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The Hindu Editor expresses gratitude for "overwhelming support"

N. Ravi, Editor, The Hindu has, on behalf of the five senior journalists against whom warrants of arrest were issued by the Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and stayed by the Supreme Court, expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support that came from all over the country.

In a statement issued on Friday, Mr. Ravi said:

"On behalf of the Publisher, S. Rangarajan, Executive Editor, Malini Parthasarathy, Chief of the Tamil Nadu bureau, V. Jayanth, Special Correspondent, Radha Venkatesan, and on my own behalf, I wish to convey our thanks to the media, all sections of society and political parties and groups both in Tamil Nadu and around the country who rallied spontaneously in support of the cause of free speech and personal liberty. First of all, we are most thankful to the Editor-in-Chief, N. Ram, for the heroic defence that he put up in the court and outside, in the premises of The Hindu, which witnessed two police invasions and a two day long siege, in the columns of The Hindu and the national media. He had the full support of all the Directors in the conduct of this defence. We wish to convey our thanks to the editorial staff and other employees of The Hindu for their support during these troubled times. We were overwhelmed by the support from the media and from many sections of the public and civil society all over the country.

"It is deeply disturbing that in this day and age, free speech and personal liberty should be at the mercy of arbitrary and unrestrained use of power. On the other hand, the nationwide outrage shows that the spirit of liberty is all pervasive and the Supreme Court's order strengthens the confidence in the constitutional order, decency and the rule of law.

"We bear no ill will against any person or group. Only, it is our hope that such events are not ever repeated in Tamil Nadu and elsewhere. Events like this only strengthen our resolve to stand firm in the defence of freedoms."

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