The Hindu : Centre urged to extradite Prabakaran

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 20, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Centre urged to extradite Prabakaran

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI April 19. The Janata Party president, Subramanian Swamy, today urged the Centre to take steps to extradite the LTTE chief, V. Prabakaran, in view of the resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

In a letter to the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, he said it was imperative that the Centre take notice of the resolution as a multi-disciplinary monitoring agency had been set up in August 1998 to secure the extradition of Prabakaran. ``I hope now that there is no doubt that the people of Tamil Nadu, through the Assembly, have in one loud and clear voice demanded this action, you will not be failing to do your duty,'' he said. Dr. Swamy pointed out that POTA clearly required the arrest of any member of the LTTE, an organisation banned under the Act. Hence, allowing the LTTE ideologue, Anton Balasingham, to take medical treatment in India would amount to committing an offence under POTA. ``As Home Minister, in any case you are obliged to arrest Mr. Balasingham, if he sets foot anywhere in India,'' he said in his memorandum to Mr. Advani. Also, the Ministry of External Affairs could not be allowed to issue visas to Mr. Balasingham.

Referring to the capital punishment awarded to LTTE conspirators in the Rajiv assassination case, Dr. Swamy said any further delay in carrying out the punishment would be malafide.

Although the LTTE was now banned under POTA, the continuation of the ban under the Unlawful Activities Act was legally necessary, he said.

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