Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 09 2009:
The Zeliangrong Student's Union, Manipur (ZSUM) today strongly charged chief minister, O Ibobi of misleading other elected representatives of state Assembly with regard to the July 23 firing incident that killed pregnant Rabina and Sanjit and also injured to five others.
ZSUM also demanded stepping down of Ibobi from the post of chief minister "gracefully" for his total failure to govern the state as a democratic government and taking responsibility of chaos and confusion creating in the state.
Also demanded withdraw all anti-people measures being taken during his tenure including Cabinet decision of may 19 last for deployment of IRB and Commandos in hill districts, signing of Memorandum of Understanding for the construction of Tipaimukh Dam Project, many other anti-people step taken without prior consent of the people.
It also demanded institution of impartial and independent body to investigate all controversial or fake encounter or stage-managed killing in Manipur and awarded exemplary punishment to all those found guilty personnel involved.
A statement of the ZSUM signed by its state secretary, Chunthiugai also strongly condemns the killing of Chongkham Sanjit Singh and 23 years old pregnant young woman Ravina and injuring 5 other person in the July 23 firing incident at BT Road by the police commandos and aftermath alleged deliberate move of the chief minister O Ibobi to cover up the incident by misleading the entire elected representative of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on the august session.
"ZSUM also extremely detrimental to note the declaration "...
it's time to show who is ruling the land...
" and the assertion "...there is no option but to killings..." by Chief Minister to justify the action of cold blooded killing and indiscriminate firing in crowded market place and to convince the entire remaining 59 odd members of legislative assembly as well.
These statements have demeaned the Manipur Assembly and dishonour entire members of the house," the statement expressed.
The body expressed that they could not accept the clarification issued by the chief minister secretary which made after 17 days from the day of making the statement asking whether the Cabinet decision to deploy IRB and police commandos in the hill districts too a "misquoted" one.
Militarisation, instead of being a solution, has been the root cause of human rights violations in Manipur as well as in other parts of North East India.
Using laws such as the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, Disturb Area Act, National Security Act by the Centre and state governments, have legitimised acts of violence and rights violations committed by state forces, and has supported and perpetuated a culture of immunity among the state forces, it stated.
The recent statements from the head of the government and 23rd July 2009 incident are clear message of the present O Ibobi led Secular Progressive Government (SPF).