Watch: ITAK Claims the Hartal in the North and East was Successful, Government says it was a failure

(Baticaloa) While the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) party claims the hartal in the North and East was successful, the government says it was a failure.

Our correspondents in the North also noted that daily activities were proceeding normally in some areas, while the hartal was active in others.

Meanwhile, sources from the North state that the hartal campaign called for today (18) in the Northern and Eastern provinces was a general failure, mainly due to divisions that have emerged among Tamil political parties and Tamil civil society organizations.

The hartal was announced by ITAK, and its failure is said to be primarily due to widespread disapproval of former MP M.A. Sumanthiran leading the campaign.

While many shops in ITAK stronghold areas like Vavuniya were closed in support of the hartal, reports indicate that businesses in other towns in the Northern and Eastern provinces remained open, with daily life proceeding as normal.

Although there were calls for private buses to refrain from operating and for schools to be closed in support of the hartal, there was no significant support from these sectors.

However, due to the risk of disrupted transportation, many parents refrained from sending their children to school out of fear and suspicion that they might get stranded.

The hartal campaign was reportedly limited to towns, with daily activities in rural areas continuing as usual.

The hartal was called to protest the alleged beating and death of a Tamil youth by military personnel in the Mullaitivu Muthiyankattu area and to demand the removal of the military from the Northern and Eastern provinces.

ITAK MP Shanakiyan Rasamanickam says in Twitter' "The hartal called by the ITAK was a resounding success. Following yesterday’s press briefing by the Cabinet Spokesperson, and based on assurances given regarding the investigation and steps being taken towards the removal of army camps, we decided to limit the hartal until 12 p.m.

I also strongly condemn the actions of NPP members in the North and East who have reportedly threatened shop owners to keep their businesses open or face legal consequences — such intimidation is a clear violation of the people’s democratic right to protest." (NewsCenter)