The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) Tribunal, led by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora of the Delhi High Court, will determine whether there is sufficient cause to declare the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) an unlawful association.
The Tribunal will review the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) decision to extend the LTTE’s ban as an unlawful association for another five years.
MHA Notification on LTTE Ban
According to a notification issued on June 5, the LTTE has been declared an unlawful association.
“Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 read with sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, consisting of Ms. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an unlawful association,” the notification stated.
On May 14, the Centre decided to extend the LTTE’s ban for another five years because it fosters separatist sentiment among the masses, particularly in Tamil Nadu, and poses a threat to India’s territorial integrity.
‘Threat to India’s Territorial Integrity’
The notification stated that, despite its military defeat in Sri Lanka in May 2009, the LTTE has not abandoned the concept of ‘Eelam’ and has been secretly working toward this goal through fundraising and propaganda activities. Remaining LTTE leaders or cadres have also attempted to reunite scattered activists and resurrect the organization both locally and internationally.
“The pro-LTTE groups/elements continue to foster separatist tendencies among the masses and enhance the support base for LTTE in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, which will ultimately have a strong disintegrating influence on the territorial integrity of India. The LTTE sympathizers living abroad continue to spread anti-India propaganda among Tamils, holding the Government of India responsible for the defeat of the LTTE, which, if not checked, is likely to develop a sense of hatred among the Tamil population towards the Central Government and the Indian Constitution,” the notification read.
