Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CHENNAI1188
2006-06-08 04:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Chennai
Cable title:
TAMIL NADU REPEALS ITS ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
how-toVZCZCXRO1610 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI DE RUEHCG #1188 1590409 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 080409Z JUN 06 FM AMCONSUL CHENNAI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8613 INFO RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1731 RUEHBI/AMCONSUL MUMBAI 4780 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA 0527 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 1224
UNCLAS CHENNAI 001188
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI DRL IN
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU REPEALS ITS ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
REF: 04 Chennai 01315 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS CHENNAI 001188
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI DRL IN
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU REPEALS ITS ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
REF: 04 Chennai 01315 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) SUMMARY: On May 31, 2006, the newly elected Tamil
Nadu Assembly passed a bill that formally repealed the
state's already inactive anti-conversion law. Formal repeal
of the anti-conversion law fulfilled a campaign promise of
the victorious Dravida Munnethra Khazhagam (DMK) party. END
SUMMARY
-------------- --
THE HISTORY OF TAMIL NADU'S ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
-------------- --
2. (SBU) The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion
of Religion Ordinance was promulgated in October 2002. It
prohibited conversion from one religion to another by the
"use of force or allurement or by fraudulent means." The
ordinance was subsequently replaced by an Act in May 2003
(Reftel) which made the anti-conversion provisions the law
of the state. But following an overwhelming defeat of her
AIADMK Party in the May 2004 Lok Sabha elections, former
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who had introduced the
controversial law, reversed course and issued an ordinance
repealing the anti-conversion law. The reversal was not a
result of any change of heart on Jayalalithaa's part but
rather because she believed that her support of the law had
hurt her with Christian and Muslim voters in the state.
-------------- --------------
NEW LAW PROVIDES FINAL BURIAL FOR THE ANTI-CONVERSION ACT
-------------- --------------
3. (U) Although most Tamil Nadu religious leaders felt that
the repeal of the anti-conversion act by ordinance was
adequate, especially since no one had ever been prosecuted
under the law, some remained uncomfortable since by law an
ordinance automatically lapses after six months. The
failure to replace the ordinance with a new law formally
repealing the anti-conversion statute was interpreted by
some as leaving the law technically still in place and
legally enforceable. But the new DMK government put that
concern to rest with passage of the repeal bill. In a
speech at the assembly on the day of its passage, new Chief
Minister M. Karunanidhi cited the repeal of the anti-
conversion law as one of four important legislative actions
that day for which, "May 31, 2006 will be remembered as a
red letter day in the annals of the Tamil Nadu Assembly."
When asked later why he had felt it important to pass this
law to repeal a law that was already dead, Karunanidhi
noted, "We had to exhume the body to make sure it was really
dead."
4. (U) Echoing the thoughts of many Christian and Muslim
leaders, Chennai Catholic Bishop Lawrence Pius told Post,
"We are very happy and relieved that the anti-conversion law
is finally repealed on paper."
HOPPER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV SOCI DRL IN
SUBJECT: TAMIL NADU REPEALS ITS ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
REF: 04 Chennai 01315 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) SUMMARY: On May 31, 2006, the newly elected Tamil
Nadu Assembly passed a bill that formally repealed the
state's already inactive anti-conversion law. Formal repeal
of the anti-conversion law fulfilled a campaign promise of
the victorious Dravida Munnethra Khazhagam (DMK) party. END
SUMMARY
-------------- --
THE HISTORY OF TAMIL NADU'S ANTI-CONVERSION LAW
-------------- --
2. (SBU) The Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Forcible Conversion
of Religion Ordinance was promulgated in October 2002. It
prohibited conversion from one religion to another by the
"use of force or allurement or by fraudulent means." The
ordinance was subsequently replaced by an Act in May 2003
(Reftel) which made the anti-conversion provisions the law
of the state. But following an overwhelming defeat of her
AIADMK Party in the May 2004 Lok Sabha elections, former
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who had introduced the
controversial law, reversed course and issued an ordinance
repealing the anti-conversion law. The reversal was not a
result of any change of heart on Jayalalithaa's part but
rather because she believed that her support of the law had
hurt her with Christian and Muslim voters in the state.
-------------- --------------
NEW LAW PROVIDES FINAL BURIAL FOR THE ANTI-CONVERSION ACT
-------------- --------------
3. (U) Although most Tamil Nadu religious leaders felt that
the repeal of the anti-conversion act by ordinance was
adequate, especially since no one had ever been prosecuted
under the law, some remained uncomfortable since by law an
ordinance automatically lapses after six months. The
failure to replace the ordinance with a new law formally
repealing the anti-conversion statute was interpreted by
some as leaving the law technically still in place and
legally enforceable. But the new DMK government put that
concern to rest with passage of the repeal bill. In a
speech at the assembly on the day of its passage, new Chief
Minister M. Karunanidhi cited the repeal of the anti-
conversion law as one of four important legislative actions
that day for which, "May 31, 2006 will be remembered as a
red letter day in the annals of the Tamil Nadu Assembly."
When asked later why he had felt it important to pass this
law to repeal a law that was already dead, Karunanidhi
noted, "We had to exhume the body to make sure it was really
dead."
4. (U) Echoing the thoughts of many Christian and Muslim
leaders, Chennai Catholic Bishop Lawrence Pius told Post,
"We are very happy and relieved that the anti-conversion law
is finally repealed on paper."
HOPPER