Imphal, Aug 14 2009:The State Cabinet, during a meeting held this evening, Sustaining agitation against the state Government in the wake of the July 23 firing at BT Road, the Working committee of the Apunba Lup today announced a 36 hour general strike from 5 am of August 18 which will be preceded by mass court arrest on August 16 and 17. A statement issued this evening by the conglomerate of civil society organisations, urged the people to extend cooperation to the general strike to be observed till 5 pm of August 19 by ceasing all forms of economic activities during the two day strike period.

Moreover, the people have been appealed to stage protest at their respective localities and to demonstrate at the nearest police station as a part of the mass court arrest agitation.

Vehemently condemning alleged indifferent attitude of the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh in redressing physical and mental suffering being endured by the general masses ever since police commandos stage managed the BT Road encounter, the Lup asserted that until and unless police commandos involved in the July 23 firing are punished commensurate to their criminal acts and detained Lup activists are freed the peoples movement would persist.

In a strongly worded statement, the Lup accused the CM as the main culprit for the cumulative suffering of the State masses and taking grim note of silence by the lone woman legislator Landhoni Devi described the Khangabok AC MLA as most suitable companion of O Ibobi Singh.

The fact that Landhoni Devi is yet to react to the death of a pregnant Th Rabina Devi in the BT road firing is a stark reminder that she too is endorsing criminal acts of police commandos, who are merely executing commands of O ibobi as the states Home Minister.

Alleging that ever since O Ibobi Singh assumed charge of Chief Ministership, people had been suffering untold miseries owing to escalating number of deaths at the hands of trigger-happy police commandos, the Lup expressed concern that Manipur with over 5000 widows and more than 10,000 children without one or both parents would be heading to.

It seems neither O ibobi Singh nor his colleagues in the ruling coalition have any sympathy for the manipuri society and its future, the body opined.

Calling upon MLAs of both the ruling and opposition parties that time is ripe enough to effect change in the State before the situation goes out of hand, the Lup further observed that celebration of Indias Independence Day (August 15) under the shadow of continued imposition of the repressive AFSPA 1958 is akin to celebrating extinction of manipuris.

under the draconian Act, security forces have laid siege in Manipur and the people are being eliminated at the will and fancy of the men in uniform with the CM remaining as silent spectators, it added.

Expressing resentment that inspite of ample evidences of police commandos enacting the deadly fake encounter on July 23, the prime Minister as well as UPA Chairperson had been allegedly shielding O Ibobi Singh, Apunba Lup conveyed confidence of the people that Central leaders would definitely initiate appropriate action acceptable to the people.

sharing solidarity to suffering of the people, particularly hardships faced by daily wage earners whenever economic activities are derailed owing to agitation, the Lup insisted that failure to address the situation at this juncture would only compound the problem and misery in the future.

Regarding the agitation call, the Lup urged the people to raise slogans and burn effigies of the Chief Minister and criminal police commandos when protest demonstrations are organised/staged.

meanwhile, the Lup appealed to the people to be cautious and not to be misled by false propaganda of Ereibak Kanba Apunba Lup.

It is also informed protest demonstrations were staged at different places of Mayai Lambi today.

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