Tamil Nadu to act against LTTE supporters

"The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, which had earlier informed the VCK’s ‘hail LTTE’ meeting to its high command and pleaded for stern action against those supporting the banned outfit, has thanked the chief minister for having declared in the Assembly that those indulging in activities supporting proscribed organizations were liable for prosecution. TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy, in a statement, also expressed the hope that the Tamil Nadu police would take appropriate action against the LTTE-supporters in the state following the government’s decision."
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by Special Correspondent from Chennai

(January 31, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) In a move to ‘appease’ its key ally, Congress, which is up in arms over the increasing pro-LTTE campaign in the state, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday warned of stringent action against those supporting banned outfits in any manner.

In an apparent reference to the LTTE, Law minister Durai Murugan made a suo motu statement in the Assembly announcing that any activity in support of the banned outfits is a crime under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and those indulging in such activities would be subjected to legal action.

In pursuant of the Tuesday’s debate on the floor of the Assembly on the practice of extending support to banned outfits and chief minister’s assurance that his government was ready to seek the suggestions of legal experts on whether a new legislation should be enacted, Mr Durai Murugan said a high-level meeting presided by chief minister and attended by finance minister K.Anbhazhagan, himself, advocate general Masilamani, chief secretary L.K.Tripathy and top civil and police officers discussed the issue Wednesday morning.

The meeting, he said, discussed in detail whether a new act was necessary or the existing legislation was enough to take action on those supporting banned organisations. Finally, the meeting, he said, arrived at a decision that any activity in support of any banned outfit such as organising campaigns, distributing hand bills, pasting wall posters, demonstrations, processions and fasts and taking part in them were against the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (37 of 1967).

“The government’s announcement is a warning to those individuals and those who function as a movement or organisation who commit such offences. Action will be taken against those found to be indulging in any one of these above mentioned activities, as per the particular law,” he said. The announcement comes in the wake of the Congress demand to arrest Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol Thirumavalavan, another ally of DMK, for his speech at a recent public meeting seeking revocation of the ban on LTTE.

Unconvinced over the Chief Minister’s explanation quoting a Supreme Court observation on a POTA case that mere vocal support for a banned outfit could not be considered an offence and his assurance that he was even prepared to enact a legislation in consultation with legal experts if necessary to prevent expression of views supporting banned organizations, the Congress and the AIADMK had on Tuesday staged separate walkouts accusing the government of failing to curb pro-LTTE activities.

Meanwhile, the DMK government’s Wednesday announcement seems to have pleased the Congress that has 35 members and is extending outside support to it. The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, which had earlier informed the VCK’s ‘hail LTTE’ meeting to its high command and pleaded for stern action against those supporting the banned outfit, has thanked the chief minister for having declared in the Assembly that those indulging in activities supporting proscribed organizations were liable for prosecution. TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy, in a statement, also expressed the hope that the Tamil Nadu police would take appropriate action against the LTTE-supporters in the state following the government’s decision.