Senapati, June 16: An emergency Presidential Council meeting of the All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) was held on Monday at Tahamzam, Senapati, reaffirming its opposition to the scrapping of the Free Movement Regime (FMR) and the construction of border fencing in the Naga homeland. The meeting also demanded the immediate withdrawal of the FIR filed against student organizations at the Senapati Police Station.
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Addressing the media after the meeting, ANSAM President Angtesang Maring stated that the discussion centered on the scrapping of the FMR and the imposed border fencing in Naga areas, along with the fallout from the democratic people’s movement held on 2nd and 3rd June. The movement, he said, was disrupted due to the high-handedness and ill intentions of two Senapati district police officials, the Superintendent of Police and the Additional SP (Law & Order).
Maring questioned the motives of the two officials, accusing them of disrupting a peaceful demonstration launched by the Nagas to assert their legitimate and inherent rights. He further questioned the sincerity of the Government of Manipur for failing to fulfill the demands of the Naga people.
Following the incident, ANSAM and its units issued an ultimatum for the removal of the two police officers from the district. However, the state government has allegedly ignored the demand, raising further questions about its commitment to addressing the concerns of the people. The agitation, ANSAM said, was a people’s movement carried out in a democratic and peaceful manner. The association accused the two officers of disrupting the movement with ill motives, leading to the unfortunate incident in Senapati.
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ANSAM, the Senapati District Students’ Association (SDSA), and all federating units have resolved to launch a non-cooperation movement, which the ANSAM President described as just the beginning. He asserted that the agitation would intensify if the Government of Manipur continues to ignore the voice of the Naga people.
The Presidential Council meeting also thoroughly discussed the FMR and border fencing issue, reaffirming the demand to reinstate the FMR and stop the construction of imposed border fencing in the Naga homeland. The association warned that the movement would be intensified in all possible ways if the Government of India fails to respond.
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Opposing the FIR lodged against the student bodies, the ANSAM President termed it very unfortunate that the Senapati Police filed cases against ANSAM, SDSA, and its five federating units for standing up for the Naga people’s legitimate rights. He stressed that the essence of democracy in India must be upheld, warning that democracy becomes meaningless if the state continues to threaten and suppress the people’s rights. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the FIRs in the interest of peace-loving citizens.
The meeting began with a one-minute silent prayer for the victims of the Air India plane crash that occurred on June 12.