Imphal, October 16 2009: Accusing the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) of extending continuous support to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi thereby prolonging the killing spree allegedly unleased by Ibobi, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has declared an indefinite ban against MPCC with immediate effect.

The Apunba Lup, in a press release, asserted that it would not retract a single step from the ongoing movements including the class boycott movement launched by AMSU, MSF and KSA.

Appealing to all the people not to house any MPCC office in private residences or their neighbourhood, it asked all concerned to remove sign-boards and flags of the Congress party.

The Apunba Lup further asked all office bearers of the Congress party at state, district as well as local level to resign from the party and help in saving Manipur.

It also appealed to the people to segregate office bearers of MPCC away from the public space.

Maintaining that question of life and death of the Manipuri society hinges on the ongoing movement, the Apunba Lup cautioned all not to challenge and try to derail the movement.

Asserting that hundreds of innocent people have been killed in fake encounters since Ibobi took over as Chief Minister of Manipur in 2002, the Lup claimed that the Government of India stands to benefit a lot by keeping a man like Ibobi as Chief Minister of Manipur.

That was why, New Delhi was reluctant to take up any action against Ibobi despite the massive outcry against his leadership.

It was for this reason, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Home Minister rewarded Ibobi quite frequently, the Apunba Lup alleged.

Before the tenure of Ibobi, it was the central security forces who committed extra-judicial killings and rapes.

They were also responsible for numerous cases of involuntary disappearance.

In many of such cases, the people of Manipur and civil society organisations undertook strong protest movements giving a severe blow to the reputation of the Government of India and its security forces in front of the international community.

But since O Ibobi assumed the charge of Chief Minister, it has been the Manipur Police commandos who have been committing all excesses, earlier perpetrated by central security forces.

The Apunba Lup questioned how could students learn freely and people live with a secure feeling under the leadership of the man who has been allegedly instrumental in killing 4/5 innocent persons every day.

Even as Ministers and MLAs have swooned at the crores of rupees doled out by Ibobi, people would be continuing with the movement until Ibobi is toppled from his seat as all the people have been facing the grim possibility of falling victims to the killing spree one day or another.

Reminding that many protesters have been blinded, maimed and bed-ridden while many others have been languishing in jail in the course of the three months' old movement, the Apunba Lup pledged that their efforts and sacrifices would never be allowed to go in vain.

Police action of baton charging/firing tear gas shells/bullets/mob bombs against people staging protest demonstrations was a clear testimony that there was no place for democratic movement's under Ibobi's Govt. Recalling that students were staging protest demonstrations in democratic manner before the class boycott call of AMSU, MSF and KSA, the Apunba Lup asserted that use of brute force by police and threatening Principals and Headmasters/Headmistresses compelled the student bodies to launch the indefinite class boycott movement.

It is heartening to note the initiative taken up by the All Manipur Student Guardians' Association to take a firm stand against the killing spree unleashed by Ibobi just as they worked for ensuring formal education to their children.

Stating that the AMSU, MSF and KSA launched the class boycott movement taking due not of the overriding importance of right to life over right to education, the Apunba Lup asserted that scheming to bury the ongoing movement only after considering the education of their children would amount to sheer irrationality.

It appealed to the guardians to analyse the movement and underscore the justification behind it.

They should not come out in haste with appeals to end the class boycott movement considering only the inability of students to attend class for some period as it would amount to compromising the right to life of every Manipuri.

Rather, the guardians should first make their stand clear on continuation or termination of Okram Ibobi's rule.

The Apunba Lup further confided that the conscious guardians would certainly take leading roles in the effort to topple Chief Minister Ibobi.

It alleged that the harassments meted out to media persons by security forces was done under instruction of Ibobi.

Chief Minister O Ibobi has been targeting media since Tehelka magazine exposed the Khwairamband fake encounter of July 23 to the whole world with photographic evidence, it alleged.

The Apunba Lup also shared the difficulties endured by media persons under Ibobi's Government.

Maintaining that there is no other alternative than toppling Ibobi, the Apunba Lup called upon the people to prepare for abolishing the Ibobi-led-Govt rather than sitting on the fence.

The Apunba Lup further appealed to make comments on the movement only after taking a clear decision has been taken whether they would go on supporting Ibobi-led Govt or join the people's movement for dismissal of the Ibobi-led-Govt.

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