Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 21:
While appreciating the people, including security force officials for attending the funeral service of Pebam Chittaranjan Mangang today.
Working Committee of Apunba Lup, nevertheless decried the police action of preventing several other mourners from reaching the funeral site.
A statement of the Lup jointly issued by the four member publicity sub-committee also reiterated that as announced earlier all the Ministers/MLAs should resign from their respective posts within five days.
The Lup has been waiting for completion of Chittaranjan's last rites and with the conclusion of the same the already declared agitation of civil disobedience, ban on goods produced beyond North Eastern region and 'Wakat Khongjang' would resume with renewed vigour, asserted the statement.
Describing prevention of mourners from attending the funeral process as reflection of repressive policy pursued by the Government to deny basic democratic rights of the people of Manipur and subdue the movement through force, the apex body urged the State authorities to understand the sentiment of the masses to avoid undesired consequences.
The police action would only vitiate the social atmosphere as the people could no longer tolerate atrocities committed by security personnel under the immunity granted by APSPA, reminded the Lup.
It also alleged that security force personnel are coercing innocent civilians to stamp their approval in taking part at rallies organized to project the ongoing people's movement in a bad light.
The Government of India should immediately intervene to stop such forcible involvement of people through threat and intimidation as aspiration of the masses to repeal draconian laws should be prerogative of the people and through use of military exercises, it added.
The Lup further asserted if the Centre wants to assess the intensity of the people's defiance against prolonging AFSPA in Manipur referendum may be floated to get ground reality.
The Government should not implement any law that is detrimental to universally accepted law of protecting human rights and use of force to suffocate the people's distress cries would only belittle the claim of India as the largest democracy, it said.
Directing its ire towards the Chief Minister the Lup said Okram Ibobi Singh should detail the Centre on non-cooperation of Assam Rifles authorities to the Ch Upendra inquiry panel as well as stay order of the High Court to the panel's summon to the AR witnesses.