'Respect for difference of opinion, peaceful protests are prerequisites for a well functioning democracy'
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 28 2018:
The National People's Party Youth Front (NPP Youth Front) condemned the arbitrary arrests and violence meted out to students and teachers of Manipur University on intervening nights of September 20 and 21.The excessive use of force by the police & armed forces to arrest and detain the students once again exhibits the tendency of the Government of Manipur to use illegal martial force in responding to concerns of its people, alleged the youth front in a statement today issued by its president Ratika Yumnam.
"NPP Youth Front would like to remind the GoM and all stakeholders that a healthy environment of dissent, respect for differences of opinion & peaceful protests are prerequisites for a well functioning democracy.
In such a context, sincere efforts should be made by the GoM and other stakeholders to foment an environment for democracy in practice.
Nowhere is this more necessary or critical than in educational institutions.
The current impasse in Manipur University and the use of force, arrests, and intimidation to silence the students & teachers directly negates democratic principles and values," said the youth front.
"It is highly unfortunate that the sanctity and healthy functioning of the university has become a victim of power politics; the careers and future of many young students have been held hostage by a series of political agenda & power struggles.
We believe that educational institutions should be free of such politics.
We call upon all stakeholders, particularly the GoM, to encourage an enabling environment for learning by making the university a safe space for everyone to freely express their opinions, question illegalities, or protest injustices without fear of reprisal, said the youth front seeking the attention of the State Government and all the parties concerned.
It urged the State Government, as well as all stakeholders to proactively explore and build trust and cooperation and appealed the Government to immediately demilitarize the university and withdraw all police personnel & armed forces stationed there.
"We believe that all stakeholders, casting individual interests aside, has the ability and the capacity to come together and explore possibilities to bring an amicable solution at the earliest," said the NPP Youth Front.