The Hindu : Front Page : Act against foes of freedom of expression: N. Ram

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Friday, Oct 17, 2008
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Act against foes of freedom of expression: N. Ram

CHENNAI: N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, has strongly condemned “the illegal acts of mischief and violence” by activists of the pro-LTTE fringe group, the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK), along with a handful of anti-social elements, targeting the newspaper in three recent incidents at Coimbatore and Erode.

“These unruly and illegal acts were an expression of intolerance of the newspaper’s criticism of pro-LTTE and pro-Eelam chauvinism in the Tamil Nadu political arena,” he said in a statement, adding: “In our considered editorial assessment, these chauvinistic, pro-separatist tendencies are deeply inimical to the interests of the Indian people. Hearteningly, the overwhelming majority of the people of Tamil Nadu, who do not want a replay of the propaganda campaigns and violent activities of the terrorist Tamil Tigers in one of India’s most peaceful States, firmly oppose these chauvinistic tendencies.”

In his statement, Mr. Ram expressed satisfaction over the prompt response of the police in Coimbatore and Erode to these criminal acts, which constituted “a threat to the physical safety of our journalists, non-journalistic staff, and others working for us, and to freedom of expression, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution.”

Stronger action urged

He wanted the police and the Tamil Nadu Government to take stronger action under the law of the land against the extremist fringe outfits and the individuals, including lawyers, behind these illegal acts. “We expect the police and the State government,” Mr. Ram said, “to monitor and pursue seriously the prosecution of these cases, so that exemplary punishment under the law of the land is meted out to those who menace freedom of expression in the cause of a banned terrorist organisation.”

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