UAPA tribunal issues notice to LTTE to explain why it should not be declared unlawful
- In Reports
- 09:31 PM, Jun 24, 2024
- Myind Staff
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has issued a notice to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), asking them to justify why they should not be declared unlawful. This action follows a recent government notification banning the LTTE due to ongoing activities deemed harmful to the country's integrity and security.
On June 5, 2024, the Union government constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal under Section 5 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The tribunal, chaired by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora of the Delhi High Court, was mandated to assess whether there was adequate reason to designate the LTTE as an unlawful association.
As a result, on June 14, 2024, the tribunal issued a notice to the LTTE, instructing them to provide a response within 30 days. They were required to justify why the organisation should not be declared unlawful and why the government's decision should not be upheld. The LTTE was also given the opportunity to present themselves before the tribunal in New Delhi on July 23, 2024, represented by an authorised counsel or advocate.
On May 18, 2024, the government of Tamil Nadu also officially announced the ban on the LTTE. The notification highlighted that despite its military defeat in Sri Lanka in May 2009, the LTTE had persisted in promoting the concept of 'Eelam' and actively pursued fundraising and propaganda activities.
According to the notification, "Pro-LTTE groups and elements persist in fostering separatist sentiments among the populace and expanding support for the LTTE in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. This poses a significant threat to the territorial integrity of India."
The notification further noted that LTTE sympathisers residing overseas were actively disseminating anti-India propaganda among Tamil communities. This propaganda often blamed the Indian government for the LTTE's defeat. Left unaddressed, these efforts could cultivate resentment among Tamils towards the central government of India and its constitutional framework.
Image Source: Swarajya
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