“They should be granted general amnesty, rehabilitated or bailed out”
MANO GANESAN- MINISTER OF NATIONAL CO-EXISTENCE DIALOGUE AND OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
Mano Ganesan, Minister of National Co-existence Dialogue and Official Languages said when the current government came to power there were around 200 detained under the PTA and this number has reduced to nearly 100. “This is a favourable and progressive step. Yet, we have to address the issues of the rest in detention under the PTA,” he added. Stressing that the PTA had to be repealed, he said the government had pledged to the nation and international community to do so. “This is going to be replaced by the Counter Terrorism Act. Its draft has been debated nationally and internationally. There are many negative opinions expressed to the extent that people claim it is more draconian than the PTA. This is a point to ponder over. But we can’t simply reject it. Though is has been drafted and has gone through the cabinet, it has to be amended before it comes to the parliament,” he said.
Referring to those still detained, he suggested that they should be granted general amnesty, rehabilitated or bailed out. “Certain prisoners have been sentenced. But they have already spent 15 to 25 years in remand. They should be given general amnesty similar to how amnesty was granted to the southern insurgents in the 70s and 80s,” Ganesan said. “Others whose trials are ongoing should be bailed out or should be sent to rehabilitation centres. After the rehabilitation period of six months or one year, they should be sent home. When it comes to those who were not sentenced or charged but detained for investigation, they should be released immediately on bail,” he added.
This is going to be replaced by the Counter Terrorism Act. Its draft has been debated nationally and internationally. There are many negative opinions expressed to the extent that people claim it is more draconian than the PTA. This is a point to ponder over. But we can’t simply reject it. Though is has been drafted and has gone through the cabinet, it has to be amended before it comes to the parliament