Save Mugilan! An appeal to democratic forces!

Mugilan

Mugilan Swamithayal is a well-known environmental activist who has been on the forefront of various struggles against nuclear power, industrial pollution, and sand mining for more than a decade. He always stood for environmental and nationality rights of the people without any compromise.

As a rude shock to many of us, he went missing since February 15, 2019. It was the same day when he released a video alleging that IG and DIG rank police officials of TN orchestrated the police firing against anti-Sterlite protesters at Thoothukudi last May. He explained in the video that the attack was in collusion with the Sterlite Copper management, a company owned Vedanta, known for its notorious past and present.

Thirteen people were killed in the firing. And, the timing of his disappearance poses a lot of questions since he went missing after a few hours of releasing the sensational video.

As the letter to chief secretary by eminent citizens says, Mugilan’s “abrupt disappearance and the silence of the Government of Tamil Nadu raise grave concerns about the state of civil liberties and human rights in Tamil Nadu, a state with a civil administration that once prided itself in being a cut above the rest.” Amnesty International also made an appeal to ensure the safety of Mugilan and urged the authorities to find his whereabouts immediately.

A habeas corpus plea (HCP) was made on February 17, 2019 by social activist Henri Tiphagne in the Madras High Court for seeking production of Mugilan in the court and to set him at liberty. Court has ordered the police officials to investigate and report on March 04, 2019.

As every day passes by without any clue on what happened to Mugilan, democratic forces and concerned citizens of the country are deeply worried about his safety. It’s the duty of every citizen who believe in democracy to raise their voice for Mugilan who always fought for truth and justice. It would be a wrong precedent to let it go easily since forced disappearances never stopped with a single individual, as history shows.

We appeal to democratic forces across the country to raise your voice against this forced disappearance and urge the Tamil Nadu Government to produce Mugilan in court.

Save Mugilan is a joint initiative of various people’s organizations across Tamil Nadu. They can reached at [email protected].

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