Voices stand against ban on LFS, asks all to leave kids alone
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 20:
Making its stand clear, the All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur today stated that it will not accept the imposition of Meetei Mayek on the tribal people of Manipur and urged both MEELAL and the State Government to seriously think over the matter to prevent the outbreak of unrest among the different communities of the State.
In the same vein, the student body also said that the ban imposed on Little Flower School is unfortunate and added that ATSUM sides with the school authority on the matter.
In a statement, ATSUM said that it respects any movement to restore and revive the indigenous script of any community.
However to popularise a script to a level of perfection within a fortnight and imposing it on the people is unthinkable, said the student body and made it clear that �the tribal people will not be a position to accept whatsoever it is�.
The tribal people have already been hit hard by the imposition of Manipuri language not only at the primary level but also at the secondary level and Civil service examination after its inclusion in the 8th Schedule, said ATSUM.
Such imposition has inconvenienced the tribal people no end, it added.
No doubt there are certain tribal individuals who underwent a few weeks course in Meetei Mayek and they may be participating in the agitation to revive the script.
However it would be wrong to say that the participation of a few individual means that the tribal people as a whole support the movement to revive the script, it added.
Any important issue that can have a long lasting impact on the tribal people is decided only by the mandated tribe bodies, said ATSUM.
MEELAL activists do not seem to realise this fact, said the statement and noted with concern the attempts to impose the script on everyone.
�Such a short sighted policy will no way be acceptable to tribal people in general and ATSUM in particular,� added the statement.
If the State Govt succumbs to the pressure and decides to impose the script, then a separate policy should be spelt out for the tribal people, added ATSUM.
The student body also urged MEELAL and the State Govt not to take any hasty decision that could have a long lasting impact on the delicate social structure of the State.
On the ban imposed on LFS, ATSUM said that it is unfortunate but added that they agree with the school authority.
Though the demand to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is an issue concerning the whole region, the school authority has every right to decide whether they will allow their students to take part in the protest or not, observed ATSUM.
Moreover LFS has had one unfortunate incident in the past, it added.