ATSUM, DESAM oppose class boycott
Public meeting called on October 21 to discuss class boycott issue
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 16 2009: The all Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) and the Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) today called upon the three student bodies which are boycotting classes to withdraw the class boycott agitation as soon as possible.

If the three student bodies do not pay heed to their pleas, ATSUM and DESAM will come out and compel the schools to open and resume class.

In this regard, the two student bodies have called a public meeting on October 21 at 10 am at the Main Stadium of Khuman Lampak Sports Complex to discuss the issue.

DESAM president LC Santosh, ATSUM spokesperson Joseph Hmar and president Thomas Taisa

Addressing a press meet held this afternoon at the office of ATSUM at Old Lambulane, the spokesperson of ATSUM, Joseph Hmar said the two student bodies are organising the public meeting to thrash out the issue of class boycott which has been going on for over one month and take a concrete decision.

He appealed to all the organisations of the state and every individual who wants to save education to participate in the meeting.

Joseph Hmar further said that it is known to all that the Government of India is continuing a low intensity war in such a small state like Manipur where conflict situation exists.

Acts of oppression and violation of human rights are being carried out unabated.

"The present agitation is against the oppression and violation of human rights by the government forces.

However, we condemn the closure of schools for over one month and depriving the students of their rights to education following the agitation of class boycott by a few student bodies, which are apparently used in the agitation," Hmar said.

He said, "We ought to give priority to education and advance it further in such a conflict situation".

It is not that the students should not join the agitation, and other issues of the people and state, he said adding that they must join.

But the class boycott called by AMSU, MSF and KSA, which has been going on for over a month depriving the students of their rights to education, is not right, he said.

Joseph Hmar further said that there had been occasions in the past when ATSUM called bandh, general strike, etc.

But ATSUM had never organised any kind of agitation that disturbed education.

When some people asked how their agitation would succeed by leaving other aspects related to education free, ATSUM had always maintained that their agitation might fail, but they would never disturb education.

The ongoing class boycott called by the three student bodies as a fallout of the July 23 incident of Khwairamband market is effective only at the schools situated in Imphal East and West districts, Joseph Hmar said and pointed out that there is no sign of class boycott at schools in the other districts.

Classes are going on as usual.

Class boycott can not be organised at the schools in the hill districts.

Now the three student bodies are saying that the Board and the Council must not go ahead with the process of conducting examinations.

Joseph Hmar asked, "Does this mean, like the students of the valley losing an academic year, that the students of the hill districts should also lose an academic year?" .

While the agitation goes on, let the students attend class and get education, Joseph Hmar said adding that "We do not want to enter into feud with anybody, but if our appeals are not paid heed to, then we will be forced to come out and compel the schools to reopen and resume class".

President of DESAM, LC Santosh said that DESAM has not given any comment on the over-a-month long class boycott so far.

However, the situation has become greatly alarming.

DESAM had always appealed to all concerned to make education a free zone.

It will not be right on the part of student bodies to suppress right to education while launching an agitation.

Moreover, boycotting examinations is against the principle of DESAM, Santosh said.

DESAM supports the agitation of the Apunba Lup and the three student bodies to protect people's right to life.

There is a conflict situation in the state, but we must protect certain areas for the sake of future, he said.

The president of DESAM asserted that the present government of Manipur, which is deaf and blind, can not afford to destroy education that will push the society towards development.

"While confronting the government, we should not destroy education.

ATSUM and DESAM will act according to the resolutions arrived at the public meeting to be held on October 21," Santosh announced.

President of ATSUM Thomas Taisa and president of Zeliangrong Students' Union, Manipur (ZSUM), Humuliagou were also present at the press meet.