Twelve civil society organisations along with a student’s body have imposed a 48 hours general strike across Manipur with effect from Thursday midnight demanding the unconditional release of the three cadres of Pambei led UNLF, including its Chief of Army.
The 12 CSOs are Federation of Civil Society Organisation (FOCS), Manipur Women’s Federation (MWF), Indigenous People’s Organisation Manipur (IPOM), Universal Mother’s Organisation (UMO), World Meetei Council (WMC), KKJCC, Yelhoumi Kanba Lup, Apunba Senmitlon, Singjamei Apunba Nupi Lup, All Lilong Chajing Meira Paibi, Manipur Muslim Welfare Organisation (MMWO), Meetei Council Moreh (MCM) and a student’s body.
Security forces along with a team of NIA detained and apprehended two chiefs of Pambei-led UNLF and a cadre on Wednesday morning at around 8.30 am from Ningthemkol area, Imphal West. Later, they were airlifted to Delhi on the same day.
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FOCS, along with seven other organisations, including one student body, urged the central government for the unconditional release of the three cadres by Wednesday noon.
With the government failing to meet their demand, a joint press conference of the 13 CSOs including one student organisation was organised at the office of Manipur Women’s Federation (MWF) on Thursday located at Kakwa Naorem Leikai, Imphal West.
(PHOTO: IFP)
FOCS president Th Manihar said that with the failure to meet the demand for unconditional release of three cadres of Pambei-led UNLF, the 12 CSOs along with a student body are imposing the 48 hours general strike across Manipur from Friday.
Central government, state government and Pambei-led UNLF signed a tripartite ceasefire peace agreement however, detaining three cadres of the underground outfit will be taken as insulting the outfit and people of Manipur, Manihar said, adding that a team will be going to Delhi on Friday to meet the Union government in connection with the issue.
He said that if the three are not released unconditionally, then intensified agitations including boycott of Lok Sabha elections or examination might be done. The union government as well as state government should fulfil the demand for unconditional release of the three cadres, he added.
The state government should not lie to the public that it has no knowledge on detention of the three cadres. Rather, the state government should press the centre for their immediate and unconditional release within 48 hours in order to bring peace in Manipur, the FOCS president stated.
Besides boycotting Lok Sabha elections and examination, the CSOs might also boycott all the political parties of Manipur which might bring a doom to society, he cautioned.
Responding to the media regarding relaxation for students who are appearing for the HSLC examination to be commenced on Friday, Manihar said a question arises as to what is more important, ‘right to live’ or ‘right to education’. The decision to go ahead with the general strike was taken keeping in mind the interest of the people, he said.
Examination can be conducted later but saving a life is more important, Manihar said.
General secretary of IPOM, Rakesh Moirangthem, said the organization will be supporting the general strike and appealed to the people to support while demanding for unconditional release of the three cadres of the outfit.
He said, if the demands are not fulfilled within the deadline then with the support from various civil bodies, local clubs and others, they would launch more intensified forms of agitations against both state and central government.
He further said that the general strike will be called off immediately if the three cadres are released unconditionally.
He appealed to the bandh supporters to identify cautiously for the essential services.
Confusion over general strike
Soon after the announcement of the 48-hour general strike by FOCS along with other CSOs, a report appeared on social media regarding cancellation of the said general strike in view of the HSLC examination.
Even a statement on FOCS letterhead signed by its secretary information and public relations Nerish Mangang began doing the rounds on social media.
FOCS officials when contacted over the phone by IFP said that the general strike will go on and there is no question of cancelling it. Nerish Mangang said he did not issue any statement on this.
