Imphal, October 25 2009: Observing that it has been more than 15 days since the AMWJU boycotted the Govt in protest against the humiliating treatment meted out to two scribes by police commandos in the night of October 10, the United Committee Manipur (UCM) has asked the Government to ease the stand-off by punishing the guilty security personnel together with a concrete assurance to avert such incidents in future.

A press release issued by the UCM cautioned that disregarding the people's hurt sentiments and the resulting voices of dissent may one day plunge the whole State into a state of complete turmoil.

Recalling that some people with alleged allegiance to the Chief Minister tried to storm the offices of some media houses in the evening of September 25, the UCM noted that it was not correct to keep the media fraternity restrained who have been facing all kinds of pressures/threats from State and non-State actors as well as some civil organisations.

Even as the Government has been hailing media as the fourth estate of democracy, there has been no let up in its attempt to curtail freedom of expression of the media, the UCM asserted while noting that such hypocritical nature of the Government is unacceptable to the people.

Maintaining that the issue of encroachment by Nagaland into Jessami should not be allowed to fade from public consciousness without settling the issue properly, the UCM asked whether gallant commandos and IRBs are impotent in the hills.

The Government should put forth its stance on the issue to the public without any delay, it demanded, while maintaining that the UCM would never remain silent in matters relating to the State's boundary.

Referring to the abduction of Extension Officer in Tribal Development Director N Chaoba of Yourabung by unidentified armed persons on October 14, the UCM decried the inaction of the Government even as the abductors have made it clear that Chaoba was not abducted for personal reasons but for matters relating to the Department.

Heads of the concerned Depts should take due moral responsibility, it asserted.

The UCM also appealed to the abductors not to give undue trouble to the employees.

Taking serious note of the series of killing in the last few days including that of Dr H Binodkumar, Okram Tamphasana, Sapam Memton and Soram Prabhakar, the UCM remarked that the situation is quite similar to a Government-less situation.

It seemed the Government is least concerned with these killings.

In the meantime, traders have hiked prices of essential commodities because of increase in NSCN (IM)'s taxes on transporters along NH 39 .

The Government need to look into this matter in time.

The movement launched against the July 23 Khwairamband killings is a movement of the people, the UCM asserted while denouncing the alleged attempt of the Government to divide people of the hills and valley over the issue.

Claiming that no mass movement has ended in defeat till date, the UCM exhorted the Government to find a solution to the protracted issue.