DESAM hits back, raises a number of posers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 29 2016: Reacting to a statement issued by PPCM which was published under the heading "Let there be academic freedom: PPCM", DESAM has raised a number of posers.

Referring to the particular sentence written in the book 'Claims and Refutations: Compilation on Inner Line Permit System' edited by Dr Homen Thangjam, Dr Sukhdeva Sharma Hanjabam and Dr Aheibam Koireng which says that the movement of ST status for Meitei was led by Indian intelligence and army, DESAM asked PPCM how it interprets the meaning of academic freedom.

It appears that PPCM convenor Dr Mani Khuman does not know the difference between academic opinion and defamation/baseless allegation, said a statement issued by DESAM.

If one scholar says, "Dr Mani and PPCM do not support the ST movement; that is why is it working to weaken the movement.

Such activities would be disadvantageous to the Meiteis and there are many reasons in support of it".

This is an academic opinion.

However, if a scholar says that Dr Mani Khuman is Deputy Director of RAW in charge of the North East, the same statement is defamation because there is no evidence to prove that Dr Mani Khuman is a RAW official.

The particular sentence written in the book edited by the three teachers would be baseless allegation and a defamation if they cannot produce evidence in support of their assertion.

"If someone says Dr Mani Khuman once worked in SSB; he was Deputy Director of RAW and PPCM is led by RAW, would Dr Mani hesitate to file defamation suit because it would be uncivilized?", DESAM asked.

It went on to ask what evidence should be inserted if a book should be written with the same statement.

It further asked PPCM to clarify which book did it mean when it said that the matter was already put in public domain.

There is a big difference between casual/informal talks and what is written in a book.

DESAM also rejected the assertion that it left the Apunba Lup in 2009 .

The Apunba Lup was constituted in the aftermath of the killing of Th Manorama in July 2004.After sometime, the Apunba Lup disappeared and it reappeared after the killing of Rabina and Sanjit.

But this time, DESAM was not invited.

DESAM further rejected the assertion of Dr Mani Khuman that the ST movement would create serious conflicts among Meeteis.

It went on to claim 95 per cent of Meiteis support the ST movement.

And there is no sign of possible conflicts between the hill people and plain people on account of the campaign for ST status even though some hill organisations have expressed their objection to the demand.

Reacting to the PPCM's declaration that they would fight legal suit on behalf of the three teachers, DESAM pointed out that no second person can substitute an accused in the process of law.

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