Indefinite Bandh Suspended, Blockade on National Highways to Continue
Date : 23rd July, 2018 :: By: Joint Tribal Student Bodies
Considering the hardships faced by the general public due to bandh, we have decided to suspend the indefinite hill area bandh that started at 6 am of July 23, however we will still continue our agitation with blockade on national highways - Jiribam-Imphal, Moreh-Imphal and Dimapur-Imphal.
The overwhelming support extended by the tribal people to today’s bandh in hill areas of Manipur is a clear indication of the tribal people’s disapproval to the prolonged closure of the Manipur University (MU) and the demand for removal of the vice chancellor Prof AP Pandey. It is also a clear indication of the people’s disapproval to the government’s handling of violence and terror on innocent children, student leaders and civilians by armed militants. The government must now listen to the people’s voice and act accordingly.
While we welcome the decision to appoint a pro vice chancellor to assist the Vice Chancellor (VC), we denounce the decision of the all political parties meeting led by the chief minister on July 22 that the VC of Manipur University (MU) “be asked to proceed on leave pending the proceedings of the Fact Finding Committee.”
We would like to urge the political parties to reconsider their decision in view of the many tasks and work pending in the university as a result of the prolonged closure. To force or let the VC go on leave after the prolonged closure of MU will only lead to many problems in relation to administration, admissions, declaration of results, examinations and other matters.
Moreover, we are not confident that reservation policy in recruitment and student admissions will be followed according to guidelines in the absence of Prof AP Pandey, who has shown to be a man of high integrity and efficiency with a sense of justice and strong commitment to implement reservation policy as per guidelines without any manipulation or prejudice in any manner.
Besides investigating into the allegations of MUSU and MUTA against the VC, the Fact Finding Committee should also investigate into the origin and real cause of the agitation. It should also investigate if there is any ulterior motive behind the agitation or if it is motivated by some vested interests either from within or outside the university.
We would like to reiterate our demand for the State government and authorities concerned to take up genuine and effective efforts for the return of normalcy in the university while ensuring the safety and security of students, staff and properties in MU before it is too late. Otherwise, tribal students will start to demand affiliation of colleges in the hills to a university other than MU.
Once again we express our resentment with the State government and authorities concerned for not taking up any action against the violent KSO activists who intimidated and assaulted peaceful protesters and student leaders on July 6 at Churachandpur and the perpetrators of the July 13 Moreh terror attack on innocent children and civilians.
We condemn the chief minister for not condemning the gruesome July 13 Moreh terror attack by at least 10 heavily armed militants of the Kuki National Organisation / Kuki National Army (KNO/KNA), which is under Suspension of Operation with the government. The militants fired over 100 rounds of gunfire and lobbed several bombs into residential houses belonging Thongkhomang Touthang, Chongkholun Lhungdim and (L) Onkholet Haokip.
The attack was clearly an act of terror and attempted mass murder of innocent children and civilians including a student leader, Thongminlun Haokip, his pregnant wife, their two children both below five years old, among others. The government should not shy away from this and ignore but act it.
We hope that the government will now listen to the people’s voice and act to fulfill our demands without any further delay. Until then we will not rest but continue to fight for our rights and justice.
Sd/-
(Thangtinlen Haokip)
Spokesperson
Joint Tribal Student Bodies, Manipur
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This Post is webcasted on July 22 2018
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