Imphal, October 10 2009: Claiming that state administration has collapsed in the face of the people's relentless movement, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has urged upon New Delhi to topple Chief Minister Okram Ibobi or impose President's Rule by dissolving the SPF Government.

Any further obstinacy on the part of New Delhi against the wish of the people of Manipur would not bring any positive result at the end, the Apunba Lup warned in a press release.

Observing that India being the largest democracy in the world has been advocating democracy and nonviolence across the globe, the Apunba Lup accused Government of India of committing genocide in the North East region which was unheard of even during the colonial period.

In the name of tackling insurgency, several inappropriate black laws are being enforced in the region and under such draconian laws, people are being continuously targeted.

Inspite of having such laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1969, Criminal Procedure Code, Indian Penal Code etc, people are being killed without ever bothering to put them on trial.

Such killings are making a mockery in this part of the country, the Apunba Lup alleged.

Quoting Section 10 of UA(P) Act 1969, the Lup pointed out that penalty for being member of an unlawful organisation is '5 to 12 years imprisonment and also be liable with fine at the minimum'.

Section 20 of the same Act specified that penalty for being a member of terrorist gang or organisation is life imprisonment at the least.

All the penalties may be awarded by competent courts only after fair trial.

Noting that all these Acts do not contain a single sentence about death penalty, the Apunba Lup alleged that law enforcing agencies of the state have been violating several laws of the country at their own sweet will.

Explaining that release of arrested UG cadres on bail after furnishing requisite surety means they cannot be punished until they are proven guilty, the Apunba Lup asserted that elimination of three persons in fake encounter after they were picked up by AR troops in civilian fatigue from Jiri parking amidst the people's continuing movement against the July 23 fake encounter was a direct challenge to law and the people.

Pointing out that Jiri parking is located within the eight Assembly segments from where the draconian Armed Forces (Special) Power Act has been repealed, it asked whether the Government is scheming to re-impose AFSPA in the eight Assembly segments.

The practice of instituting any sort of enquiry if a civilian is killed and putting a weapon near the corpse if he/she happens to be a UG cadre in order to claim that the deceased was killed in encounter should be done away with.

This is a heinous conspiracy aimed at exterminating the people of Manipur, the Apunba Lup asserted.

What is happening in Manipur is quite contradictory to many provisions of the Constitution of India like 'equality before law', 'protection of life and personal liberty' etc.

Laws embodied in a system should not be contradictory.

But in Manipur, it is democracy in words and dictatorship in action, the Apunba Lup alleged.

In any case of extra-judicial killing, the Govt should punish whoever is guilty without any bias.

Further laxity on the part of New Delhi in addressing the present issue may aggravate it into a serious crisis if the people of Manipur start demanding pre-merger political status of Manipur, it cautioned.

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