Molestation Of Film Actress And Indefinite Bandh: CorCom puts forward its viewpoint
Source: The Sangai Express

New Delhi, December 24 2012: While appreciating the decision of the Manipur Film Forum and the Manipur State Shumang Leela Council to relax the ongoing general till December 26 midnight in the interest of Christmas, CorCom has appealed to all the people not to do anything which may harm the spirit of Christmas festival.

The people's anguish and grievance is justified.

It is a cumulative effect of all the injustice done to them during the past 15 years.

But the target of the people's anguish is misdirected, said a press release issued by CorCom.

Those divisive forces who are bent on disintegrating the society should not be given any opportunity to further their sinister agenda because of the bandh or for that matter the legitimate protest movement of the people.

Stranded people being escorted by the Govt

To blame Lt Col Livingstone's community or all the hill people for his wrongdoing is not justifiable.

To do so will only expose the ugly face of communalism.

It is also not right from the perspective and concept of what justice should be.

There is no guarantee that those divisive forces are not plotting for complete disintegration of Manipuri society.

Observing that around 40 per cent of the total population of Manipur are Christians and Christmas is their biggest and holiest festival, CorCom noted that calling bandh at the time of Christmas would definitely hurt the sentiments of Christians.

It may also sow seeds of distrust and ultimately prove disastrous for the whole society in the long run.

CorCom further appealed to all the people not to do anything that may hurt dignity and sentiment of any community in the course of the ongoing movement.

It is advisable for the mass to direct their anguish and grievances to the guilty individual or the group who cannot chastise him or indirectly supporting his anti-social activities.

Observing that arrogance and inhuman activities of NSCN-IM's Lt Col Livingstone is the root cause of the people's outburst, CorCom alleged that security forces remained mute spectators even though they could intervene when Livingstone molested a film and fired at two other artistes at the pretext of cease fire agreement between the Government of India and NSCN-IM.

The aggrieved people were infuriated when they were assaulted by security forces during a protest rally in front of the Chief Minister's office.

In the meantime, NSCN-IM's MIP came out with press release which appeared to be blaming film actress Momoko followed by press statements from UNC and ANSAM which contained provocative words.

Then journalist Thangjam Dwijamani was killed in police firing.

All these incidents combined together to blow up the issue, it observed while condoling the demise of Dwijamani.

Even as due police and legal actions were initiated promptly in the cases of rape of a TG Hr Sec School student on October 20 and rape of a chilli (U-Morok) hawker on March 22 this year, both NSCN-IM and the purportedly communal Government of Manipur were dilly-dallying in the case of Livingstone with a sinister design to ignite communal confrontation, CorCom asserted.