The Malaysian High Court will deliver a decision on a judicial review application to de-proscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on September 17, 2020.
V Balamurugan, who filed the application, was one of 12 Malaysian Tamils who were arrested last year for alleged links to the LTTE, which remains as a 'terrorist organisation' in the country. All charges were dropped against the individuals in February this year.
At the time, then Attorney General Tommy Thomas advised that holding photographs of former LTTE leaders on their mobile phones do not establish a criminal offence. The Attorney General released an eleven-page statement outlining the law and its application to the case built against the twelve men.
The Attorney General highlighted that “it is commonplace to have idols to whom hero worship is displayed. It is not just pop stars, sportsmen or actors who are admired: historical personalities and politicians are often the subjects of adoration.
“The charges relating to the other six accused concern offences allegedly occurring in January and October 2019 but by this time, even if LTTE was still gazetted under our laws as a terrorist group, the defence will contend that the LTTE has not been responsible for violence even in its home country, Sri Lanka in 2019, let alone having any impact on the ordinary affairs of ordinary people in Malaysia.
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