DESAM, ANSAM join hands for common cause
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 09 2016: Perhaps for the first time, the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) and the All Naga Students' Association, Mani-pur (ANSAM) today issued a joint statement and announced that the two student bodies will work in solidarity for a com-mon cause.

In a joint statement issued today, president of DESAM, M Angamba Meitei and president of ANSAM, Seth Shat- sang said that the statement was issued after three rounds of meeting held on January 17 and 19 and February 9 .

The camp where the two student bodies met was Guest House, Manipur University.

The two student bodies said that coming together is only the beginning of the journey to address the historically rooted injustices and search for peaceful co-existence firmly founded on a vision for just peace.

Manipur University Guest House

"Our solidarity alone cannot withstand the divisive policy of the State if it is not driven by the conviction and thirst for truth and justice and guided by principles of mutual respect and common sympathy.

"It is also therefore important to establish mutually acceptable terms for political and social cooperation," stressed the joint statement.

This understanding was arrived at by the representatives of the two organisations after sharing views on various issues pertaining to different communities living in the present State of Manipur, added the two student bodies.

Underlining the vision points, the two student bodies said it is important to gain deeper understanding on the issues affecting different communities living in the State in their respective experiences, perspectives and challenges through dialogue and conversations with all stakeholders.

The joint statement further said that it is also important to reflect on the process of how people from different backgrounds and settings who seek understanding, cooperation and solidarity with each other can build up relationships and goodwill to effectively work on issues of common concerns.

Another important point mentioned was the need to explore avenues to work for peace, justice and development of all sections of society.

DESAM and ANSAM further said that the binding foundation of this understan-ding is respect for the legiti- mate political aspiration of every community and the sincere desire to jointly address issues of common concerns so that the youth and students in particular and society at large will have healthy space for peaceful and mutually enriching coexistence.

In order to achieve and nurture these goals, all concerned will refrain from expressing, either in public speeches or statements, views which are detrimental or divergent to the spirit of understanding that the two organizations bring together on this day, added the two student bodies.

To meet these goals, DESAM and ANSAM will work together with commitment for the common interest of different communities of the State.

The meeting also agreed to focus on giving an effort to ensure quality education in the State whereby both the student bodies shall work on identifying the issues and shortages within the given provision and guidelines under the New Education Policy of India.

Keeping in mind the various issues and as a first step towards the future, the two bodies will start with a campaign for fair conduct of examination in the forthcoming HSSLC & HSLC Examination 2016 which will start from February 22, 2016 and March 1, 2016 respectively.