THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: : Joining the global ‘Million Mask March’ organised by the online activist group ‘Anonymous’, incognito members of its social media subsidiary ‘Anonymous Kerala’ took out a march in the city on Wednesday.
Expressing disapproval at the corruption plaguing the government, five anonymous persons wearing the Guy Fawkes mask joined the global event by taking out a march from Pattom to the Secretariat. The ‘Anonymous’ group is known for advocating ‘hacktivism’ and is infamous for taking down government websites and launching attacks on religious cults.
This is the second global annual ‘Million Mask March’ being organised by ‘Anonymous’. The march hopes to attract attention to corrupt governments across the globe.
“Million Mask March to shed light on corrupt government in order to set people free from oppression,” said the official Facebook page of the community.
Members of ‘Anonymous Kerala’ urged for the introduction of a law along the lines of the Maharashtra Bill for Prevention of Superstitious and Aghori Practices in the state. “We have been witnessing a number awful deaths and heinous crimes which are associated with religious cults which should be prevented by all means,” said Anonymous Kerala.
According to a website managed by ‘Anonymous’, several thousands of people participated in the ‘Million Mask March’ in 481 various global locations, including capitals of major countries.
Reportedly, ‘Anonymous India’ held similar protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru.
The march is usually scheduled on the Guy Fawkes Day (November 5) to also commemorate the Gunpowder Plot which took place on November 5, 1605. Guy Fawkes, who was executed later, had ventured out to blow up the British Parliament in a bid to assassinate the corrupt politicians.
Guy Fawkes mask has become the unofficial symbol of the community and its activist hackers who use it to keep their identity a secret so as to evade government law enforcement agencies.
Solidarity with ‘Nilpu Samaram’
The incognito members of the online group ‘Anonymous Kerala’ declared solidarity with the cause of Nilpu Samaram - the stand up stir by the tribal folk of Wayanad district. As part of the ‘Million Mask March’, the anonymous members decided to march to Statue for declaring solidarity with the tribals who have been staging a protest against the state government for the past 120 days.
President of the Adivasi Gothra Mahasabha C K Janu welcomed the step taken by the group of anonymous netizens.
“It is certainly the oppressed classes which need our support and we don’t swear allegiance to any political ideology. Adivasis are fighting for their rights and that is precisely why we declare solidarity with them,” said ‘Anonymous Kerala’ stating the reason for their solidarity with Nilpu Samaram and not with any other protests in front of the Secretariat.