Imphal, August 12: Flatly rejecting the partial lifting of the DAA from Manipur, the Apunba Lup today made it clear that it will not remain quiet but will intensify its movement to defeat the agenda of dividing the people and the State.

Asking the people not to remain quiet over the policy of the Govt, the Apunba Lup in a statement today advised the political leaders not to defile the martyrs by paying tributes to their memory tomorrow, on August 13.The people have also been asked not to attend any Govt sponsored programme on the day.

The Apunba Lup has asked the people to come out as one on August 14 and denounce the decision of the Government and to stage a torch rally from 7 pm till 10 pm on the same day.

On August 15, the people have been asked to come out and form human chains all over to demand the complete revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act and to raise slogans demanding the punishment of the personnel involved in killing Manorama and Pastor Jamkholet Khongsai as well as to oppose the partial lifting of the said Act.

The Civil Disobedience movement will be intensified said the Lup but added that hospitals, educational establishments, electricity and water supply depts, fire service and the media will be exempted from the purview of the restrictions.

To oppose the decision of the Government, meira paibis took out a torch rally at Chingmeirong today and burnt effigies of the Chief Minister, Union Home Minister and Defence Minister.

The UCM has also made it clear that the people will not be taken in by the partial lifting of the Act and urged all the carry on with their protests under the aegis of the Apunba Lup.

Recalling the movement of the people, UCM in a statement said that 12 women disrobed in front of the Assam Rifles gate on July 15, five activists set themselves on fire and are still recuperating at the hospital while many others tried to slash their wrists demanding the complete revocation of Act.

Many more have also been injured in police action.

In such a scenario, the decision to partially lift the Act from certain parts of Imphal cannot be accepted, said UCM.

When The Sangai Express contacted MPP MLA O Joy, he admitted that lifting the Act from the Imphal Municipal areas is the first step.

However the demand of the people is not partial lifting but total revocation of the Act from Manipur, he stressed.

For the MPP the demand is total revocation of the Act, he added.

Dr Nimaichand Luwang, also of the MPP said that a meeting of the Political Parties Forum will be convened tomorrow to discuss the latest development.

The Opposition will decide its future course of action according to the decision taken by the Forum, he added.

FPM MLA L Ibomcha made it clear, that there is no ground for the people of the hill areas and other parts of the State to accept the partial lifting of the Act.

Even the Apunba Lup should not accept such a compromise formula, he said and reminded that atrocities committed under the Act are mainly in the remote areas.

However a beginning has been made, said the MLA and added that the credit for this should not go to the Chief Minister but to the 12 women who disrobed in front of the AR gate.

The Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinpham and Saktam Kanba Lup has also stated that any partial lifting of DAA will not be accepted.

The State unit of the All India Youth Federation, while appreciating the lifting of the Act from Imphal Municipal areas however said that the genuine aspirations of the people is complete revocation of the Act and urged the Centre and the State Govt to see how it can be lifted from the entire State.

Comment