State-wide POTO protests

By Hindu

CHENNAI, NOV. 19. Members of the Joint Action Committee against the Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance today staged demonstrations in various places in the State.

They said the ordinance went against all democratic norms and human rights.

In Chennai, Mr.P.Nedumaran of the People's Rights Federation was among the nearly 30 persons arrested for allegedly violating a police regulatory order. According to the police, permission was denied for holding a human chain. Instead, the police had said, a demonstration could be held near the State Guest House, Chepauk. The arrests were made when the organisers attempted to go ahead with their plan, the police said. Those arrested were later released.

Draconian act

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Women's Forum Against Violence on Women said the ordinance must not be ratified in Parliament as it would be misused by an ``already corrupt police force''.

At a day-long seminar on violence against women, speakers expressed apprehension as to what would happen if the police were vested with the powers as envisaged in the POTO.

``We have already seen the misuse of the TADA Act by the powers that be. There is no need for a draconian act as seen in POTO'', said Ms. Saraswathi of Penngal Kottamaipu.

Though women were being subjected to several evils in the country, it was heartening to note that the definition of violence against women had become broad-based in recent years, the All India Democratic Women's Association president, Ms. Mythili Sivaram, said. ``New laws are coming up defining mental and psychological torture on women. There have been some advances. But the important thing is for the women to understand their rights and stand up in protest'', she said.

They also demanded a ban on VHP and the Hindu Munnani and an immediate implementation of total prohibition.

Later, they took out a march from the Memorial Hall, opposite to the General Hospital, to Flower Bazaar Police station.