Former Parliamentarian Vaiko Condemns the arrest

In 2009, the Sinhalese state waged a genocidal war on Tamils and conducted a catastrophic massacre in the Mullivaikal, a small patch of land in Srilanka. From 2011, May17 movement conducts peaceful vigil at Marina Beach Chennai, in which our party and I included are regular participants. On May 21, 2017 as usual the social movement’s candle vigil was planned to be held but for the police who purportedly obstructed the peaceful conduct of the event and also used force against the peaceful commoners. Thereafter 7 activists of the May17 movement, 9 activists of the Tamilar Vidiyal Katchi and 1 activist of the Kanchi Makkal Manram were arrested and detained in the Puzhal Central Prison. Adding insult to injury, Mr.Thirumurugan Gandhi- coordinator of the May17 Movement, Mr. Daison Jose-Chief coordinator of the Tamilar Vidiyal Katchi , Mr. Ilamaran- State coordinator of the Tamilar Vidiyal Katchi and Mr. Arun – Student Coordinator of the Tamilar Vidiyal Katchi were charged with “The Goondas Act” a draconian preventive detention law on false grounds. In this case Mr.Arun is waiting for his marriage planned to be on 03.07.2017. Preventive detention laws, Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), Maintenance of Internal Security Act ( MISA ) , Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, The National Security Act ( NSA) are all used to silence dissenting voices against the fascist tendencies of the ruling government. To crush Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Association guaranteed by the constitution the action by the Tamilnadu Police is malicious and dangerous. The remembrance for the killed during the genocidal war is allowed to be conducted even in the island of Srilanka. But the purported act by the Tamilnadu government has brought shame and ill will from the eyes of the global Tamil community. Hence the charges against the Tamil activists, particularly “The Goondas Act'' should be dropped and democratic rights of the citizenry should be restored Vaiko, Former Parliament member of the Indian Government, General Secretary, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), Chennai 29.05.2017