Mix response to ATSUM's blockade call CDSU opposes; KSO, HSA, KRSU endorse
Source: The Sangai Express

Lamka/Jiribam/Kanggui, February 14, 2013: Reacting to the news report about KISH and SDSA endorsing ATSUM's economic blockade call, the CDSU said it has decided not to support the blockade call of the splinter group and added that it is perturbed to read such a statement without analysing the cause and causes of mistrust and hatred amongst the diverse multi-ethnic groups living in the state.

At the same time, the KSO Jiribam and Tamenglong district and the Hmar Students' Association (HSA) Jiribam-Vangai Joint Headquarters and Komrem Students' Union have said they would render full support to the ATSUM blockade call which is to begin from Feb 16, according to a joint statement issued today.

The CDSU said that having gone through the litmus test of fifty two days, one hundred plus and sixty three days of economic blockade imposed by different CSOs at different points of time, demanding charter of demands yielded no positive result with the exception of signing MoU.

It is not only the valley people that are inflicted, the loss incurred in terms of crores of rupees is a heavy price in itself.

The student body also alleged that the splinter group led by Emboi Serto does not have the mandate of the federating units with the exception of SDSA and some vested individuals.

The issues being flashed in the newspaper with a threat is a replica of what has been frequently discussed and deliberated for implementation in the official talk between the GoM and ATSUM under the charismatic leadership of Muan Tombing and Vareiyo Shatsang and therefore, the mandated ATSUM with the unflinching support of all the federating units of ZSUM, TKS, CDSU and other subordinate bodies like the Maring Students' Union, Anal Students' Union, Aimol Students' and Thadou Students' Association will never allow launching of the economic blockade in the tribal inhabited areas, claimed the statement issued by T Pumkhanlian, Secretary I&P CDSU.

The Komrem Students' Union today declared its support to ATSUM's proposed Indefinite economic blockade scheduled to begin from February 16 midnight stating that the issues raised by All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM) led by Emboi Serto are all for the welfare of tribal communities.

While expressing hope that the Govt will, at the earliest, fulfil the rightful demands of ATSUM for the tribals K Jim Kom, general secretary KRSU/GHQs asserted that the Govt spokesman M Okendro has noted that the demands raised by ATSUM are legitimate/reasonable which officially hint the Govt is indeed very much aware of the tribal people's rights and privileges but ignored them intentionally for too long.

In the meantime, KRSU strongly condemned the statement of ZSUM, that stated that the state Govt is losing in terms of crores of rupees whenever bandh and blockade are imposed in the state.

The KRSU general secretary countered that the tribal people have been losing in term of millions while their rights and privileges are denied and ignored for a long period and raised a big question to ZSUM where were they (ZSUM) when the national projects in the state were banned by pseudo ATSUM.

"While ZSUM could not acknowledge loss of their tribal fellow when their rights and privileges have been denied how come they acknowledge the loss of the Govt when bandh and blockade are imposed in the state?", asked Jim Kom further posing "Whose (either the tribal people or the Govt.) loss is more important for ZSUM?".

While urging the tribal people to render their fullest support and cooperation towards the ATSUM proposed agitation, KRSU/GHQ reminded the tribal people that they should understand that their rights and privileges must not be infringed upon by the Government for too long.

KRSU also warned ZSUM as well as the Govt that they will lend not only moral support but also physical support to ATSUM, if the need arise.

The Hmar Student Association (HSA), Komrem Students' Union (KRSU), ZILLAI (Vaiphei Students' Union), Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP) and Thadou Kuki Student Union (TKSU) have yesterday announced their support to the ATSUM's blockade call apart from KISH and SDSA.

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