Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, June 26:
The Manipur Olympic Association (MOA) has decided to boycott the 6th National Games to be held in Punjab this year, if the government of India does not review the Indo-Naga ceasefire extension to Manipur.
The decision to boycott the biggest sports extravaganza of the nation was taken during an emergency meeting of the association held today at its offices at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.
It may be mentioned here that Manipur is the reigning overall champion of the National Games held in 1999.Taking serious view of the killing of 13 peoples during the June 18 uprising against the Indian Government�s decision to extend the NSCN (IM)-GoI ceasefire to Manipur and the death of another injured victim of the CRPF firing at the hospital on June 22, the MOA officials present also decided to intimate the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Indian Olympic Association of the decision immediately, the MOA secretary BC Singh said.
They however decided to continue to give due emphasis to sports and continue the training programmes chalked out for the National Games, as scheduled earlier.
BC Singh further said that the meeting also strongly condemned the killing of 14 demonstrators by the security forces and observed a two minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed souls.
Various other sports organizations, including the Youth Athletic Star Union, Bhagyabati Leikai and Youth Organization Sporting Club, Khurai Konsam Leikai have joined in the condenmation of the June 18 killing of demonstrators.