Imphal, June 07 2010: The All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has said that it will be compelled to respond to any attempt to arrest and harass the executives of ANSAM and UNC with fitting responses.

In a statement issued today, the Publicity Wing of ANSAM said that it has already made its position clear on the imposition of the ADC election under the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils (3rd Amendment) Act 2008 in its press statement dated 3rd June, 2010, which was electronically issued to media, Imphal-based dailies included.

We are now constrained to further expose the actions of the State Government, which is determined to pursue its agenda of forcibly putting into place district councils in the hills districts of the state against the wishes of the tribal people.

"The Economic Blockade is not targeted against any particular community and the Nagas are equally affected by it.

When the Manipur Government outrightly rejected our genuine demands, we had no other option but to resort most unwillingly to this form of agitation.

Even then, the Government went ahead with the imposition of the election, holding all the intending candidates and the 36 uncontested congress candidates hostage in a high security Khuman Lampak, Imphal" .

The statement further alleged that now that the imposed elections for the ADC have been mock staged on the 26th May, 2010 and 2nd June, 2010 with "nil" votes being cast in most of the Naga areas and congress candidates finding themselves uncontested in 36 constituencies, the State Government is congratulating itself for the successful conduct of the election.

Ibobi's Government is now preparing for the re-poll in the nil polled polling stations, when the people have already given their verdict with their abstention.

"The Chief Minister, as reported in the media, extended an invitation through a letter from the Chief Secretary to the ANSAM for talks on the ADC issue and the Economic Blockade on the 26th of May, 2010 at 2.30 P.M.The public will please note that this is the polling day for the 1st phase of the ADC election.

So when there was no more avenue for talks on the material issue as it was well past relevance, what was the point in inviting the ANSAM for talks other than to project the ANSAM as being opposed to any initiative to solve the issue?" .

"As the next step and as an extension of the invitation for talks, arrest warrants are being issued for ANSAM and UNC executives by the Ibobi Government.

Where is the need to add fuel to the fire? The cheap gimmick of inviting for talks when elections were already imposed and then following it up with arrest warrants will definitely convince the Naga people of the sincerity of the State government.

The ANSAM's statement appealed to the general public of Manipur, "once again to understand the game played by the Ibobi's government to suppress the rights of the tribal people and also why we must continue to agitate till our grievances are addressed.

Let it be known that the Naga people will be compelled to respond to any attempt to arrest and harass the executives of the ANSAM and UNC with fitting responses".

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