The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : POTA detenus end fast

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 15, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

POTA detenus end fast

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, SEPT. 14. Eleven Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) detenus, who went on an indefinite fast in the Central Prison here demanding repeal of the special legislation with retrospective effect, withdrew their hunger-strike today.

The detenus decided to end their fast after a civil rights team met them following an order of the Madras High Court.

Briefing newspersons after the meeting, Justice Rajinder Sachar of the People's Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), New Delhi, said the prisoners, belonging to the Radical Youth League, withdrew their fast after the team requested them to do so and assured them that rights activists would continue their struggle in support of the demand from outside. "After much persuasion, the prisoners agreed to withdraw their stir," he said.

Another team left for the Vellore Special Prison, where three women detenus are on fast, to convey the message.

Centre criticised

Criticising the Centre for not keeping its election promise, Mr. Justice Sachar said the Government was "politically dishonest" in not honouring its commitment on repealing the Act. He demanded that the law be repealed with retrospective effect and all cases registered under POTA be withdrawn.

A team of rights activists met the Union Home Minister on September 10 in support of the demand. Mr. Justice Sachar regretted that the Centre had not made it clear what it proposed to do. On one occasion it said that the law would be repealed. Another time it was stated that it wanted to retain certain provisions. "What is the provision they want to retain", he asked. If the Union Government had an honest desire to repeal POTA, it should have issued an ordinance to that effect immediately after taking over.

Answering a question on the condition of the prisoners, Sudha Ramalingam of the PUCL said they were tired and not able to walk around. They were lodged in the condemned prisoners cell, each of which had four inmates. No blankets were given to them. There was no proper ventilation.

The team condemned the State Government's move in declaring the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (People's War) an unlawful association. Kranthi Chaitanya, joint secretary, Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties Committee, quoting the Andhra Pradesh experience, said in the name of curbing terrorists, such a ban would be used against democratic organisations and journalists.

Lawyers in Vellore

The three detenus — Anandi, Joyce Mary and Rita Mary — who are on an indefinite fast from August 29, withdrew their agitation on Tuesday, following a request by human rights lawyers who met them in the Government Vellore Medical College Hospital this evening.

They are among the six suspected women naxalites who were arrested for their alleged involvement in violent incidents in Uthangkarai police station limits in Krishnagiri district and Kallavi police station limits in Dharmapuri district in November 2002 and since lodged in the Special Prison for Women here.

The fasting detenus were admitted to hospital on August 31 as their health condition deteriorated. They were discharged on Sunday morning and re-admitted the same night. The three lawyers who met them in the hospital requested them to end their agitation since the other detenus lodged in the Central prison in Chennai have already ended their fast.

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