Militants threaten to bomb Manipur Catholic schools

GUWAHATI, March 5: Separatist guerrillas have trained their guns on the Catholic Church in Manipur, threatening to bomb at least two of the prestigious schools run by it in capital Imphal. The reason: failure in paying 'taxes' to the rebels. Manipur director-general of police D.S.Grewal, speaking to TheNewspaperToday on Monday, confirmed that the banned People's Liberation Army has slapped a demand of Rs 5 lakh on all the eight schools in Imphal city run by the Catholic Church. The church authorities have expressed their inability to meet the rebels' demand saying the schools they run are non-profit institutions which are trying to impart education to children from all sections in the state of two million people. There are more than 80 educational institutions run by the Catholic Church in Manipur, with an estimated 30,000 students on their rolls. Not taking any chances, the Don Bosco Society, which runs the two girls schools, Little Flower High School and the Nirmalabas School, have withdrawn all Salesian fathers. "These teachers have been evacuated to locations outside Manipur for security reasons. The running of the schools have been entrusted to the local teachers," a Church leader said on condition of anonymity. The rebels' threat has been taken very seriously because since 1990, three Catholic priests, including two school principals, have been shot by insurgents while two others have survived assassination bids. Only last month, Father Tomy Manjaly, a Parish priest and principal of the Catholic school at Canchipur in Chandel district, was shot at by rebels. He is still recuperating in an Imphal hospital. In 1990, father Mathew Manianchira, principal of the Catholic school at Canchipur was shot on the school premises. Father Sebastian, principal of the Don Bosco School in Imphal was shot at in 1992. In 1997, Father Jose Nedumattathil, principal of Don Bosco school, Maram, in Senapati district, was killed. Father Jacob Chittnapilly, assistant parish priest at Sugnu in Chandel district, was kidnapped and killed on December 2 last year. "We appeal to all organisations to desist from making any demands from the Catholic mission schools as we are non-profit making organisations. By that, we are not challenging any group, only urging them. Whatever money we are earning is re-invested in the state for the welfare of students from all communities," Father Jeyaseelan, Chancellor at the Archdiocese of Imphal, told TheNewspaperToday by telephone. The uncertain academic atmosphere in all the eight Catholic schools in Imphal led to a meeting of the Parents' Association, which unanimously urged the rebel group to give up its demand and let the schools run normally. The Parents' Association was formed in March last year ever since the rebels came up with their demand for cash from the schools. However, on March 2 and 3, some people claiming to be representatives of the rebel group met some parents and asked them to collect transfer certificates of their wards studying in these two schools and admit them elsewhere. The school authorities, too, reportedly received anonymous telephone calls with the caller threatening to blow up the institutions. The result is utter panic among students, teachers and the parents. "The parents have done the right thing by calling upon the rebels not to target the schools. Let's hope good sense prevails upon the rebels," the Manipur police chief said. He said the authorities were ready to provide security at the schools although it was difficult to give round-the-clock protection to the missionaries teaching at the schools. A few weeks after the rebels first slapped the demands for cash, a three-member team from the Catholic Church apparently met some rebel leaders. "The Church delegation explained the situation and urged the rebels to exempt the Catholic schools from making any payments to them. But the rebels rejected their plea," a Church leader in adjoining Nagaland state said, requesting that he be not identified. At one stage last year, the rebels issued a diktat asking all non-Manipuris to obtain identity cards to be issued by them on payment. Catholic school authorities, too, had apparently received such orders from the rebels. As many as 17 major guerrilla groups are active in Manipur. The state has an estimated 70,000 Catholic population. The rebel threat has put the state government in a quandary. Church leaders said that soon after assuming office as the new Chief Minister last month, Radhabinod Koijam, had deputed a four-member team of MLAs to meet with the Catholic Church authorities in Imphal and take stock of the situation. "We gave them a detailed briefing," Church sources said. Father George Plathottam, director of the Don Bosco Communications in the Northeast, said: "It is a matter of grave concern because the Salesian teachers in Manipur have dedicated their lives for the education of the local people. We can only pray and hope that the situation improves."