Tribal students to stay away from MU

New Delhi, Oct 10 : Manipur Tribal Students staged a protest in New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar today at 9:00 AM Local Time . A memorandum was submitted to the PMO. They highlighted the issues faced by the tribals in the Hills of Manipur and the quota system in Manipur University in particular.

The recipient ministers have given an assurance that they will take up the issue with the concerned authorities as well as the Manipur state government.
Imphal, Oct 10 : No tribal students will return to Manipur University (MU) for whatsoever reason until “an unconditional and an amicable solution” is brought about regarding the prevailing situation, according to leaders of the Manipur University Tribal Students Union (MUTSU).

The MUTSU leaders have also urged all the tribal students to participate in the sit-in-protest to be held near Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) compound in Imphal on October 10 from morning onwards.
They further informed that tribal students will also hold massive protest rally in New Delhi on Friday showing solidarity to the tribal people’s cause in Manipur.

Talking to NNN on Thursday, student leaders led by Manipur university Tribal Students Union spokesman Michael Lunminthang, former MUTSU president and advisor to MUTSU Gaisingam Gonmei and other tribal student leaders informed that an emergency meeting of the various tribal students’ bodies consisting of MUTSU, All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU), Churachandpur District Students Union (CDSU), Komrein Students’ Union (KSU) and other tribal student bodies unanimously resolved today to pull out all tribal students from the University campus and that no tribal students will return until an amicable solution is brought about.

The meeting held at the Tribal Research Institute, Adimjati in Imphal also resolved that no further interviews, be it contract or part-time should be conducted until a solution is brought about and that the University Act, 2005 adopted by the Cabinet should be amended by the Central University .

The meeting also resolved that the University Grant Commission (UGC) should not function without the tribal students as Manipur University (MU) is meant for the people of Manipur and not just for a section of the people of Manipur, informed the MUTSU leaders.

Referring to the pull out of the students from Manipur University the MUTSU leaders informed that the decision was not taken by the student leaders but the students themselves as they could not feel at home at the University anymore even after they were being asked to go back to the University.

Instead the students are scared as they were attacked by elements from certain quarters on Monday during the agitation following alleged encouragements from the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) to attack them.

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Northeast India suffering floods and sectarian violence

Guwahati, Oct 10 : Unprecedented flooding has displaced millions of people in India, including the states of Bihar, Assam, and Orissa. At least 16 of the state’s 27 districts have been affected.

Over a month after the Kosi river burst its banks, hundreds of villagers in the Bihar remain desperate for food and drinking water. Flood victims in one of the worst-hit areas, reportedly fed up with the government delays on relief, looted relief supplies earlier this week.
According to news reports, floodwaters killed nearly 2,500 people since the onset of monsoon rains in June. Thousands of survivors have taken shelter in government relief camps.

Dave Stravers with Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Mission India says the disaster comes on top of weeks of intensifying religious persecution. “(In Orissa) The government has declared a 24-hour curfew. Essentially that means no one may leave their home or move from place to place. They’re doing this to prevent these roving gangs of extremists from attacking Christians.”

The curfew has complicated relief efforts in the area. Floodwaters there also impacted tens of thousands. The heavy rains and flooding only magnified uncertainty in an already troubled region where Hindus have mounted a genocide against Christians.

The situation has taken a heavy toll on ministry overall. “300 villages were virtually destroyed in the violence. About 30-percent of our ministries in Orissa have been closed down, and they’re not functioning for the time being.”

Partners in the area report that at least 25 Adult Literacy centers and 14 Children’s Bible Clubs have been closed. Three ministry staff members lost their homes and belongings to the floods.

Stravers urges prayer for their partners. ”The Evil One wants to use these things to cause fear and discouragement so that people will stop their witnessing, stop their work of compassion and just withdraw. We need people to take courage, to be bold in their faith and to trust in God’s care and protection for them.”

Pray for those who have lost their homes and family members and are struggling to survive. Pray for the Christians’ safety in a region struggling with mounting oppression. Pray that Mission India ministry partners will be able to resume programs quickly.

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