Imphal, April 11 2009: Observing that the bandh called by the JAC Against the Brutal Killing of Dr Th Kishan, Y Token and A Rajen was too much and too frequent, the proscribed KYKL has declared that it does not support any form of bandh whatever the reason behind it except for symbolic ones called for a few hours on some major issues.

In a statement issued by its publicity and research secretary Lanngamba Mangang, the KYKL has asked the JAC to suspend the general strike it called on April 13 immediately failing which actions will be initiated against the JAC.

Asserting that the JAC's activities have crossed the tolerance limit, it called upon the JAC to go on with protest demonstrations but refrain from incommoding public by calling bandhs.

The JAC had called 48 hours bandh on February 17 and 18 before the murderers were identified followed by another 24 hours bandh on April 1.The JAC also called another bandh on April 4 though suspended.

In addition to these bandhs, there have several bandhs and blockades on various other matters, the outfit observed while questioning the hardships caused by these bandhs to the public.

Saying that scores of political leaders from New Delhi may come to Manipur, the outfit asked whether bandhs should be called every time they visit Manipur.

Questioning how many bandhs should be called before the demands are met, the outfit asked the people whether they have confidence that the JAC's demands will ever be fulfilled by the Government.

Disclosing that it sent emissaries to the JAC appealing not to call bandhs and to exclude education in case a bandh must be called, the KYKL expressed strong resentment that JAC's press statement categorically mentioned that schools/colleges would not be exempted.

Further, JAC's bandh call issued yesterday which did not mention anything about education while exempting health and electricity was a challenge to KYKL, it said.

With the NSCN (IM) refusing to hand over the culprits to the State Government and maintaining that they (culprits) would be dealt with according to the law of the outfit, the Government of Manipur has not much to do apart from requesting to New Delhi.

Because NSCN (IM) is under ceasefire pact with New Delhi, while the strength of the State Government is limited to the four valley districts, it asserted.

In Manipur, public demands are seldom met by Government after calling bandhs for those at the helm of affairs do not bother to redress public woes.

While they (the State Government) has been refusing to fulfil public demands which are within their capacity, it is hard to imagine that the State Government would fulfil the JAC's demands.

"Calling bandh on the demand to punish the culprits who are under the custody of NSCN (IM) is tantamount to tormenting ourselves", the outfit asserted.

As of now, calling bandh against the New Delhi Government would be meaningless.

The incumbent Government would be least concern with the JAC's demand until a new Government is formed in the last part of May, it said.

Analysing the events of the last 11 years, the Government of India's policy towards the NSCN(IM) is to make the outfit lose its spirit and identity slowly and ultimately fade into history.

As the outfit has not lose its spirit totally although the Government of India has been trying to corrupt NSCN (IM) physically and morally, the Government of India is not in a position to demand Hopson Ningsen from NSCN (IM) as of now.

Calling upon the people to be realistic and not to be swayed by emotion, the KYKL observed that New Delhi will be certainly aware that calling bandhs is a sign of the inability to mobilise people to launch civil movements.

Bandhs cause severe hardships to the poorer sections and daily wage earners although well-to-do are not affected, the outfit observed that most civil society organisations tend to enjoy fruits without putting much labour and time to mobilise people.

If the civil society organisations cannot be explain in detail over an extended period all the problems besetting the society, "our civil society" can never raise up, it stated.

Comment