AR camp at MU campus MUSU, NEFIS put issue before Army authority
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 06 2017:
Activists of North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) along with representatives of Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) met Indian Army officials regarding shifting of Army camp from Manipur University .
A delegation comprising of NEFIS and MUSU members met 9 Sector Assam Rifles Brigadier JS Bainsla, and Major Inderjit Singh of 6 Battalion regarding the issue, conveyed a press release issued by NEFIS convenor Chinglen Khumukcham .
The Army officials reportedly expressed their willingness to shift the Army camp out of Manipur University, if the State Government allots it premises elsewhere .
The officials have also assured NEFIS that army has not interfered in students' affairs earlier and will not be doing so in future as well .
NEFIS has continuously decried the military presence in Manipur University and in 2015 it organized an extensive signature campaign against "campus militarization" and submitted it to President of India .
Renewing its struggle for de-militarization of Manipur University campus, NEFIS also gave an all India protest call on June 29 to protest militarization of MU .
Army presence in MU has not only destroyed academic life but students are even afraid to raise their democratic demands, it reiterated .
It has taken away all the space for academic freedom because every discussion and debate is under scrutiny .
NEFIS believes that university campuses are spaces for academic purposes and are no place to station army, it asserted while condemning militarization of Manipur University campus .
It also pledged to continue its struggle until its demands are met and the democratic space of MU is restored.