ATSUM revival still in limbo
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network

Imphal, November 21 2012: The quagmire pertaining to the 'revival' of All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) is here to stay for a longer period than expected.

On Wednesday, the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) said that it does not recognize the 'general assembly' convened on November 20 at Hotel Tampha by some tribal student leaders in the guise of All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) .

The KSO declared that all decisions or resolutions adopted in that "bogus assembly" were in vain.

And the mooted 'tribal commission' advocated by the assembly was nothing but futile attempt to gain acceptance in the eyes of the public by posing as ATSUM, the Kuki students' body stated.

"On November 13, 2012, a consultative meeting was held at Hotel Imphal participated by Senapati District Students' Association (SDSA), Naga Students' Union Chandel (NSUC), Kuki Students' Organisation (KSOGeneral Headquarters) and its district branches, former ATSUM presidents, secretaries, and advisors; in the august presence of the ATSUM's founder president.

In that meeting the controversial formation of ATSUM was deliberated and all the participants expressed their regret that such a situation that had never happened in the history of ATSUM came out to taunt the tribal society today.

After a threadbare discussion, it was unanimously agreed that an 'interim body' of five members be formed.

Accordingly a 'five member interim body' was constituted which includes the ATSUM founder president and four other senior leaders.

The five member interim body was authorized to find a solution for holding a legitimate ATSUM election.

The meeting resolved that no leaders should waver from supporting this course of action until its objective is achieved.

The interim body also decided not to resort to a 'paper war' in the interest of tribal solidarity and well being of ATSUM," the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO) said.

According to the KSO, it pledges to find a way out of this imbroglio and settle this contentious issue in a peaceful manner.

"It is to be noted that Churachandpur District Students' Union (CDSU), in its letter addressed to the 'self styled' speaker of ATSUM, has already 'suspended' its presidential candidacy in the supposedly formed ATSUM.

It does not support this ATSUM anymore.

Therefore, this supposedly formed ATSUM can never represent the whole tribal population of Manipur.

It does not have the mandate to represent the hope and aspiration of the tribal people.

As a matter of fact, it is prudent of these student leaders to form a new organization if they are that much eager to work for tribal interests, rather than function in the name and style of ATSUM," the KSO suggested.

The Kuki students' body then said since this is a "pseudo ATSUM" having no legitimate support of KSO and All Naga Students' Association, Manipur (ANSAM), verily it will be seen that everything it embodied will be just hogwash.

"These people should not try to steal the name of ATSUM but trying to realize that ATSUM cannot just work without the 'unanimous' support of the KSO and ANSAM as its supporting pillars.

These supposed leaders of ATSUM must not hope to take the easy way out by trying to gain mileage from whatever ATSUM had painstakingly built and achieved so far," the Kuki students' body cautions.

Time and again, the KSO then urges the public not to accord any recognition or lend any support to this 'pseudo ATSUM' .

The ATSUM will be restored to its former self under the auspice of the 'five member interim body', with the support of the ANSAM, the KSO, and the former leaders of ATSUM, the Kuki students' body added.

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