Stalemate settled, stir suspended
Thirteen arrested agitators including seven women released
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 08 2010: After a hiatus of about four months, all the schools in the Imphal valley once again will be filled with the din of students engaged in their daily routine of classes, co-curricular activities and playtime for the class boycott called by AMSU, MSF and KSA in support of the agitation launched by the Apunba Lup in the aftermath of the July 23 incident has been called off.

This follows the signing of MoU between the government and representatives of the Apunba Lup, the two JACs of Sanjit and Rabina and AMSU, MSF and KSA wherein the later agreed to "suspend all forms of agitations, including the education boycott call� with immediate effect" .

Five of Apunba Lup's volunteers on their release from Sajiwa jail

Representatives of the Apunba Lup, AMSU, MSF and KSA and the two Joint Action Committees of Sanjit and Rabina met the Chief Minister, O Ibobi at 9 am today in connection with the 'July 23 firing incident at Khwairanband bazar'.

After detailed discussions of the charter of demands placed by the Apunba Lup and two JACs, a four-point MoU was signed.

These include unconditional release of all materials seized and also release of all those persons under preventive detention in connection with the July 23 incident and the protest that followed, adequate compensation to be given to (L) Smt Rabina Devi and the injured as per law, assurances to look into all cases of complaints in any of the CI operations with due promptitude and finally the Apunba Lup and others agreeing to suspend all forms of agitations including the education boycott with immediate effect.

Senior advocate Khaidem Mani said, the recent ruling of Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench directing the investigation into the July 23 incident be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has caused the agreement to be arrived at.

On the other hand, following the agreement, the state authority has released all those in jail.

Six male agitators including one hospitalised at JN Hospital were released from Sajiwa Jail this evening at about 6.30 pm.

They are Yumnam Jiten of Kwakeithel, Irom Brojen of Haorang Khunou, A Soken of Wangoo, Oinam Bikram of Nambol and RK Solomon of Khurai (hospitalised at JN Hospital security ward for his ailing health).

The rest seven were women protestors lodged at Central jail Imphal.

They were also released this evening.

They are Longjam Memchoubi of Thangmeiband, Mutum Ibemhal of Uripok, L Nganbi of Haobam Marak, AK Memma of Thoubal, Ph Shakhi of Wangkhei, Y Memma of Wangkhei and L Nganbi of Bishnupur.

Meanwhile, the Apunba Lup, in a press release, said that since the government has entrusted the investigation of the July 23 incident and following the announcement made by the government to act according to its findings, Apunba Lup is suspending the agitation for the time being to see how far the government is sincere in delivering justice.

And that all the educational institutes including all the schools and colleges can reopen from Monday the 11th of Jan.

The fact that the investigation into the July 23 incident has been entrusted to the CBI is a consequence of the people's movement for which the Lup thanked all those who sacrificed, including the students who valuing right to life above everything gave their unstinted support.

But at the same time it regretted the failure of the people's movement to secure a total victory and give justice to the victims of the July 23 incident as the result of divergence in understanding the core issue amongst the various civil society organizations as also amongst students' organizations.

The Apunba Lup felt that side stepping the issue of right to life, the most basic of all rights, and building up a counter issue of right to education from certain quarters and putting pressure on the Lup to come to an agreement with the government was most unfortunate.

The release also strongly questioned the democratic credentials of the present SPF government, charging it to be akin to dictatorship with scant regard for the rule of law, killing people instead of protecting and nurturing them.

It strongly resented the way the legislative Assembly which is considered sacrosanct in a democracy, was mislead by the chief minister and the reluctance to take action against those who provided those misleading information.

But the Lup warned that if the CBI also tries to prove what is obvious with the photographic evidence available about the July 23 incident otherwise, it would launch a more vigorous agitation and called upon the people to be prepared.

The Chief Minister, meanwhile, solicited co-operation from all concerned for the completion of the judicial enquiry or the enquiry by the CBI in the most fair and transparent manner and take action against those as per the findings of the Judicial/CBI Enquiry in accordance with law.

He also said the government has no intention of hiding anything and all those found guilty will be dealt as per law.