ATSUM bandh boycotted
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Senapati, January 11 2013:
Senapati District Students Association (SDSA) and Naga Students Union Chandel (NSUC) have announced today to 'boycott' the proposed All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) 24 hours Manipur bandh.
ATSUM had threatened yesterday to impose a 24-hour Manipur bandh from the midnight of January 18 in protest against the state government's failure to address various issues pertaining to the Manipur tribal community.
Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) and Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC) have joint stated that, both the organisations have decided to "boycott the newly revived ATSUM and we are never part of the so called self-styled new ATSUM team".
For which, we have decided to boycott the proposed bandh in our respective jurisdictions and no self-style ATSUM activities will be allowed to function in Senapati and Chandel districts until a consensus tribals' ATSUM body is formed," the SDSA and NSUC asserted.
While affirming its stance to protect the tribals' interest in Manipur against "all repressive and discriminative state government's policies", the SDSA and NSUC said they are committed to the formation of a strong and consensus common platform in ATSUM and not by few vested interest people.
"Safeguarding the tribals and students' issues has been the paramount responsibility of the tribal students' bodies, the SDSA and NSUC unconditionally will continue to do so.
However, it is unacceptable that, the present ATSUM executive members and representing units without any respect for a consensus representations has decided to run the body and fight the common issue on its own.
The SDSA and NSUC while disowning such arbitrary and one sided decision to launch agitation in the state, we have resolved to discontinue all support and co-operation unless a consensus inclusive ATSUM is created at the earliest," the apex Naga students' bodies of Senapati and Chandel districts said.
It is for public information that, the said bandh will not be allowed to be imposed in Senapati and Chandel districts, the SDSA and NSUC added.