By S. Dorairaj
CUDDALORE SEPT. 21. The human rights activists, P. Kalyani and G. Sugumaran, today made it clear that they would undertake a mission to secure the release of the former Karnataka Minister, H. Nagappa, held hostage by the forest brigand Veerappan, only if a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Human Rights Commission was ordered into the alleged “human rights abuse” against some persons who were part of the mission to rescue the Kannada thespian, Rajkumar, from the clutches of Veerappan, two years ago.
Prof. Kalyani, treasurer of the Federation for People’s Rights-Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, and Mr. Sugumaran, its secretary, who had been “approached by the Karnataka Government to go on a rescue mission”, jointly released a statement at a press conference here laying down the conditions for undertaking the task.
They also highlighted the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, P. Nedumaran’s views on the issue, revealed to them at the Cuddalore central prison on Friday. Striving for a negotiated settlement of the issue by “offering general amnesty to Veerappan”, was among the suggestions made by Mr. Nedumaran.
The next phase of their efforts in this regard would depend on a common decision by the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments, taking their views expressed in a recent memorandum to the Karnataka Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Mr. Nedumaran’s suggestions into consideration, Prof. Kalyani and Mr. Sugumaran said. “Our stand will be formally conveyed to the Karnataka Government.”
Demanding a CBI or NHRC probe into the charges against Mani, P. Sivasubramanian, a journalist, and Muthukumar, they claimed that all the three, “who had helped a lot in the rescue of Rajkumar, were arrested by the Karnataka STF in the Tamil Nadu territory.” Mr. Nedumaran had said that the cases “foisted” on them and the Nakkeeran editor, R.R. Gopal, “smacked of betrayal.” He had called for the immediate withdrawal of the cases, they said.
Mr. Nedumaran, who has been lodged in jail under POTA, had accused Karnataka and Tamil Nadu of “missing an opportunity” to end the problem despite Veerappan, “on the heels of Rajkumar’s release, coming forward to surrender if he was offered general amnesty.” Instead of treating the Veerappan issue as a mere law and order problem, it should be approached from the socio-economic angle, he suggested. Without confining themselves to rescuing the hostage, the two Governments should strive for a lasting solution to the Veerappan problem, he said. “Considering the fact that Veerappan had not indulged in any illegal activity for the past two years after the release of Rajkumar, efforts must be made to find a solution through talks, offering general amnesty to him”, Mr. Nedumaran felt.
Other assurances given by the two State Governments during the release of Rajkumar, such as installation of a Tiruvalluvar statue in Bangalore by January 15 last, disbursal of compensation to the tune of Rs.10 crores to the victims of STF operations and action against STF personnel who had “committed excesses”, had not been fulfilled, he had claimed.
The Hindu / 22.09.2002.
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