Imphal, November 04 2009: Reacting to the charges of AMSU, MSF and KSA, DESAM has asked if boycotting class can be called a people's movement.

A press release issued by DESAM remarked that the people's movement is no longer visible except the class boycott agitation.

This may be attributed to different reasons including exhaustion on the part of the people, stretching the agitation for too long and guidance by not so visionary leaders, etc.

Referring to the allegation that those opposed to the class boycott agitation are agents of the Government, DESAM asserted that going by the write-ups in newspapers, the number of people opposed to the class boycott movement are literally innumerable.

On the other hand, the three student organisations and their supporters constitute a small minority.

Observing that editorials of some local dailies have already reflected their disapproval of the class boycott agitation, DESAM asked whether editors and of these papers and other people who wrote against the class boycott agitation should be assumed as Govt agents or CM O Ibobi.

"Are editors who disapprove the class boycott agitation and the guardians who disapprove denial of education to students supporters of fake encounters, DESAM asked while asserting that there are a large number of people who disapprove fake encounters as well as class boycott.

"Many people said that the Ibobi led Government is blind and dumb.

Are the three student organisations too blind and dumb? questioned DESAM apparently to their refusal to consider the repeated appeals of the people to lift class boycott agitation.

Asserting that class boycott should denote staying away from class voluntary and not imposing any prohibition on attending class, DESAM said that students supporting AMSU, MSF and KSA may not attend class but no prohibition should be imposed on other students.

It would be wrong on the part of students to stay away from class for fear of being dubbed as agents of Okram Ibobi.

DESAM also appealed to the student organisations not to beguile people by using the word 'boycott'.

"Let the students attend class.

Only then, how many students support the class boycott agitation can be ascertained", DESAM said.

Saying that DESAM believes in the dictum 'Education is life, Guard it well', it called upon the people to gauge how DESAM would be feeling when education has been paralysed while other forms of agitation like, bandhs, strikes, protest sittings, rallies etc have been stopped.

Questioning the motive behind targeting education specifically, DESAM expressed suspicion about the possible existence of a hidden agenda other than toppling Chief Minister O Ibobi.

DESAM suspected whether the particular agitation is a ploy to create separate Board and Council for hill districts.

Asking which is better--loss of academic year and life of lakhs or students or opposing the 'coercive boycott' or 'agitational terrorism'.

Quoting HG Wells DESAM said that human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.

DESAM asked should not the people of Manipur promote education to save the nation from catastrophe.

It maintained that 'education is life'.

It lacks rationality to think that the class boycott agitation can replace Ibobi.

The class boycott agitation has the potential to fragment the society into two/three pieces, it asserted.

Continued denial of education to students would only divert public ire from Chief Minister Okram Ibobi to the three student organisations, it cautioned.

The declining intensity of the people's movement is an indication that Ibobi is no longer the target.

Children should not be coerced to join any movement against fake encounters.

The life of children should not be played with for any reason, DESAM asserted.

Human rights violation witnessed in the state cannot be fought by browbeating people.

People should be aroused after building up inner strength of people, trust in unification and trust in leadership .

Only then human rights can be protected.

Those intending to arouse movements in the civil society need to study the dynamics of the people's movement, DESAM exhorted.

It further reminded that it would be unacceptable to the people if the methods applied are wrong even if the goal is justified.

Victimising those people who raised objections against the wrong means would mean fragmenting the society.

Launching agitation against fake encounters is more than justified but denying education to students as a means is totally unjustified, DESAM said while adding that nothing can be bargained with education.

Many students were dejected when teachers did not take classes on September 3 even as students came to schools, colleges and university.

DESAM further asked whether authorities and teachers of schools, colleges and university are supporting the class boycott agitation.

The student body asked all concerned not to deviate from the point of debate and also not to use uncivil words on public platforms.

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