Warner s Entry

Denial of Passport to Journalist M N RAVUNNl's (secretary, central propaganda committee; Communist Party of Kerala (KCP) and chief editor Munnani- porali battle to break the illegal, undeclared ban on his travel reached a crucial stage when the Kerala High Court rejected the passport issuing authority's explanation and sought a detailed reply. Ravunni had applied for his passport in July 1995. Repeated reminders and a lawyer's notice were ignored by the authorities who simply Wept saying that they needed more time to 'collect' information about him. In fact, they were using delaying tactics to disrupt his possible travel plans and prepared a dossier on his revolutionary journalist activities. The brief submitted to argue Ravunni's case at the high court pointed out that the government not satisfied with locking up this courageous internationalist fighter for 16 years in the jails was now intent on detaining him within the walls of India. It challenged the govern- ment's claims of adhering to the Constitution since it was denying Ravunni freedom of movement granted by Article 21. Apart from stating that Ravunni figures on the all-India and state security lists the government had no reply to these charges. These, so-called security lists are notorious for the way they are prepared according to the current whims and fancies of the rulers. They also highlight the real nature of Indian democracy which continues to implement colonial police state rules under a thin veil of legality.