JAC rolls back counter blockade stand
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 26 2016:
The Joint Action Committee under the aegis of Meetei Youth for Human Rights Organisation of Assam (MYHRA), has decided to roll back the counter economic blockade plan at Assam in view of the changing scenario in Manipur and taking cognizance of the decision of the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) to suspend its blockade on Manipur bound vehicles in Naga areas.
The JAC had earlier announced that it would soon launch a counter blockade and stop all goods trucks from travelling to Nagaland.
The decision to suspend the counter blockade plan was taken after a meeting of the JAC under the aegis of MYHRA was held on December 26 at Surpathar Bazar.
Nine organizations and representatives of Guwahati chapter of International Peace and Social Advancement (IPSA) and branch secretaries of Gholaghat, Karbi Anglong, Jorhat and Sibsagar branches of the All Assam Manipuri Students' Union and district branch secretaries of Assam Manipuri Literary Society attended the meeting.
The meeting discussed the regular flow of essential goods and passengers from the Silchar-Imphal road under tight security coverage.
The meeting also discussed on the modalities of bringing back normalcy in all the districts of Manipur and extended gratitude to the NSF for temporarily lifting the blockade on Manipur bound passengers yesterday, conveyed the JAC in a press release.
Secretary of the Wingers' Transporter Association was urged to move all the 57 stranded wingers to Silchar from Armajan Meetei village so that the vehicles may proceed to Imphal as the lifting of the blockade is only temporary and there are high chances of the blockade being resumed anytime and the vehicles may be caught on the way if the Dimapur route is taken.
Passenger buses plying on Imphal-Dimapur-Guwahati and Imphal-Dimapur-Shillong routes were requested to follow Silchar-Jiribam-Imphal route.
According to a press release issued by the JAC, four wingers from Amrajan Meetei village have reached Imphal.
The meeting extended gratitude to the Chief Minister and the Centre for providing adequate security to the vehicles and also took note of the ruling of the Supreme Court which has ruled blockade as illegal.
The State Government was also urged to conduct regular survey to detect the movement of NSCN (IM) cadres and thwart possible ambush on the vehicles on the Silchar-Imphal route.
Activists who had earlier been stationed at strategic points to enforce the counter blockade have also been asked to return home, as the proposed counter blockade has been called off.