IMPHAL, December 27: A joint press release by Apunba Manipur Matam Ishei Kanglup (AMIKI, Film Forum Manipur (FFM)and Manipur State Sumang Leela Council (MSSLC) has appealed to all concerned artists and members of civil organizations to partake in a sit in protest which will start from 11 am at Iboyaima Sumang Lella Sanglen on December 28.
The protest is in keeping with the spirit of democratic forms of agitation being launched by the mentioned civil bodies decrying the Chandel incident in which one film actor was assaulted by a NSCN (IM ) cadre, namely Livingstone. The release said that the artists of the State have been working to keep up the congenial atmosphere which has been prevalent since time immemorial amongst the hill and valley residents. The objective of the artists has been in the general interest of the public and in advocating communal harmony among others, it said.
The manner in which a girl was assaulted and another two artists threatened at gunpoint was the main area of contention. The organizations had sought for penalization of Livingstone and the matter was taken up to the State government with artists trying to reach the state assembly. A protest before the CM`s bungalow had resulted in members of the film fraternity and various artists to be manhandled, thereby stoking emotions and leading to the subsequent announcement of the general strike. It also mentioned that the call for the indefinite bandh also included an appeal to exercise utmost restraint and not to cause inconvenient hardships to essential services and those headed for religious ceremonies while the strike was going on.
The release further said that the public decried the incident involving the physical violation of a woman at Keinou by some individuals that involved security personnel and further mentioned that the murder case of Lunglina Elizabeth was protested in full scale. These instances were cited as proof that there is no bias in addressing issues by the artists of the State and also by the various communities.
The organizations further condemned the police action in which a scribe lost his life at Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai and mentioned that the decision to deffer the general strike from December 23 was taken in the general interest of the public and with the objectivity of observing Christmas festival in harmony. The general strike was not called to invoke dissent or subject to harm the interest of a community, the statement clarified.