Saturday, December 24, 2011
Ruhunu senior undergrad suspended
December 23, 2011, 9:46 pmBy Nilantha Maduarawala, The Island
The Ruhuna University administration has suspended a senior female undergraduate of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences for admitting a junior colleague, injured in a ragging incident, to a hospital without informing the authorities, university sources said.
The junior female student, belonging to the first year batch, had been ragged by seniors and her spinal cord had been damaged, hospital sources said adding that the injured had been transported to Matara Hospital in a tri-shaw, which mode of transport was believed to have worsened the injury.
The injured student had been transferred to Colombo National Hospital under instruction of Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake, Vice Chancellor of the university Prof Gamini Senanayake told The Island yesterday.
The university would conduct an internal investigation into the incident and those found guilty would be dealt with severely, Prof. Senanayake said.
LECTURERS STIRRING UP STUDENTS, SAYS SB
The Undergraduates of the Peradeniya University abstained from attending lectures and all other forms of academic and extracurricular activities of the university yesterday, as a mark of protest against the suspension of Student Unions, students said.
According to sources within the university, the Engineering faculty of the university has come to a complete standstill with students refusing to attend lectures. The source went on to state that the strike has been termed unofficial due to the fact that all unions have been suspended and therefore the strike cannot be termed as official.
The Vice Chancellor of the University suspended all unions with immediate effect due to the protest march that was organized by the students, citing security concerns together with the fact that the university has been brought into disrepute by the actions of the student unions.
Minister of higher education SB Dissanayake speaking to the Daily Mirror however, stated that certain lecturers were behind yesterdays protest and had instigated the students to behave in the way they did. He further stated that the students involved in acts of intimidation must be expelled.
According to sources within the university, the Engineering faculty of the university has come to a complete standstill with students refusing to attend lectures. The source went on to state that the strike has been termed unofficial due to the fact that all unions have been suspended and therefore the strike cannot be termed as official.
The Vice Chancellor of the University suspended all unions with immediate effect due to the protest march that was organized by the students, citing security concerns together with the fact that the university has been brought into disrepute by the actions of the student unions.
Minister of higher education SB Dissanayake speaking to the Daily Mirror however, stated that certain lecturers were behind yesterdays protest and had instigated the students to behave in the way they did. He further stated that the students involved in acts of intimidation must be expelled.
The Minister also stated that during yesterday’s protest four persons including two lecturers and two members of the non academic staff were assaulted by the students and are currently receiving treatment at the Kandy Hospital.
“The background of this is a very brutal one with many students involved in ragging. This university has been responsible for the deaths of students. Therefore they need to be curtailed. These students don’t even have a proper slogan, they can protest against the establishing of private universities, that I understand, but this is just one slogan they are hiding behind. The other requests that they have put forward which include an establishing of a management faculty are unrealistic, both the students and the academics know this” he said.
The Minister went on to allege that a certain section of the lecturers were directly responsible for the incidents that took place yesterday.
“There are lecturers that I know of who are personally responsible for the situation that arose. They had continued to assist the raggers over the years and it is the few of them who are to be held responsible together with the unions.” he said.
The outspoken minister went on to state that he agreed with the decision of the Vice Chancellor and the council to suspend all student Unions. “I think they took the right decision, if the students continue with this sort of thing it is their parents who will take to the street” he said.
“The background of this is a very brutal one with many students involved in ragging. This university has been responsible for the deaths of students. Therefore they need to be curtailed. These students don’t even have a proper slogan, they can protest against the establishing of private universities, that I understand, but this is just one slogan they are hiding behind. The other requests that they have put forward which include an establishing of a management faculty are unrealistic, both the students and the academics know this” he said.
The Minister went on to allege that a certain section of the lecturers were directly responsible for the incidents that took place yesterday.
“There are lecturers that I know of who are personally responsible for the situation that arose. They had continued to assist the raggers over the years and it is the few of them who are to be held responsible together with the unions.” he said.
Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers condemn state iron fist
December 23, 2011, 9:53 pm, The Island.By Cyril Wimalasurendre
KANDY: The Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers Association (PAFTA) has strongly condemned the excessive use of force by the state to suppress the lawful expression of dissent by the students of the University of Peradeniya on Wednesday (21).
The PAFTA in a statement issued yesterday (23) has stated that it also condemned the suspension of the student unions of the university by the Vice Chancellor on the recommendation of an Advisory Committee.
However, the PAFTA has warned the student body to use democratic means to settle differences.
The statement of the PAFTA is as follows:
"On 21st the student body of the University of Peradeniya embarked on a march to Colombo to protest against the proposed new University Act. The march was stopped by, an inordinately high number of armed personnel of the state who were deployed in and around the university premises. We as the Peradeniya Arts Faculty Teachers’ Association(PAFTA), strongly condemn the excessive use of force by the State to suppress the lawful expression of dissent by the student body of the University of Peradeniya. We also condemn the use of armed Military personnel in matters concerning actions of civil society.
"PAFTA also condemn the temporary suspension of the Student Unions of the Peradeniya University by the vice chancellor on the recommendation of an advisory committee. Firstly, it is the democratic right of the students to organize themselves and hence banning of the student unions contravenes this right. Secondly, we see this decision as an arbitrary act, taken without following any procedure of inquiry. By banning student unions, they are stripped of their democratic rights, forcing them to go underground. We know from history that this could have deplorable consequences.
"We also urge the students and the academic staff to avoid unnecessary confrontations. As mature and responsible members of the academic staff we should strive to maintain normalcy at times like these. On the other hand, if any of the students have assaulted a member of the staff, we condemn that action strongly and urge the student body to use democratic means to settle differences and remind them that they have no moral right to preach what they do-not practice.
" We at PAFTA, have not, so far, heard from the lecturer concerned. He has not made any complaint either to PAFTA or to the University authorities concerning the incident that is purported to have taken place on Wednesday 21, December, 2011, involving him. The directive demanding action on the student unions has come from forces outside the university administrative structure. We are deeply unhappy about this and wish to voice our protest at this kind of arbitrary action. Such interventions are a grave threat to the autonomy of the University system, which we are fighting hard to maintain in spite of extreme external pressures.
"In the matter of the incidents that took place on Wednesday the 21st, we request all concerned to voice their protest against violent suppressions of legitimate dissent. We also request that all action taken by the authorities follow transparent democratic procedures. And in conclusion, we appeal to all to restore normalcy in the University and to restore the democratic rights of all."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)