Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 22:
Making clear its agenda, the 32 organisations spearheading the current agitation, today said that the movement to get the AFSPA revoked from the State will continue unabated and appealed to all to extend their co-operation.
In a joint statement issued to the press today, the organisations said that there would be no retreating from their chosen path of agitation and asked the people to start a relay hunger strike from 9 am till 3 pm from tomorrow till July 27.On the contention of the Assam Rifles that the post mortem report of Manorama has negated the rape theory, the statement said that such comments from the AR is ample testimony that the Court of Inquiry is just going to be an eye wash to pacify the people.
The statement also asked the local police and security men not to unnecessarily harass people who are on sit-in-protests.
The local security personnel are not viewed as adversaries, it added.
On the Delhi police cracking down on the rally taken out by NE students at Delhi today, the 32 organisations said that the action of Delhi police is highly condemnable as the students were merely staging a democratic form of protest.
Political leaders and parties have also been asked not to take part in the agitation launched by the people.
Condemnations: Despite the assurances made by the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs that the guilty 17 Assam Rifles personnel involved in the killing of Thangjam Manorama Devi would be punished, Armed Forces Special Powers Act lifted and AR battalion shifted from Kangla, several organisations pledged to take active part and extend support to the agitation launched by the 32 organisations.
Not ready to buy the promises of the Union Minister as well as the Chief Minister's in setting deadlines to concede to the people�s demand, these bodies affirmed that protest agitations would continue till the assurances are converted into action.
They also strongly condemned imposition of curfew rather to disrupt the people's movement.
The bodies that also condemned the killing of manorama (and pledging support to agitations are Naoriya kendra Women Welfare Association (Mongshangei), Singjamei Mathak Yumnam leikai Apunba Nupi Lup, maibam Youth Club cum Library (nambol), Lourembam Leikai Tampha lairembi Womens� Welfare Organisation (Haobam Marak), taobungkhok Progressive Youth Pioneers� Association, Ningthoukhong Apex Association for Social Action, All Students� Guardian Association (new Checkon), Apunba Meetei mayek Sandokpa Amasung Hinghanba Lup (Khurai), All India Students� Federation, Bishnupur district council and, Palem Thoudang Development Association (Langol Housing Complex), All India Students� Federation, Heingang Zonal Council, Besides condemning the brutal killing of Manorama Imphal East Entrepreneurs� Association (Soibam Leikai) took serious note of the silence maintained by the lone woman legislator W Leima on the killing and failure to endorse agitation launched by several women bodies for lifting of Disturbed Area status.
The Association also asserted that Chief Minister O ibobi Singh would be socially boycotted in the entire district till the people�s demands are conceded.
Strongly condemning the brutal killing of Thangjam Manorama by personnel of 17 Assam Rifles, Singjamei Meira Paibi Apunba Lup has termed the inhuman act as barbaric and insane.
Coming down heavily on the indifferent attitude of the chief Minister towards the killing, the Lup said that the Chief Minister should wake up from its slumber and punish the guilty AR personnel before the escalating tension gets out of control.
Stating that the lup will carry on the ongoing agitation until and unless the demands of the people are met, Lup appealed to CM to lift the curfew immediately in the interest of the citizens of the State.
It also urged the protesters not to attack ambulances or public properties while carrying out their protest.
All Jiribam Students Union has also condemned the killing of Manorama in strongest terms.
Stating the inhuman killing of Manorama was an insult and a threat to the women folks of the State, the union said that the people must unite and fight against such atrocities so that such actions are never repeated again in future.
It also stated that the Govt's attempt to suppress the people's outcry against the killing by imposing curfew will not serve any purposes but will further encourage the people to to be more violent and restless.
Condemning the brutal murder of Manorama, Manipuri Cultural Society Kohima Nagaland has appealed to the authorities concerned to punish the guilty AR personnel immediately and also revoke Armed Forces Special Power Act form the State.
Apokpa Marup, Social Activist Living Arts Institute, Manipur Public Music Centre Patsoi Part I, Youth Affairs and Sports Regular Coaching Centre Khuman Lampak Imphal, Hatta Makha Leikai Social & Youth development Organisation Imphal East, Poirei Lichat Khunai Kanglup besides condemning the killing has appealed to the Govt to book the guilty personnel and punish them according to the law of the land.
Members of the Konthoujam Youth Union Club and Konthoujam Apunba Meira Paibi Lup staged at a sit in protest at Konthoujam Kangjeibung Community hall today.
All India Students Federation (AISF) also organised a dharna against the killing of Manorama and demanding for immediate removal of Armed Forces Special Power Act at Kwakta yesterday.
The dharna was participated by members of Sanathong Women Welfare Association Kakwakta and Khuman Muslim Chanura Social Development.
Laitonjam Youth and Students's Club nambol, UCM unit Laitonjam, Laitonjam Youth and Students Club and Laitonjam Leira paibi have expressed their unstinted support to the ongoing agitation launched against the killing of Manorama and alsodemanded for revocation of AFSPA.
Khanorak Decent Youth Club and Khanarok Women's Development Assn staged dharna at Kanarok Community hall today.
Meanwhile, Khwairamband Nupi Keithel Sinpham Amadi Saktam Kanba Lup have also submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of State Home Affairs demanding for immediate revocation of the Armed Forces Special Power Act from the State.