Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 24 2010:
"Let's build our collective strength to realise the public demand to stop killing", meira paibi leader Memchoubi has appealed fervently.
Memchoubi was speaking at the reception function of the Apunba Lup activists who were imprisoned under NSA in connection with the post July 23 protest movement.
Incidentally Memchoubi was among the detainees.
The reception function held at Manipur Press Club today was organised by the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup.
Memchoubi decried that security forces have been going on a killing spree despite numerous protest movements undertaken by people demanding a halt to the killing spree and to ensure fundamental rights to the public.
She called upon all civil organisations to come to a firm understanding and meet more frequently in order to build collective strength so that the people's demands can be achieved.
"Let's give up the mindset of groupism", said Memchoubi who is also the president of the Poirei Leimarol Apunba Meira Paibi Lup.
Eleven activists of the Apunba Lup who were imprisoned for 155 days before they were released without any condition following an agreement between the Apunba Lup, the JACs of Sanjit and Rabina and the Government were accorded a warm reception today.
The 11 activists who were imprisoned included L Memchoubi, Nganbi, K Sunil, Jiten Yumnam, A Soken, Oinam Bikramjit, Brojen, Solomon, Mema, Ibemhal and Sakhi.
Speaking at the occasion, social worker Th Iboyaima said that "we should not be deterred by the post July 23 protest movement.
It should be treated as only the beginning".
He exhorted that all must march forward without retracting a single step to bring a revolution.
There is no such thing as 'loss' or 'fall' while working for the nation.
Denouncing the act imprisoning social activists under NSA for protesting extra-judicial killings and demanding fair trial, K Sunil accused the State Government of misusing the NSA.
Claiming that all mass movements witnessed in Manipur were justified and democratic, he asserted that had the Government been sincere and really concerned for the people's welfare there is no reason for any movement to extend longer than 10 days.
The protraction of the mass movement for more than five months was a clear indication that there was no responsible Government in Manipur, Sunil asserted.
In case the CBI fails to establish the truths and facts of the July 23 killings, the Apunba Lup would launch a new phase of agitation.
Apunba Lup was not defeated, he added.
O Bikramjit called upon all to abolish first those civil organisations not working as civil societies but schemed to defeat the mass movement launched against killing innocent civilians.
Jiten Yumnam, on behalf of the Apunba Lup acknowledged the condemnations made by different countries against fake encounters taking place in Manipur.
Apunba Lup co-ordinator L Bimol, A Langdol and S Sanjoy attended the function as presidium members.