October
29,
2003
Press
Statement
The
Polit
Bureau
of
the
Communist
Party
of
India
(Marxist)
has
issued
the
following
statement:
On
POTA
Ordinance
The
ordinance
promulgated
to
amend
the
Prevention
of
Terrorism
Act,
2002
will
not
solve
the
basic
problem
which
stems
from
the
draconian
nature
of
the
Act.
The
CPI(M)
was
firmly
opposed
to
the
enactment
of
POTA
as
law.
It
has
consistently
maintained
that
sufficient
laws
exist
to
combat
terrorist
activities.
Since
POTA
became
law,
experience
has
confirmed
that
such
laws
will
be
misused.
The present ordinance only seeks to provide for the review of cases of those already booked under POTA and who make an appeal. It does not, in any way, alter the basic provisions of the law. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that POTA be repealed to prevent further misuse.