Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, June 30:
The All Manipur United Clubs Organization, AMUCO, has reiterated that the Manipuri people have no choice but to continue to press for review of the June 14 ceasefire agreement signed between the Central government and the NSCN(IM).
The organization, in a press statement released today, observed that in attempting to appease the NSCN(IM), the Central government has set Manipur burning.
As such, it said, the Central government was the object of every Manipuri's anger.
The AMUCO further charged that the Centre was at present trying to create a divide between the Manipuri people and public leaders on the present issue, and was trying to use the June 18 uprising as an excuse to discredit the leadership.
�However no Manipuri has qualms about dying or going to jail on this issue', the statement reiterated.
It said the efforts of the state administration to arrest public leaders, under the pretense of holding talks with the Governor, had only further antagonized the public.
Terming the present administration as anti-people, it asserted that the imposition of curfew and prohibitory orders and the arrest of public leaders will not be able to suppress the public movement.
The actions of the government showed that it supported the extension of the NSCN(IM) ceasefire to Manipur, the organization further charged.
The AMUCO further accused the administration of trying to create communal tension over the issue by stoking public anger.
It further accused the administration of favoritism among different communities.
The government's move in creating peace committees had only excited the suspicions of the public, it said.
Asserting that the government's �game plan� would not succeed, it said no Manipuri would allow the issue to turn communal, recalling that the appeals had already been issued by the public leadership in this regard.
Ruling out any possibility of withdrawing the public movement, it said there was no choice but to press forward for review of the ceasefire.
Appreciating the stance taken by the Governor of Assam against the ceasefire extension, it said it was because he was farsighted enough to see the future of the northeast states.