Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 23 2009:
Cautioning the public against the alleged attempt of the Government to dilute the ongoing agitation over the July 23 Khwairamband Bazar incident in which Chungkham Sanjit and Thokchom Rabina were killed while five other civilians were injured, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has come out strongly against crackdown on the protestors.
In a statement, the Apunba Lup, which is spearheading the ongoing public agitation, ridiculed use of police force on the protestors and lodging them in jail under NSA by the Government as if it is the only solution and said this is nothing but dictatorship.
Denouncing the silence of the Ministers and the MLAs of the ruling parties over the issue, the Apunba Lup lamented that the Governor who had earlier given his words of delivering justice too has kept his mouth shut.
Taking into account the conduct of the Ministers and MLAs who have already been boycotted socially, the public should demand their resignation as well, if they could not act responsibly as the elected representatives of the people, the statement of the Apunba Lup said further.
Contending that AFSPA is at the root cause of the reign of terror being unleased among the people, the Apunba Lup called upon the people for a renewed fight for justice this time so that similar incidents of violating the rights of the people are not repeated in the future.
The Ibobi-led SPF Government should understand that subjecting the arrested members of the Apunba Lup to third degree method and torture, mentally and physically, in the prison is against the Internationally accepted humanitarian laws, the statement added.