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MANITHAM & CHRO JOINTLY
STARTED MASS SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
Forest brigand Veerappan allegedly blasted a police convoy near Paalar, a
hilly region with thick forests in Tamil Nadu, India, in April 1993, killing 22
police officials and Informers. The police detained 4 persons :
1. Mr. Simon (m), aged 37, Ottarathottai
2. Mr. Bilavendran (m), aged 53, Martalli
3. Mr. Gnana Prakasam (m), aged 47, Santhanapalayam
4. Mr. Meesakara Madhiah (m), aged 57
After invoking TADA clauses, Mysore court initially awarded life sentence for
them. They filed appeal in the Supreme Court against the life conviction.
However, the Supreme Court enhanced the punishment on 29-01-2004 by awarding
capital punishment to the four. Speeding-up to implement the verdict, their date
of execution by hanging has been fixed on April 16 at Belgham prison in
Karnataka.
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Thiru
VAIKO, MDMK President launched Signature Campaign [First Sign] on 26-03-2004
and Former Union Minister Thiru Mu. Kannappan [Second Sign] |
Meanwhile, a mercy petition was filed on their behalf with the State Governor of
Karnataka on 6 March: only the President of India and State Governors have the
power to commute death sentences.
We believe that the verdict can be changed to save their lives in the people’s
court by mobilizing mass support and awareness against death penalty.
We have already started a mass signature campaign to press Indian government to
sign the moratorium on all execution with UN Human Rights Commission.
We both urge all to join in our campaign and to make this collective cause a
success.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY TO:
POSTAL CONTACTS:
President
His Excellency A J P Abdul Kalam
Office of the
President
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi 110 004
Telegram: President
Kalam, Office of the President, New Delhi, India
Fax: + 91 11 2301
7290
Salutation: Your Excellency
COPIES TO:
Governor of
Karnataka
Shri T N Chaturvedi
Office of the Governor
Raj
Bhavan
Bangalore 560 001
Karnataka
Telegram: Governor Chaturvedi,
Office of the Governor, Karnataka,
India
Fax: + 91 80 2225
815
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Note : Printed notice is
available in English & Tamil and can get from
MANITHAM Secretariat through
in-person, telephone, email or by post
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