Imphal, November 05 2009: The DESAM has once again asked AMSU, MSF and KSA whether the so-called class boycott they are imposing is actually class boycott or class ban.

A press release issued by DESAM said that it termed current class boycott agitation as 'coercive agitation' or 'forced agitation' or 'agitational terrorism' after taking note of the words of intimidation and threat used by the three student bodies.

Saying the low rate of attendance at schools/colleges is due to intimidations, fear and closure of educational institutions, DESAM asserted that the claim of its November 2 meeting having been reduced to a farce would have been totally wrong had there been no intimidation.

Asking to announce that it is class boycott, not class ban, DESAM challenged the three student bodies to see how many students attend class in schools/colleges/university.

It further asked the three student bodies and their advisors if they are still unaware of the people's stiff disapproval of depriving students of education.

Saying that it received complaints about schools/colleges/university not opening or conducting classes even after the November 2 meeting, DESAM asked whether authorities of MU/schools/colleges are supporting the class boycott agitation.

It asked the MU/colleges/schools authorities to clarify on the matter through media.

It is because of the continued closure of educational institutions that has been putting students away from educational institutions.

But it would be wrong to think that students not attending schools are supporting the class boycott.

The student body further appealed to school bus/van service operators to make their stand clear whether they support the class boycott agitation or not.

Reacting to the allegation of AMSU, MSF and KSA that security forces dared to kill two innocent civilians together with five UG suspects in a fake encounter at Andro on October 31 because of DESAM's argument against the class boycott agitation, DESAM dismissed the allegation as unfounded.

Reminding that DESAM came up against the class boycott agitation only after October 21, DESAM asked whether there was no incident of fake encounter after the day class boycott was launched and before October 21 .

DESAM pointed out that there were several instances of fake encounter during the same period.

It cited the incidents of Oct 1 where two people were killed, October 3 where another man picked up from Jiri parking was shot dead in fake encounter together with two other men, October 20 (Ningol Chakkouba day) where a man was killed at Wabagai in fake encounter and two others at Sarik Konjil.

If these fake encounters were attributed to DESAM's opposition to the class boycott agitation, then what could be the possible reason for all those fake encounters and killings that occurred before the birth of DESAM, it asked.

Regarding the cutting down of general strike days from five days to three days in July this year, DESAM explained that the general strike was shortened as it did not receive public support.

Moreover DESAM decided to take the matter to court as it realised that battling the blind and dumb Govt in such manner would be only causing greater misery to the people.

AMSU, MSF and KSA may learn from DESAM's movement, it said.

While volunteers of AMSU, MSF and KSA have gone hiding unable to undertake any form of movement, it would be wrong to use school students as shield.

DESAM further appealed to the three student bodies to arouse people by giving them education about the movement instead of using education as a tool of strike.

It also reiterated its appeal not to deviate from the boycott debate.

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