WE WANT PEACE
WE WANT JUSTICE
Press Statement of MSAD on the 18th December 2012 Incident and the Arising Issues
Ref. No. 20121224
Dear friends,
We, the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi, take certain stand on the current situation of Manipur. Our stands are:-
(1) MSAD condoles the killing of Thangjam Dwijamani alias Nanao (32) s/o (L) Th Babu of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, a stringer of Doordarshan Kendra Imphal due to police firing while controlling a mob at Sinam Leikai on 23rd December 2012. The State, instead of making adequate security arrangement for safe passage of peoples stranded in Imphal and other parts of Manipur and had resorted to killing of civilians to add fuel to the tension and washed off its responsibility to play effective role in dealing with the demand for justice.
(2) MSAD condemns the physical assault on Miss Khangembam Rosnia (@) Momoco) and firing aimed at Mr. Prakash Soiraisam Hidangmayum Guna by one Livingstone Anal, a Lt. Colonel of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM) during a concert organized by Mahamani Women Society at Chandel District in Manipur on 18th December 2012. Whatever the pretext, context and agenda might be; the criminal activity of Livingstone cannot be justified. MSAD appealed NSCN-IM not to delay or derail the punitive action against Livingstone on the pretext of the prevailing turmoil.
(3) MSAD expresses deep concern about the issues arising out of the 18th December incident and would like to convey cautions against any attempt to make communal interpretation of the criminal act of Livingstone and the issue of human rights. It is being appealed to the emotionally hurt and infuriated sections of the population cutting across community affiliations to restrain from any communal forms of assertions and media browbeating at the cost of justice and peace. We appeal the people, particularly the internet users and program organizers to control and refrain from passing communally provocative statements and comments merely to add confusion and hatred, which will not lead us towards peace and development.
(4) MSAD believes that the government does not work to earn but functions through using tax collected from the people. MSAD, therefore, demands the Government of Manipur and its overlord Government of India to explain the reasons for increasing militarization of Manipur and the State apparatus including the judiciary if these are not meant for the protection of life, dignity and honour of the people. The watchdog Assam Rifles and Manipur Police personnel who had neither intervened into the 18th December incident nor taken up any prompt follow up actions were also the premeditated cause of the criminality of Livingstone. The Governments’ reluctance to handle the issue effectively is derailing any form of peace process in Manipur.
(5) MSAD believes that underground armed organizations including NSCN-IM also depend on the money directly or indirectly collected from the people. MSAD, therefore, appeals them to review their respective disciplinary mechanisms so that when cadres become aberration and indulge in criminal activity prompt actions are taken up to deliver justice to the victims. The delay in action had created tensions and confusions in the past and the present. MSAD appeals them to instruct upon their mass fronts to bring a halt to the communalized situation and collectively work towards urgent delivery of justice.
Apunbana Yaipharae
With regards,
Manipur Students’Association, Delhi (MSAD)
24th December 2012