Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 06:
The people of Manipur rose as one against the prolonged imposition of Armed Forces Special Powers Act after years of suffering the excesses committed by the security personnel, posing a direct threat to their life and social security.
But Indian experts have tacitly succeeded in subduing the movement by setting the agitating people against each other.
This was stated by Dr Lokendra Arambam while speaking as chief guest at the felicitation function held under the theme �Appreciation of the role of media in AFSPA repeal movement' at Manipur Press Club today.
The function was organised by the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, which is spearheading the movement for the total repeal of AFSPA.
Dr Arambam who led a team of the Apunba Lup to New Delhi at the height of the agitation to hold talks with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and other Central leaders, said the Indian experts are well-versed in inciting the people against one another and driving a wedge among them so as to subdue the movement of the people for a right cause.
Elaborating, he asserted that the same tactic was employed by the Indian experts in countering the 8-year old agitation of AASU in Assam by dragging in the issue of Bodo identity.
Likewise, in a State like Manipur which has more than 30 different ethnic groups, it is not at all difficult for the Indian experts to employ their tactics and set one group of people against another, he added.
Before the people could achieve their goal, the Indian experts have studied and found out the root cause of the agitation and the people who are leading the movement.
Accordingly, to ensure survival of Manipur (as an Indian State), the experts have taken up steps to prevent recurrence of such movement, Dr Arambam noted.
However, he hoped that media in Manipur would continue to play an important role in keeping alive the issue so that justice prevail sooner or latter.
Co-ordinator of Working Committee of Apunba Lup Advocate Y Devadutta who presided over the function contended that there is no point in reviewing that Act which had been described as draconian by none other than Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh himself.
Setting up a Review Committee for the purpose of looking into the provisions of the Act for over a period of six months so that some amendment could be made in the clauses to give a �humane face� to the Act is nothing but a ploy to divert the attention of the people from the real issue, Devadutta said, and asserted that the Act should be removed immediately without further delay.
Speaking as guest of honour at the occasion, president of Editors� Forum, Manipur Salam Bharatbushan observed that mediapersons always worked keeping in mind the professional ethics of print and electronic media.
Media is not partial to anybody, he said, and appealed to the not to give undue pressures on media houses in performing their duty judiciously.
All Manipur Working Journalists� Union (AMWJU) president Shyamjai Wangkhemcha, who was also present at the occasion as one of the guests of honour highlighted the difficulties faced by mediapersons in rendering their service to the people.