TKS supports ATSUM bandh, reminds Govt on pertinent issues
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Ukhrul, January 16 2013: A day after the ZSUM endorses the proposed 24-hour general strike being called by All tribal Student's Union Manipur (ATSUM), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS) has resolved to support the bandh which would come into effect from midnight of January 18 .

In a press communiqu� issued on Wednesday, TKS asserted that the "charter of demands" placed by ATSUM are in the interest and rights of the tribals in Manipur.

"The ATSUM's bandh call will be strictly imposed in the entire district of Ukhrul and whosoever fail to abide to this imposition may do so at their own risk," TKS president Yangmi Khapai warned. The ATSUM bandh endorsement by ZSUM and TKS has come after three organisations namely Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO), Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC) and Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA) have opposed the bandh.

Expressing regret that some tribal students' organisations are opposing the move, TKS stated that ATSUM is fighting for tribal's rights that are deliberately manipulated by the state government.

"Why the state government is always waits for agitation to come up for any issue to be resolved?" it asked.

TKS appealed to all the tribals to extend cooperation to ATSUM during the 24-hour bandh starting from January 18 midnight.

Meanwhile, TKS has asked the state government to respond to the "run-over case" while asserting it will never remain silent until the culprit is arrested and booked in accordance to the law.

It may be recalled that one Nganaongai Vashum, the headmaster of Government Frontier School of Tusom, was run over by VIP vehicle (White Scorpio) and escaped through the Kangla Fort on December 18 .

On the issue of upcoming TET examination slated for April 2013, the student body pointed out that the state government has set BEd as mandatory criteria for intending candidate and termed this change within a short notice as a ploy against the hill people.

"Several tribal students could not avail the opportunity to study Bed course...

To add to the situation, the DIET centres in all the district headquarters remain non-functional till date," it stated.

Further, TKS asserted that "the mandatory reservation for SC/ST should be adhered to in toto in the appointment of proposed 7-bench judges in the upcoming High Court to be set up in the state," it added.

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