Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 01 2009:
Reacting to Chief Minister O Ibobi's statement that some class boycott supporters gifted bullets to school authorities to enforce the class boycott call, the AMSU, MSF and KSA asserted that it was a baseless propaganda emanating from a baser politics.
A joint statement issued by the three student bodies said that the Chief Minister's statement can be viewed from two angles.
It was questionable whether the bullets were gifted by UG group(s) in connection with monetary demands or whether the school authorities were deliberately lying because of the threats by police commandos coupled with their fear of losing Government recognition.
Saying that almost all educational institutions have suspended classes since several days back, suspended classes since several days back, the student bodies asked it contained any rationality for any one to distribute bullets demanding suspension of classes in schools where classes have been already suspended.
It was highly suspicious if the State Government was behind the reported distribution of bullets with the help of some of their hired men in schools located in the Assembly constituencies being represented by O Ibobi and Landhoni and some other places of Thoubal district, with a sinister design to malign the image of the three student bodies.
"Or whether the Government was hatching a plot to ban AMSU, MSF and KSA by accusing them of distributing bullets in schools after they could not find any valid reason during the September 29 Cabinet meeting to ban the three student organisations", it asked.
Noting that CM Ibobi could not provide the names and other details of the schools where bullets were reportedly gifted, the student bodies asserted that it must be certainly the act of some men hired by the Government in case the schools gifted with bullets are located in Thoubal district.
Out of the total security personnel deployed in the four valley districts, half of the them are being concentrated in Thoubal district in the aftermath of the July 23 Khwairamband killings.
While acknowledging the truth of Ibobi's statement that education was not disturbed during the World War II, the student bodies pointed out that the World War II was about invasion of one country by another while the present turmoil is a result of the offensive launched by the Ibobi-led Govt against it own people.
Ibobi's statements only exposed his weakness and insincerity.
Recalling that the State Govt has announced that necessary security measures have been put in place to thwart off any disturbance to educational institutions, it questioned the veracity of the DGP and the police officers' claim that the security forces including VDF have been deployed in and around educational institutions round the clock in case the statement about presentation of bullets to some schools was true.
They also appealed to teachers to show that they are aware of the Government's design to use school authorities as its protective shield.
Noting that the people's appeal to step down from his post preceded Ibobi's appeal to call off the 'stop education' movement, the student bodies maintained that they would listen to the Chief Minister's appeal only when he resigns and the guilty police personnel are punished.
Ibobi's propaganda about presentation of bullets to schools with an ulterior motive to paint the students' movement as coordinated by insurgents was a drama in which Ibobi is the hero.
Observing that some police personnel have been suspended in connection with the July 23 twin killing, the student bodies questioned why the Government is still hesitant, when it fully knows they were guilty, to dismiss them and book other personnel involved in the firing.
That Rabina and Sanjit were killed in firing by police commandos is a foregone conclusion, they asserted while ridiculing the Judicial Enquiry as a sham exercise.
Stating that they would all their resources and strength to carry the people's movement forward, they appealed to the Meira Paibis to continue and intensify the movement.
They further appealed to the people not to allow themselves influenced by rumour and propaganda floated by some individuals hired by the Govt.Alleging that authorities of RUDA Academy, Thoubal Wangmataba; Peace and Freedom Academy, Thoubal Haokha Sorarel; Brilliant Academy, Thoubal Mela Ground; KM Blooming School, Khangabok and Anandpurna School, Thoubal Tumjing Makhong defied the stop education movement, the student bodies demanded a written explanation for challenging the people's movement and the student bodies by Oct 5.These schools may be treated with more leniency if they tender apology though media and suspend classes immediately.