Ban on Tamil film, NGO moves NHRC

By J. Venkatesan

NEW DELHI, FEB. 26. Maintaining that the ban imposed by the Censor Board in India on the Tamil film, Kaatrukkenna Veli was a violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, an NGO has sought the intervention of the U.N. High Commission for Human Rights in Geneva to get immediate relief.

Complaints have also been addressed to the National Human Rights Commission and the Amnesty International by Mr. T.S.S. Mani, co- convenor, Human Rights - Tamil Nadu Initiative, for their intervention to get the film released by the Censor Board. NHRC sources said the complaint would be placed before the Full Commission shortly for its consideration and necessary action.

The complainant has pointed out that the Appellate Tribunal for Film Certification, Delhi, by a majority had rejected certificate to the Tamil film, on the ground that it glorifies the LTTE, a banned organisation in India.

He said while the Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr. Jaspal Singh, had suggested that the film could be granted certificate after effecting certain ``cuts'' and ``amendments'', the other two Members were of the view that the film should not be allowed to be released. As a result by a majority, the tribunal dismissed the plea of the producer to grant certificate for releasing the film.

Mr. Mani drew the attention of Art. 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 according to which the right to freedom of expression included right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information of all ideas through any media.

The film had nothing to do with the LTTE, the complainant said and added that the ban ordered by the Censor Board was a violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. While demanding certificate for the film, he wanted the human rights organisations to question the Board and the Tribunal for their biased stand.

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