AMSU launches 'condemnation month'

IMPHAL, January 21: The powerful All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) has launched a Statewide mass condemnation month from today all over the State in protest against the attack on its president Khoirom Gourashyam inside the AMSU headquarter on January 17 by some armed youths. The Statewide mass condemnation month will be in effect till February 17 next. The students body has also set January 30 as the deadline for clarification from revolutionary groups operating in Manipur on the attack. Disclosing this to a group of mediapersons, the general secretary of AMSU Premananda Yumnam said that the decision was taken in a joint meeting of all the former presidents, vice-presidents, general secretaries and important volunteers who have served the students' body during 1965 to 2000. Premananda said that all the AMSU district committees, branches and units will put up black badges and flags during the month-long condemnation period. The sit-in-protest agitation by the students will continue and Meira Paibis and other voluntary organisations will join it from Monday. The protest will be supplemented by street corner meetings and other publicity campaigns, Premananda added. The general secretary hinted that a massive public rally will also be organised shortly against the attempt made on the life of its president. He, however, declined to disclose the exact date for organising the massive rally. The joint meeting of former office bearers of AMSU and existing office bearers also decided to set January 30 as the deadline in the State to make a clarification failing which they will be held responsible for the attack on President Gourashyam. Regarding the alleged statement of the Union Home Affairs Ministry's Joint Secretary GK Pillai that the boundary of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and the banned NSCN(IM) might be extended, the meeting took a serious note of it. While condemning the Centre's move, the general secretary of AMSU reiterated that AMSU is firm that the boundary of the State should not be disturbed at any cost. In this connection, the students' body is going to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister AB Vajpayee, Home Minister LK Advani and the State Chief Minister Wahengbam Nipamacha within a few days. The AMSU leaders also appealed to all the Chief Ministers of the Northeastern region to oppose the extension of ceasefire. Expressing concern that the Centre might disturb the State territory as Article 3 of the Constitution empowers the Centre to do so, Premananda said that Manipur merged as a nation to India in 1949 in a way different from other States of India. AMSU will appeal to international forces in this regard if the Centre does not heed their demands. Meanwhile, the banned Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) has asked the organisation or the gunmen behind the attack on AMSU president Khoiraom Gourashyam on January 17 at AMSU headquarters to clarify the reason for the attack on the student leader. Strongly condemning the attack, the outfit in a statement to the press said that no organisation worth its name should train its guns on student leaders and try to eliminate a student body.