Imphal, June 27: Throwing its weight behind All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM) which has launched an indefinite economic blockade against the declaration of June 18 as State Integrity Day by the State Government, All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has exerted pressure on the Government to revoke its decision.

In a statement jointly signed by its president John Pulamte and general secretary Samson Remei, ATSUM asserted the demand of the ANSAM was quite justifiable and legitimate.

While pointing out that there are 33 recognised tribes in Manipur besides a number of other non-recognised tribes, the students' body maintained that the incident of June 18, 2001 was indeed against the extension of Naga-Indo ceasefire without territorial limits.

However, the entire demonstration on that fateful day had not only petrified the Nagas alone but also many non-Naga tribals.

The physical and mental trauma suffered by many tribal families residing in Imphal during those difficult days still linger in their minds.

But rather than formally making a public apology for its failure to provide physical and mental security to its citizens and prevent occurrence of social turmoil, the State Government has gone ahead with declaring the day as a general holiday in the name of Integrity day, ATSUM decried.

This short-sighted step of the Government is biased, unjust and uncalled for, it added.

The students' body also took the opportunity of reminding the Government the demand of Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) for doing justice to the three innocent students who were killed by State police Commandos.

The demand of the KSO is genuine and indisputable in all respect and it was compelled to take the extreme step of launching agitation in the form of economic blockade following repeated failures of the Government to keep its promises and commitments.