CHENNAI, September 29, 2012 | The Hindu
Justifying
the continuation of the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the
Union government on Friday asserted that the banned organisation continued to
be a threat to the country’s sovereignty and integrity.
Immediately
after the assassination of the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991,
the Union government, which had imposed the ban on the LTTE for the first time
in May 1992, had been extending it every two years under the provisions of the
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
As
per the law, the Centre had issued a notification banning the organisation on
May 14 for another period of two years.
On
Friday, Justice V.K. Jain, who constitutes the one-man Tribunal set up under
the Act to go into the ban, conducted a hearing here to decide its validity.
Filing
an affidavit before the Tribunal, R.K. Suman, Director of Internal Security,
Union Home Ministry said, “Though the LTTE has been decimated, there are reports
to indicate that remnant LTTE cadres/leaders [are trying to] regroup and revive
the organisation in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere in India.”
He
also said there were reports that the banned organisation was likely to revive
with the assistance of Maoist organisations in the country.
“The
organisation is capable of garnering local support in Tamil Nadu and several
others parts in South India on account of linguistic, cultural and ethnic
affinity. The LTTE continues to look at Tamil Nadu as a base for anti-India
activities. The Central government has information that the LTTE continues to
be a threat to territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country,” the
Ministry said.
“The
LTTE, even after its military defeat, has not abandoned its goal of achieving
‘Tamil Eelam.’ The remnants of the organisation have been clandestinely working
by reviving [activities] locally and internationally and continue to propagate
its agenda through various means.”
Though
the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko’s
plea to implead himself in the hearing to oppose the ban was rejected by the
Tribunal, he was allowed to place certain questions before it.
Answering
a question raised by Vaiko, Mr. Suman said various cases have been registered
against pro-LTTE elements and supporters in the preceding 24 months. He was
personally aware of four such cases. He also cited the MDMK as one of the
organisations, listed as a supporter of the LTTE.
The
Tribunal is to continue its hearing on Saturday.
