Imphal, January 23: Enraged at the stoic silence maintained by the State Government concerning the turmoil and unrest at Moreh and supporting the people's movement for withdrawal of 24 AR from Moreh, AMSU, MSF and DESAM have called a 16 hour Manipur bandh from midnight of today till 4 pm of tomorrow.

Addressing the media at the office of AMSU today, its vicepresident A Ratankumar noted that even though general strikes cause enormous hardships to the people, the attitude of the Government has compelled them to take recourse to this mode of protest.

Observing that the plight of the people of Moreh, who are fleeing from the inhuman torture of Assam Rifles and now taking shelter at No Man's Land between Myanmar and India as refugees ought to be shared by every citizen of the State, Ratankumar opined that all must extend their support to the ongoing stir.

Considering the stance of non interference taken by the State Government against numerous cases of human rights violation by security forces, it has become imperative for all to take a united stand against the elected Government, he added.

Elucidating on the call of Manipur bandh, he observed that the decision to this effect was adopted taking into account the need to struggle unitedly against the repeated atrocities of security forces.

It would be wrong to leave the issue to the people of those particular areas alone where such incidents take place, he said and added that the right course would be to extend support to the ongoing stir at Moreh.

It is reported that the general strike would not encompass essential services and media.

The student bodies warned that anybody defying the strike would be held accountable for any unwanted consequence arising out of their defiance.

After briefing the mediapersons, effigies of Chief Minister O Ibobi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil were burnt amidst shouting of slogans like " Derelict CM", "Repeal AFSPA from Manipur " etc.

Contending that AFSPA is an instrument to torture innocent civilians and a licence to forfeit the right to live of Manipuris, AMSU declared that it would boycott the Republic Day so long as the draconian law is not repealed from Manipur in toto.

Meanwhile, AMSU, MSF and DESAM in a joint statement have called upon all the civil societies/organisations to support the 16 hour Manipur bandh.

Moreover it observed that the callous attitude of the Union Govt even as the people's movement has reached such a critical point constrained them to boycott the Republic Day of Indian Union.

It also urged the people of Manipur to take precautionary measures so as to safeguard lives, dignity and properties in the face of rampant violations of human rights and the State's inability to protect its citizens.

Many support bandh call: Observing that under the cloak of democracy, martial law is being enforced in the State and there is no room for any kind of appeal, the United People's Front has pledged full support to the proposed Manipur bandh.

Reacting to a statement of Defence Minister that no information concerning the incidents of Moreh has been received, the UPF opined that the response would have been quite different if such incidents were happened to �true citizens' of India.

Likewise the Ethno Heritage Council (HERICOUN) has assured of its hand in the proposed 16 hour Manipur bandh.

Further it called upon all the Manipuris for a united struggle to avert the lurking misfortune of extinction of Manipuri nation as a whole.

MAFYF has also expressed its support to the proposed bandh saying that it's time to struggle together rather than tolerating such inhuman tortures time and again.

Taking strong exception of sexual harassment of not only on women but also men by AR, the National Identity Protection Committee (NIPCO) alleged that the inaction of both State and Union Governments over such excesses by security forces is tantamount to providing them tacit support to continue their inhuman acts.

Just as other bodies, NIPCO also assured of its wholehearted support to the 16 hour bandh.

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