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Vaiko arrested for pro-LTTE remarks, slams Manmohan
Chennai, October 23: MDMK chief Vaiko was on Thursday arrested for making 'highly inflammatory speeches in support of the LTTE', police said.Vaiko had at a public meeting in Chennai on Tuesday said a separate Tamil Eelam under the leadership of LTTE chief Prabhakaran would come into existence soon in Sri Lanka.
"LTTE and Sri Lankan Tamils could not be separated. Though we are against any violence, we should differentiate between violence and right", he said.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had assured me no military aid would be supplied to Sri Lanka, had gone back on his word," he alleged.
Vaiko said, "if the need arises, I will be the first man to take up arms in support of Sri Lankan Tamils. I will gather youths all over the country for this purpose".
The MDMK presidium chairman, M Kannappan, had told the meeting that time would come to demand for a separate Tamil Nadu. In that meeting, a two-hour film on Sri Lankan army's alleged atrocities against Tamils was screened.
In a statement on Wednesday, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa had demanded that all LTTE supporters be booked.
Tamil Nadu government's decision to arrest Vaiko was to make it clear that ruling DMK's support was only for the suffering Sri Lankan Tamils and not for LTTE.
Vaiko, now an ally of Jayalalithaa, was detained under POTA by her government in 2004 on his arrival from the United States after he had made a pro-LTTE speech at a public meeting in Tirumangalam in Madurai.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi had condemned Vaiko's arrest at that time.
This is the second time that Vaiko has been arrested for supporting the banned group, the earlier occasion being during the previous AIADMK government when he was held under POTA.
| Vaiko Arrest in yahoo news |
In the dock: MDMK general secretary Vaiko, who was arrested from his residence in Chennai on Thursday, being taken to a city court.
CHENNAI: In a swift operation, officials of the ‘Q’ Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu police on Thursday arrested Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko here on charges of sedition. The MDMK presidium chairman and former Union Minister, M. Kannappan, was also arrested at his native village Alampalayam, near Pollachi, on the same charges.
Mr. Vaiko, who was arrested at his Anna Nagar residence, was produced in a city court and remanded to judicial custody till November 6. He is lodged in the Puzhal Central prison.
The party leaders were charged under Section 124 (A) IPC (Whoever brings or attempts to bring in hatred or contempt or excites disaffection towards the government) and Section 13 (1) (b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (Whoever advocates, abets in, advises or incites the commission of any unlawful activity).
The charges are based on the speeches made at a party meeting on the Sri Lankan issue in Chennai on October 21. Mr. Vaiko warned that India extending help to protect Sri Lanka’s integrity would jeopardise India’s own unity and integrity. He said he would be ready to take up arms and fight for the Tamils in the island nation. Mr. Kannappan, who presided, warned the Centre not to force Tamils in Tamil Nadu to struggle for a separate country.
A general alert has been sounded across Tamil Nadu following the arrest.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said the law would take its course in the case. Speaking to a news channel, he said whatever had happened had happened as per the letter and spirit of the law. Asked if there would be more arrests, he said, “I do not know.”
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa described the arrests as political vendetta.
Director-General of Police K.P. Jain said, “A case was registered against Mr. Vaiko and Mr. Kannappan as their speeches could affect the nation’s unity, integrity and security. Whoever indulges in seditious speeches will be dealt with as per law.”
Just before he was taken into custody, Mr. Vaiko told The Hindu that he was committed to the unity of India. “When the country is supplying arms to the Sri Lankan government to perpetuate genocide against Tamils, it is betrayal of Tamils. So that is why I said if you supply arms to kill and annihilate the Tamil race, we are prepared to go and fight for the Tamils … taking up arms there … not against India.”
Talking to journalists as he was being led away by the police, Mr. Vaiko said he stood by what he had stated at the meeting. “I am not for violence. The alliance with the AIADMK is intact. We may disagree on this issue, but the alliance will continue.”
He said the Indian government was responsible for the killing of the Tamils in Sri Lanka as it was supplying arms and radar equipment to that country.
Ref: Hindu
Tamil Nadu sweats over Lankan heat
HISTORY REPEATS: MDMK general secretary Vaiko at the George Town Magistrate Court after being arrested at his residence in Anna Nagar.
CHENNAI: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko, was arrested here on sedition charges for allegedly supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The arrest followed Vaiko’s speech at a public meeting in the city on October 21 on ‘What is happening in Sri Lanka?’ During the speech, Vaiko had said that he and his supporters would not hesitate to carry arms to Lanka in support of the Eelam and said he would be able to gather the youth from all over the country for the purpose. MDMK presidium chairman Kannappan, during the meeting, had allegedly said that the opponents of LTTE were Tamil traitors and that Tamils should not be forced to separate from Tamil Nadu. Kannappan was arrested in Pollachi on Thursday for his speech. In a dramatic move by the ‘Q’ branch police, the MDMK leader was arrested from his Anna Nagar residence at 4.30 pm, on charges under the Section 124 A of IPC, for sedition and favouring secessionist and 13 (1) B, for prevention of unlawful activities. The news about Vaiko’s arrest spread like wild fire and the media also barged into the residence. Vaiko remained calm even after the arrest warrant was served on him. By this time, party cadre gathered in front of the house and raised slogans against the police and Chief Minister Karunanidhi. As the police tried to lead him to a waiting vehicle, a posse of media men surrounded him, eager for his comment. The police did not seem to be in a hurry, allowing the reporters to get a version of his brief address. Vaiko repeated portions of his controversial speech and admitted to making the comments last Tuesday. “We are also committed to protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country,” he said. Vaiko then blasted the Centre for supplying arms and other logistics to Lanka, which, he claimed was being used to kill the ethnic Tamils on the island nation. “I hold the Centre responsible for the killing of the Eelam Tamils, because they are the ones supplying arms”, he said, adding that there were no changes in his stand. Criticising Karunanidhi, Vaiko said, “All this human chain and the all-party meetings are a farce. He is betraying the Tamils.” Referring to the arrest, Vaiko said nothing could stop him from voicing his concern for the Tamils. Interestingly, it was Karunanidhi, who was with him when he was arrested on July 11, 2002 midnight by the previous regime of Jayalalithaa, under POTA and later released on February 7, 2004, after spending 19 months in jail. Vaiko was taken to the north beach road police station, accompanied by a convoy of police vehicles, and media. Few supporters tried to block the traffic in front of the police station, but were refrained from doing so by leaders like Nenmaran. Vaiko was produced before the George Town VII Metropolitan Magistrate court and Judge Ravi asked him whether he had moved any bail applications, to which Vaiko said no. He has been remanded to judicial custody till November 6 and was taken to the Puzhal Central Prison. Jaya:It's political vandetta DESCRIBING the arrest of MDMK leaders Vaiko and Kannappan, as ‘nothing but a political vendetta’ and a move by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to remain in power, AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa on Thursday demanded the immediate arrest of the CM for twisting their stand on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue as pro-LTTE. In a statement here, the AIADMK leader questioned the rationale behind the arrests on the charges of making seditious statements, while similar action was not taken against VCK leader Thirumavalavan, film directors Seeman, Amir, Bharathiraja and Rama Narayanan, who had allegedly expressed antinational views. She said: “The law is equal to all... partiality in executing the law is unacceptable,” and added that there could not be different yardsticks for the political opponents and supporters.
She said the CM should be arrested first for writing an elegy to LTTE leader Tamilselvan and the Centre should dissolve the DMK government.
Ref: www.expressbuzz.com
Tamilian first or Indian that is the question provocative politician and MDMK chief Vaiko had to answer on Thursday after being arrested for a speech that the government says amount to sedition.
The MDMK Chief has been booked for sedition and sent to the Puzhal Prison on the outskirts of the city. In his speech made last week, he threatened to lead an arms struggle in Sri Lanka, which got him into trouble again.
"If you give arms to the Sinhalese to kill our Tamil brethren, will we not take up arms and if required I will be the first person to lead this," said Vaiko, general secretary, MDMK.
This is the second time Vaiko is being jailed for a speech supporting the Tamil Tigers. In 2002, Jayalalithaa was chief minister, who had ordered his arrest under POTA for a similar speech.
But Vaiko is unrepentant and says his stand that the LTTE is the sole representative of the Tamils, remains unchanged.
"We are second to none to defend the sovereignty and unity of India. At the same time, in the name of protecting the unity of Sri Lanka, if India gives arms support to them to perpetuate genocidal attacks, it is a betrayal of the Tamil race," said Vaiko.
Ref: www.ndtv.com
Vaiko arrested under stringent sections
Statesman News Service
Chennai, Oct. 23: MDMK leader Mr Vaiko was arrested today under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his speech supporting the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam at a public meeting here on 21 October and remanded to 15 days of judicial custody.
Police said that Mr Vaiko has been arrested under secion 124(a) of Indian Penal Code, for making a speech which incites the people against the Indian government and under secion 13(1b) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. If the charges under section 124(a) of IPC was proved, the maximum punishment would range from three years to a life term, while the maximum punishment under 13(1b) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act would be seven years, lawyers said.
Bowing to pressure from the Congress, which is supporting his government from outside, chief minister Mr M Karunanidhi, cracked the whip on those who made public speeches supporting the Tigers recently. The police also arrested senior MDMK leader and party presidium chairman Mr M Kannappan who spoke in the same meeting titled “What is happening in Eelam?” (Eelam is the homeland of Tamils in Sri Lanka).
In the meeting, Mr Vaiko asked “if a solution through negotiations is the stand of Indian government, why is it providing arms, personnel, training and funds to the Sinhalese government. He said that Indian navy was providing intelligence to the Sri Lankan navy under the Indo-Lankan Communciations Agreement and alleged that the Centre was using the tax collected from people of Tamil Nadu to kill its brethern in Sri Lanka.
Even after the threat of Tamil Nadu MPs to quit en masse, the Centre was refusing to stop military assistance to the Sri Lankan government, he said. Prime Minister Mr Manmohan Singh, in a letter to him, dated 2 October, had said the Centre was providing military aid to the island government only to protect its integrity. “The Centre should not sacrifice India's integrity to protect that of the Sri Lankan government. The youths of Tamil Nadu are ready to take up arms to protect its brethern. Are you ready”, he asked, as the huge crowd of youths, charged with emotion, shouted back `yes’ and followed it with angry slogans against the Centre and the Sri Lankan government.
However, Mr Vaiko added “I am not asking you to take up arms. The Centre should see the overflowing emotions here and stop its assistance to the Sri Lankan government,” he said.
Mr Vaiko in his speech that Tamils of Sri Lanka could not be separated from the LTTE, since there was a Tiger from each family. He said that the Tigers were a section of youths among the people who had taken arms to protect their people and homeland. He also hailed the valour of LTTE chief Mr Velupillai Prabhakaran and said he was fighting to protect the rights of self-respect of Tamils.
Ref: www.thestatesman.net
Vaiko held for pro-LTTE speech
MDMK chief Vaiko was arrested on Thursday for publicly “supporting the armed struggle” by the banned Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in northern Sri Lanka.
The arrest is a fallout of the three-week stir by political parties here demanding that the Centre persuade the Sri Lankan government to “stop the war” against the Tamils.
The Karunanidhi-led DMK Government acted quietly but swiftly on alleged seditious speeches made by Vaiko, and party presidium chairman and former Union minister M.Kannappan, at an MDMK meeting in Chennai.
Vaiko was remanded to judicial custody till November 6. Police also arrested Kannappan from his residence.
Both the MDMK leaders were charged under various sections — Section 124(a) (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Sedition can be punished with a maximum of life imprisonment.
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