Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, Dec 5: As the mudslingings on the supposedly revived All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) amongst the tribal students continue, former ATSUM leaders have broken their silence at last and logically dwelt on how the apex tribal students` body is all about.
Convenor of ATSUM`s Interim Body and ex-president of Kuki Students Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHQ) Haopu Khongsai, co-convenor of the Interim Body and former ATSUM general secretary Washington Shinglai and `care-taker` of the Interim Body` and ex-ATSUM speaker Emboi Serto said, “The ATSUM was formed with the mandate of the tribal people for a ‘purpose’ through the painstaking initiative of the former leaders of Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) and All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM). Hence, no individuals or groups should override the conventional practices of the organization”.
The former tribal student leaders said they made this statement with deep regret but with no hard feelings to any individual or group but only for the common interest of the tribal students community of Manipur in particular and the tribal people in general.
The All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur founded by far sighted tribal leaders way back in the 1970s, has survived this far albeit some ups and downs and has contributed tremendously for the tribal people of Manipur on various occasions and different levels. Its contribution towards peace and confidence building among the tribal brethren of Manipur way back in the 1990s cannot be easily forgotten and send into oblivion, the three veteran tribal leaders said.
“ATSUM since its revival in 2003 has done many commendable works for the welfare of not only the student communities but also the tribal peoples of the state. The setting up of the Regional Campus of Indira Gandhi National Tribal University in Manipur is in fact, not to benefit only the tribal peoples but will definitely promote higher education and research for the whole state and region. The role played by ATSUM and MUTSU for the establishment of this University is not a mean one. The holding of a series of Education related Seminars (CAUCUS 05, 07, 09) and the path breaking Cultural Exchange Programs by ATSUM over the last couple of years. The framing of the RULES of the Manipur Reservation Act of 2007, smooth sailing of IGNTU from its own campus, streamlining of education and schools in the hills, etc are some of the unfinished agenda of ATSUM at present,” the joint statement of the three former ATSUM leaders added.
They said everyone felt sorry and remorse as the election for ATSUM new executive slated to be held on June 2011 could not take place. A series of meeting to resolve the said issue was held at different fora, time and places. Senior leaders and well-wishers have never lost faith in the tenacity of that intention and always hope and pray that the impasse will be over soon, they added.
“However, recently some few leaders in a hushed and hurry manner nominated themselves as ‘revived executives of ATSUM’. This so called meeting and its outcome cannot be accepted as it is against the common and conventional practices that have been followed in the working of ATSUM for the last many years. It was also not with the knowledge of the present caretaker office. Though ATSUM is primarily a student body, it has huge responsibility even on the socio-economic and political struggles of the tribal peoples in the state. That job is all the more important as there is no other mandated apex organization that covers the whole tribal peoples of the state,” the three tribal leader further said.
As such, the big responsibility of leading ATSUM cannot be given to the hands of few ragtag individuals with no proper grooming and experience in their tribe or district levels. Consistency and continuity has to be considered as far as possible. Besides, the wholehearted involvement and participation of KSO and ANSAM is a must and cannot be ignored in any major decisions and policy programs of ATSUM, the joint statement stated.
“Under such circumstances, a meeting of senior and past tribal leaders including the founding members of ATSUM was held at Hotel Imphal on November 13, 2012. That meeting after thorough and threadbare discussion and debate decided to entrust the undersigned on how to overcome the present imbroglio amicably. Until and unless such solution is achieved, no individual or groups should in any means and forum use the name of ATSUM and throw the unity of the tribal peoples in bad light,” Haopu Khongsai, Washington Shinglai and Emboi Serto said today.