School children join 'free Anthony campaign' in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, March 04 2012: Even after a tiring school hours the Naga students are doing their bits - all in the name of peace - by embarking on the signature campaign to free NSCN (IM)'s head of foreign affairs, Ningkhan Anthony Shimray, from detention in Tihar jail.

Every afternoon, for days together now, children in school uniforms from various parts of Ukhrul would walk up the street and stopped by a roadside makeshift vend to collect a 'Free Anthony' campaign's postcard.

They would sign, dropped it in box and walked home.

For the detainee languishing in the high-wall Tihar prison, the student's deed, that too from his hometown, is a reason enough for him to smile.

Do they know Anthony? The answer is negative; but they have heard of him.

The reason behind all what they have been doing for him, they said, is for peace in the troubled land of Nagas.

To a query, a student replied, "We don't know whether it is right or wrong for us to do this.

But we did it in the name of peace" .

The Naga civil societies, days after the vociferous campaign for Anthony, have recently initiated the postcard drive while adding more impetus to the Facebook's campaign that follows soon after the Naga Women Union, Manipur (NWUM) pitched in for him.

NWUM in cohort with NPMHR has circulated around 10,000 postcards vouching for "unconditional release" of NSCN (IM) leader.

Half of it was addressed to India's Prime Minister Manmahon Singh and the others were meant for the inmate of Tihar jail Room No.4B Ward, in which Anthony is presently held in detention.

Public voice is pitching up in support of Ningkhan Anthony Shimray, who was arrested at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan airport in 2010.Why the NSCN (IM) activists are being subjected to arrest or detention when there is an ongoing peace talks? Is there any hidden agenda on the part of Government of India? These are some questions lingering in the minds of people.

In a recent press statement, the NWUM had vowed to intensify the "movement" in different forms to free the NSCN (IM) leader "illegally detained" in Tihar prison and facing NIA charges of procuring arms and waging war against Indian State.

During the past few years, Anthony is one among few high-profile NSCN (IM) members arrested after the sensational surrender of "Lt.Col" Hopeson Ningshen, a key man accused in Dr.Thingnam Kishan's killing in 2009 .

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