Vaiko terms ban on LTTE as illegal

Chennai, Apr 10 (ANI): Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko has termed the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as illegal.

"This ban is illegal; this ban could not be substantiated by law. So, with these grounds, I have requested their lordships to cast the order of the tribunal, to cast the order of the ban against LTTE," Vaiko told media after appearing before the Madras High court seeking revocation of ban on LTTE.

He put forth documents to support his claim.

"I have put forth my arguments; first of all, the whole edifice will crumble. That Tamil Eelam means annexation of part of India, part of Tamil Nadu. There is no iota of truth in it, so it is far from truth. They are fighting for their homeland in north and east of that island that I have substantiated with evidence," said Vaiko.

He also highlighted the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils who have borne the brunt of supporting the cause of an independent state from the island country.

"I did draw the attention of the High Court to the three member panel of the United Nation's report which is heart rending, heart piercing the barbaric genocidal attacks against the civilians, men, women and children which have shaken the conscience of humanity. So under the guides of the ban of LTTE whoever comes over from Sri Lanka in Tamil is branded as a LTTE supporter and he is put behind the bars and whoever supports the cause of Eelam they are branded as LTTE supporters and cases are booked against them," said Vaiko.

Vaiko is known for his support to LTTE and other organisations who have been agitating for a separate state of Tamils in Sri Lanka.

India was among the 24 countries that voted against Sri Lanka at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 23.

The Indian government was earlier under pressure to lessen the diplomatic protection it gives to Sri Lanka, which is accused of human rights violations in the last days of the decades-long civil war against Tamil Tiger separatists that ended in 2009. (ANI)