Imphal, July 14 2009: Announcing its decision to go ahead with an indefinite economic blockade with effect from midnight of July 15, All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has appealed to all the tribals in Manipur to support the agitation and bear with the inconveniences with the hope for a better future.

In a statement,, assistant general secretary of the apex tribal student body, Robert Leivon, said ATSUM has no other option left but to go ahead with the agitation as its prayers and petitions have not evoked the desired response from the State Government and its Departments concerned, which continue to deny the tribal people their rights to development, by manipulating the tribal reservation quotas in the State.

Year after year and Assembly after Assembly, the hope of the tribal people had been raised only to be squashed again and again, Leivon said, adding that the current Assembly session promised to pass some affirmative legislation for the tribals.

But there is no sight of any legislation even after 10 days of sitting.

The Government of Manipur should be taught a lesson this time for ignoring the tribal people and all the demands raised by ATSUM, on behalf of the tribal population should be fulfilled in toto, Leivon demanded, adding that no talk or negotiation with the Government will be entertained by ATSUM until all these demands are met.

It may be noted here that the demands of the tribal student body include amendment of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Services (For SC and ST) Act, 2007, selection of a suitable site for setting up the proposed Indira Gandhi National Tribal University and cancellation of all advertisement for employment and re-advertising them with specific mention on the number of the posts reserved for the tribals.

ATSUM further said the indefinite economic blockade would cover the National Highways 39 and 53 and all the Inter-State goods carriers, whether empty or loaded or loaded will not be allowed to ply on the National Highways.

Any attempt to defy the blockade will be met with strong action, ATSUM warned, while appealing all the transporters to co-operate with the economic blockade as to avoid any unwanted incident.

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