The Hindu : Front Page : Manipur lifts Act from parts of Imphal

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Friday, Aug 13, 2004

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Manipur lifts Act from parts of Imphal

BURNING ISSUE: Protestors set ablaze tyres to block the National Highway-39 at Chingmeirong on the outskirts of Imphal on Thursday during the bandh called by various organisations, demanding removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. — PTI

IMPHAL, AUG. 12 . The Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, today announced the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 from the Imphal municipal area. The decision, taken at a State Cabinet meeting at the Chief Minister's office here earlier in the day, was announced by Mr. Singh at a press conference.

Agitation `justifiable'

Terming as "justifiable" the month-long public agitation in the State after the killing of Thangjam Manorama Devi, the Chief Minister said: "My Government feels for the people's sentiments."

"Though we cannot fulfil the desires of the people 100 per cent, we honour them. The State Cabinet has resolved to lift the Act from the Imphal municipal area first on a trial basis," he said.

The Imphal municipal area covers the Assembly constituencies of Uripok, Thangmeiband, Sagolband, Khurai, Singjamei, Keishamthong and Yaiskul, which have 10 per cent of the State's total population.

Referring to the public demand for the complete withdrawal of the Act, Mr. Singh said, "we don't want the Act for a minute more in the State, but there are lots of compulsions, especially the presence of many unlawful organisations pushing for secession from India."

According to Mr. Singh, the decision was taken without the Centre's approval.

"Though the decision has been conveyed to the Centre, it remains to be seen how they would react," he said. ``The Centre also feels that it is not just a law and order problem, but involves secessionist forces and hence they pose a question, a threat to national integrity. National integrity is above all and so they cannot compromise."

Normal life hit

Normal life in Imphal and the four hill districts came to a standstill today as a result of a bandh called separately by various organisations.

Life in the hill districts — Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Churachandpur — was severely affected due to the 12-hour hill districts bandh called by different student bodies, including the All-Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM), the All-Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) and the Kuki Students' Organisation (KSO).

CCPA discusses situation

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) met here tonight to discuss the situation in Manipur in the context of the month-long agitation against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act [which was partially withdrawn by the State Government].

The meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, was attended by the Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, the Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, the Defence Minister, Pranab Mukherjee, the Communications Minister, Dayanidhi Maran, and the National Security Adviser, J. N. Dixit. The Army Chief, Gen. N. C. Vij, and the DGMO briefed the meeting. — PTI

PTI, UNI

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