodist Girls School, Point Pedro, did not even function for a long time
following the burning of the Hartley College library and, part of the
buildings by Police Commandos and indiscriminate attacks on students by
armed forces.
Another school which became the victim of terrorism by government armed
forces recently is St. Henry's College, Illavalai. On the morning of 17th
October the army was stationed near the school, checking the national
Identity cards of all going along the road including the students and staff
while they were on their way to school.
Suddenly at about 11.20 a.m. a barrage of gun shots pierced the school
walls and blackboards. The hail of bullets traced a oath through the rows of
students and passed by the head of the teacher and struck the blackboard. It
was a miracle that none of the students or the teachers was hit. The trail
of bullets struck the blackboard as on a bulls eye on a practice target. The
blackboard which forms part of the wall was found to be pierced for a depth
of 8-12 inches at several places. Itwas a narrow escape for both the
students and the teachers. A Rev. Sister who was conducting a class upstairs
which is close to the main road also narrowly escaped. The bullet from which
the Rev. Sister escaped can be seen on the wall. The firing continued for
more than forty five minutes. Shots were fired round the premises: On
hearing the gun shots the students and teachers ran for their lives. As a
result of the stampede some injured themselves, breaking their legs and
hands.
Armed soldiers thereafter broke open the School gate and the Rector
walked up to the soldiers and told them that the school was in session and
not to create any disturbances. Thereupon the Rector was ordered into a
armoured car at gun point. The armoured car with the Rector inside was taken
inside the school area pasing several class rooms. While approaching the
Science laboratory some teachers and students inside the lab raised their
voices and told the Fr. Rector of their presence inside. The soldiers
thereupon pushed open the door and asked the teachers and students to march
out raising their hands. One soldier suggested that they should all be taken
to the army camp. But Rev. Fr. Rector pleaded with them and as a result they
were asked to remain in the staff room until further notice.
Another group of soldiers who came in another armoured car rushed into
the staff room. The teachers and students were ordered to stand still in a
row and raise the hands. "Shall we shoot them all" asked one soldier. The
teachers stood petrified and some of them started mumbling their last
prayers. Another soldier wanted to know whether anybody among them knew
Sinhala. He asked one teacher who said he knew a little Sinhala whether any
one had run out of the room. The teacher said no. Thereupon the soldier
manhandled him saying that he was telling. a lie. Simultaneously, four
students were assaulted with the butt end of a gun below the knee.
Another set of teachers including women teachers were with the students
in the middle school, about a hundred yards away from the main block. On
hearing the repeated gun shots they ran upstairs for shelter. Some soldiers
rushed in there, harassed and terrorised them also.
The staff and students ultimately left in fear by 2.30 p.m. None of the
students including hostelers had gone back to school for nearly ten days
after the incident. The Teachers Guild of St. Henry's College has sent a
formal protest to the Director of Education, Colombo.
