Impasse continues to dog ATSUM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 13 2013: Expressing serious concern over the way in which some individuals and units claimed to have revived ATSUM since the last few months, the Interim Body of ATSUM has urged the federating units concerned of the so called 'ATSUM' to restrain from using the name of the union with immediate effect until the union is properly revived.

ATSUM's Interim Body statement jointly signed by convenor Haopu Khongsai; co-convenor Washington Shinglai and caretaker Emboi Serto also appealed the tribal people of the State not to be carried away by personal egos and emotions but put in efforts so as to make the one and only common platform of the tribals a proper and mandated body.

Pointing out that the Interim Body of ATSUM was set up after a joint meeting of senior and former tribal student leaders including its founding members on November 13, 2012 primarily to look into the present imbroglio, the ATSUM Interim Body statement said that it has no interest to take over the organisation.

The body also neither favours nor objects any individual and party to be in the helm of affairs of the union but only wishes to see that ATSUM carries on its old respectable position, it asserted.

Clarifying that confronting or supporting any individual or groups is never on its agenda, the Interim Body, however, is seriously concerned with the manner in which the union is being claimed to be revived by some individuals and units since the last few months.

"We regret to disagree with such claim as it is totally against the conventional practices and principles of ATSUM or any public mandated public organisations," it posited.

Citing absence of independent election committee to conduct and oversee the union's election; absence of caretaker and all constituent units' representatives; no formal handing over of charges from the old to new executives, as the reasons to reject the so-called ATSUM, the interim body said it did not subscribe such practice of reviving such respectable organisations like ATSUM by bypassing all past conventional practices and values.

The role, involvement and importance of ANSAM and KSO in the formation of ATSUM cannot also be ignored and set aside, it posited adding that they are always part and parcel of the Union in all serious policy matter and decisions.

"Therefore, the need of the hour for the tribals of Manipur at this critical juncture is to stand united and strife for our common goal educationally, socially and even politically," the Interim Body said while adding minor inter-community differences and past incidents should be kept aside for the moment but strife for a common cause.

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