650 teachers object reporting for duty in Vanni

650 teachers from Vanni are staying away from work and are staying in other districts objecting the forceful recruitment of children, compulsory arms training to state officers and other atrocities of the LTTE.

The teachers complain that there is no safety for their family members in the LTTE controlled Vanni. The Tigers forcibly enter the schools during classes and take away the children in their vehicles for compulsory training, which causes embarrassment to the teachers who are entrusted with the safely and security of the children by their parents.

The teachers of Vanni themselves are subjected to compulsory training along with other government employees of various other departments including employees of the Non governmental Organizations. These are the reasons cited by the teachers for their refusal to report for duty in Vanni.

The reckless recruitment drive, compulsory training of state employees irrespective of age and sex, compulsory duty at the LTTE Forward Defence Lines and threats levelled at gun point to those who disobey orders etc., prevents the teachers and state employees reporting to their work in Vanni, said Vanni sources.