KSO, ZSUM endorse 72 hrs bandh call
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, February 21 2014 : The apex Kuki students' body Kuki Students' Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) and Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM) have taken a joint decision to endorse the 72-hour National Highway 37 bandh (Imphal-Silchar road) which begins from midnight of February 21 .

Earlier, KSO-Tamenglong district and Kuki Women Union (KWU), Tamenglong district had announced to call the bandh along the NH-37 strongly objecting the perpetual encroachment on 'tribal lands' which is in Tamenglong district and lying contiguous with Jiribam sub division of Imphal East district, in connivance with the police and the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Jiribam.

Today, the Kuki Students' Organisation General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) and Zeliangrong Students' Union Manipur (ZSUM) have issued a stern warning to those encroachers to leave immediately or face the music.

While urging the Government of Manipur to immediately resolve the matter and punish those encroachers and those elements who are involved in the faux pas, Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) GHQ and Zeliangrong Students' Union (ZSUM) warned that any act of nonchalance on the part of the Government of Manipur will only snowball into a bigger crisis, "since the question of land and its protection is sacrosanct and non-negotiable." KSO (GHQ) and ZSUM announced their unequivocal stance that not even an inch of tribal land whether it is in Tamenglong district or other hill districts will be ceded to the valley districts.

Pulling up their sleeves to thwart any challenge, KSO and ZSUM have issued directives to all its units to be prepared for any eventuality, when called upon.

The two student bodies advised the people of Jiribam town not to abuse their numerical superiority by browbeating the tribal populace inhabiting the periphery of Jiribam town, who commute to and fro to transact their daily chores at Jiribam town and instead take a frontal role in promoting communal harmony with other communities.

But since the ground reality is diametrically the opposite KSO (GHQ) and ZSUM have been compelled to make public its stance, the joint statement of the two bodies said.

Strongly expressing their resentments against the acts of the police machinery and the deputy commissioner of Jiribam for their alleged complicity in the encroachment KSO (GHQ) and ZSUM said they are shocked to learn that even the government officials who are under oath to safeguard the minority communities have deviated from their obligation.

This truly vindicates our conviction that Manipur is not safe for the tribal community, KSO and ZSUM stated.

KSO-GHQ and ZSUM said KSO Tamenglong and KWU Tamenglong should spare no efforts in the fight for their land They then appealed to the tribal civil societies to extend their wholehearted support to the 'crusade' that is being launched.

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