ANSAM suspends blockade
Source: Chronicle News Service
Senapati, November 09 2023:
All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) has decided to suspend its economic blockade with immediate.
The decision to suspend the blockade was taken by the ANSAM during an emergency meeting attended by its executive council and units, and representatives of Naga Legislature Forum on Thursday at Shelley Chara Memorial Hall, ANSAM Secretariat, Senapati.
Following the assurance given by Forum convenor minister Awangbow Newmai on behalf of the government to fulfil the two demands of ANSAM, and considering the hardships faced by the public in the midst of the ongoing conflict, ANSAM resolved to suspend its ongoing economic blockade, said the Naga students' body in a press release.
The release also stated that it acknowledges the process of restoring mobile internet with the partial opening of internet in some parts of the district headquarters.
While noting difficulty of the government, the association made it clear that government should take prompt action to open mobile internet service in all areas of the state not affected by the violence, including the interior villages, and provide uninterrupted services as assured by the minister, and that the pending result of assistant professors (145+45 ST special drive) be declared as promised.
ANSAM then warned that the agitation could resume any time if the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on October 26, 2023 between the government of Manipur and ANSAM in the presence of the chief minister N Biren was not implemented.
In the meantime, ANSAM strongly condemned a major ranked officer of Assam Rifles, Hengbung for his alleged heinous act of intimidating ANSAM volunteers who were enforcing the agitation at T Khullen.
Such hostile attitude and high handedness of the Assam Rifles towards the student community is highly questionable and uncalled for, it said.
The notoriety of Assam Rifles surfaced again at this juncture is unfortunate and a matter bf great concern.
Therefore, the association cautioned the rank and file of Assam Rifles not to repeat such act in future in order to usher in peace in Naga areas, the students' body added.