AMSU demands safeguard of indigenes, NRC update, repeal of CAA 2019
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 17 2022:
All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) organised a protest in front of its head office located inside DM University campus on Wednesday raising 12 demands including complete repeal of AFSPA from the state.
The protest was organised as part of the series of protest being held across the state capitals of the northeast region under the aegis of North East Students' Organisation (NESO).
Interacting with the media at the protest venue, AMSU president Haobijam Chalamba said that the indigenous people of Manipur are being overwhelmed by illegal migrants and effective implementation of Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) is necessary in order to protect the future and fate of the indigenous people.
He also demanded the government to update the National Register of Citizenship (NRC) 1951 and repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.Many were killed and many others tortured under AFSPA 1958 and several victim families are still suffering.
Repealing the AFSPA partially is not the solution and people of the region are demanding complete scrapping of the black law from the entire north-eastern states, Chalamba said.
Other demands in the 12-point charter of demands of NESO include immediate implementation of Assam Accord; immediate resolution of inter-state boundary as well as international border issues; adopting an educational policy for northeast region based on culture and history of NE region; establishing more universities, technical and vocational institutes, medical and engineering colleges, research centres, and introducing more courses in the colleges and universities of the region.
The charter of demands also include formulation of a comprehensive policy for economic development of NE region and establishing the administrative centre of Act East Policy in the NE region itself; effective solution to unemployment problem; declaring NE as special employment zone with cent per cent reservation for NE people for all grade III & IV posts in central offices in the region; special constitutional status for NE people with rights over land and natural resources; separate time zone for NE region; early solution to the refugee issue of Chakma and Hajong of Arunachal Pradesh.
NESO is also demanding the Centre to look into the issue of Myanmar national crossing over to northeast to escape persecution, and ensure provision of food, shelter and other welfare amenities till the situation improves and they could return home.