Imphal, November 17 2009: Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has strongly denounced the arson attack on Standard English School, Khongjom Tekcham which razed down six rooms of the school on the intervening night of November 16 and 17 by some miscreants.

A statement issued by the president of DESAM, LC Santosh pointed out that seven government schools have been attacked by arsonists on earlier occasions wherein over six rooms of a school were reduced to ashes.

The attack on government schools could be construed as protestors turning their angst against the government in connection with the Khwairamband incident.

But the attack on a private school proof beyond doubt that the protest is targeted against the people rather than directing against the government, the DESAM statement contended while adding that the two kinds of arson attacks are quite different.

The arson attack on educational institutions is challenges pose to education, it is against the existence of life, a factor for the retardation of development and tormenting the people, the statement asserted.

Condemning the act in the strongest term, it added that the act deserves condemnation from all sections.

Observing that the agitations against the Khwairamband incident witnessed astounding changes, the statement said the agitation was people's agitation at the inception.

Every able body in the localities had actively participated in the agitation.

It pointed out that various torch rallies had been taken out, countless sit-in-protest had been staged at various places, and innumerable rallies were taken out against the Khwairamband incident.

People had shown their anger by waging sling war against the police.

The participation of the people gradually declined.

The agitations too died down after two/three weeks.

At this juncture, the class boycott agitation was launched.

Then people began to stand against the agitation steadily.

A cold-war ensued between the people and the agitation.

The people began to challenge the class boycott stir after the completion of around two months.

At this point, the agitation has been snowballed into 'campaign for terrorism' and it has been directed against the people for not participating in the agitation, the DESAM statement observed.

The statement contended that the threat posed by the agitators in resorting to burn down schools, the warning issued that vans would be burned down, threat to hurl bombs, et al are, without doubt, acts of terrorism.

It is very unfortunate for the people that the people's agitation has been turned against the people.

The people's agitation could have been chiseled into an act of 'terrorism' by some agents of the government, who are against the people, or by some unprincipled reprobates, or it could have been done by some who are not aware of people's agitation, it stated.

The snowballing of the agitation into 'terrorism' is slowing down the strength of the people which in turn is decelerating the public sphere.

This should be prevented now.

It further noted that the government would gradually increase its dictatorial power unless the trend is stopped.

Leaders should prevent the agitators before the matter aggravate any further.

It noted that the only power or force that could protect the society in conflict situation like the state is the strength of the civil society.

Similar issues had happened in other parts of the world.

Public leaders should never take any step to decelerate the strength of the civil society.

Calling upon the people to remain alert against arson attack on educational institutions, DESAM pledged to extend possible help if a Meira paibees wagged another meira (torch) movement against the burning down of schools.

Holding the government responsible for the present impasse, the DESAM statement also demanded that the government should take up stringent preventive measures against arson attack on educational institutions.

Questioning what the government has been doing all the time against the closure of educational institutions, the DESAM statement contended that the government should capitulate if it is unable to solve the issue.

Stating that fund should be mobilised for the loss incurred by the Standard English School in the arson attack, the statement called upon the people to extend cooperation towards this end.

It pledged that it will take greater part in mobilizing fund to compensate the loss.

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