One-day National Convention held to Protest Terror Law

KOCHI (PTI): A one-day national convention to protest against the newly promulgated Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance would be organised here on November 14 by the Confederation of Human Rights Organisations Keralam (CHRO).

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Mukundan C Menon, general convenor, said the promulgation of the ordinance was a threat to the people of the country on their democratic, human, civil and constitutional rights.

The convention was aimed at creating a platform for delegates of human rights bodies from different states and notable persons to air their view on the 'draconian' law, he said.

POTO was aimed to serve as 'Super TADA', he said alleging that the new ordinance in the context of an imagined change in global order after the September 11 attack on the US was the re-introduction of the dreded TADA under a new label with more powers.

The convention would pass resolutions against POTO and chalk out their future course of action against the ordinance, he said.

Among the papers and talks to be presented at the convention include 'POTO and democratic struggle in Andhra Pradesh', 'POTO and Tamil National Movement', 'POTO and Democratic Struggle in Karnataka' and 'POTO and STF victims of Veerappan hunting', he said.