Imphal, October 14 2009: Rejecting the appeal to call off the ongoing class boycott agitation, AMSU, MSF and KSA have categorically stated that there is no scope of taking rest or slowing down the tempo of the ongoing agitation being launched under the aegis of Apunba Lup.

In fact, to speed up the tempo of the agitation, AMSU, MSF and KSA have started paying special attention to the activities of the Board of Secondary Education, Manipur and the Council of Secondary Education, Manipur, said a joint statement of the three student bodies.

The Board as well as the Council should immediately stop the preparations being made in connection with the conduct of the examinations for class X, XI and XII and withdraw the instructions imposed on the schools in this regard, the joint statement said.

The Board and the Council are autonomous bodies and so they should not be allowed to become one of the instruments of the Government to suppress the ongoing public movement.

Asking for submission of enrolment list of class X, XI and XII and mark tabulation for matric as well as other exam related preparations are part of the strategies charted out by the Government to subdue the public movement, said the student bodies.

So the Board and the Council, in respect of the sentiment of the people, should stop the preparations being made for the examination of the students who are boycotting classes, the joint statement demanded.

No school authorities and the teachers should take part in the exam-related activities of the Board and the Council nor extend co-operation in this connection, the joint statement of AMSU, MSF and KSA stated firmly.

If any school authorities and the teachers were found acting otherwise, then they would be denounced as those who are opposed to the ongoing public movement , the joint statement said, adding that this warning is being given well in advance to avoid any misunderstanding in future.

Reacting to the appeal of all those who suggested to call off the ongoing class boycott and adopt some other form of agitation, the three student bodies categorically asserted that these people should understand that it is also for them that the ongoing public movement is being launched and so they should start launching the alternative agitation being suggested at once.

The three student bodies would also follow their footsteps.

Just like the appeal to the agitating student bodies to call off the class boycott, they should raise the demand for resignation of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and award befitting punishment to the guilty police commandos, the joint statement observed.

From the same people who are appealing for suspension of the class boycott agitation, the three student bodies demanded to know which one do they think is more important right to life or right to education.

If you desire that the class boycott agitation should be called off, have you worked out an alternative methodology ? Can you guarantee that there would be a safety solution to the right to life if the class boycott is suspended ?, the student bodies asked, adding that answers to these questions are anticipated.

It is really unfortunately to portray the three student bodies as some organisations working against the interest of the State and the development of its human resources by dragging in the war issues in Germany and Russia but without taking into account of the ground realities and the problems being faced by the people of Manipur, the joint statement lamented.

When the loss of the class boycott has been discussed analysed, why the killings of the people by the Manipur Police Commandos and other security personnel at the instruction of the Government has not been discussed, the student bodies asked.

So far many people have given their observations on the class boycott agitation, but none of them have said anything to the root cause which is killing of innocent people, the joint statement alleged.

Welcoming the decision of the KM Blooming School authority and its teaching staff not to defy the agitation of the three student bodies in future, the joint statement however, clarified that the mentioning the name of KM Blooming School only and not other schools was due to the fact that AMSU, MSF and KSA have taken their decision based on the media report where only KM Blooming School had been named.

If the school authority had reacted to the said media report in time, then there would have been no misunderstanding in this regard, the joint statement said, adding that as to the stricture of not allowing any student from KM Blooming School to seek admission in other schools, it would remain until a new resolution is adopted in this regard.

The student bodies further warned that any of the school which were found taking classes in accordance to a 'forced-decision' of the guardians should be ready to face with the consequences.

There is no change in the stand of AMSU, MSF and KSA and in fact necessary preparations are being made to intensify the ongoing agitation.

It is known to all who is behind the scene in the activities of some individuals within the guardians association of Thoubal district who have come up with announcement of resuming the classes with effect from October 16 in Thoubal district.

Such instigation of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh is nothing but an attempt mislead the people of Khangabok and Thoubal.

But AMSU, MSF and KSA understand that the people of Thoubal are not to be blamed.

The student bodies also questioned why those in the judiciary should be remaining like a mute spectator when those in the two remaining pillars of a democratic country namely, the legislature and the executive have failed to ensure the rights of the people.

The students bodies also decried the misleading remarks of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh on the construction of rest houses by the Nagaland Government on the soil of Manipur.

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