Kids send out symbolic message agaist violence
Toy guns discarded, symbolic bonfire
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 24 2011:
With much enthusiasm and joy, children of Tangjeng have made a bonfire discarding their own toy guns, embracing more healthy games and sports like football as their favourite pastimes or recreational hobbies.
Around 60 children participated in the symbolic cremation of the toy guns at Tangjeng village ground in Thoubal district today where stationery items and sports goods like football were distributed to the children as replacement for their toy guns.
The symbolic event was organised to denounce the growing gun culture as well as murders and other acts of human rights violation committed by armed groups.
The children declared that they no longer fancy toy guns and that they now prefer balls to toy guns.
The event was jointly organised by the Thoubal district campaign committee, NGOs, CVOs and VOs.
The children who discarded their toy guns put up placards which read as "Let's ban young boys using toy guns as playthings", "No to guns, yes to peace", "Abolish gun culture", "We want real taste of democracy", "Punish Criminals" .
"Let's think for future generations", "Wake up MLAs", "Don't raise number of widows unnaturally", "Stop crimes against women" etc.
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Speaking at the occasion, secretary of the Sporting Club Khundongbam Ch Basanta said that no hearty smile could be seen on the people of Manipur including young children since a long time back.
Observing that the number of young widows have been increasing unnaturally in and around Tangjeng village, Basanta decried that many men have been shot dead in the name of counter insurgency operations.
Many other men have also fallen victims to drugs.
It is a matter of serious concern that their widows and children have been facing untold miseries in their struggle for survival without their husbands and fathers, he noted.
Social Action Development Organisation secretary Mantri Laishram said that abolition of the gun culture should start with children.
It seemed children enjoyed a lot while playing with toy guns but parents should understand how such style of playing would affect the young minds of the children and their future, he said.
"Let's join hand and stop our children from paying with toy guns", he appealed.