SENAPATI, Feb 17 NNN: Quagmire on the revival of All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) continues to persist. Hill based students\u2019 bodies of Manipur are divided on the issue and now it stands that there are going to be two ATSUM factions for the first time.
\nOne group has claimed to be the genuine group and has started operating for months now while the other group had said they had formed an \u201cInterim Body\u201d for the revival of the erstwhile ATSUM two days ago.
\nOn Saturday one faction of ATSUM had held a talk with the government of Manipur on its demands, some students\u2019 bodies said today they did not recognise that talk saying that ATSUM who held a talk with the government on Saturday is not a mandated tribal students\u2019 body and called it as \u2018self-style ATSUM\u2019.
\nOn Sunday, the Senapati District Students\u2019 Association (SDSA) and Naga Students\u2019 Union Chandel (NSUC) questioned the mandate of the present \u2018self-style present ATSUM\u2019 executive council.
\nSticking to its gun, SDSA and NSUC stated that they do not recognize the divided students\u2019 body unless it holds the collective representation of all its units. \u201cFor which, the government of Manipur should not be blinded by few vested interests but recognize the authority of the actual ATSUM which represents every tribal student body in Manipur,\u201d the SDSA and NSUC advised.
\nThe SDSA and NSUC then vehemently denounced the \u2018irrelevant and unrecognized\u2019 talk of the state government and the \u2018self-style ATSUM\u2019.
\n\u201cIt is immature and timid from the part of the state government to stoop so low to oblige the few individuals\u2019 demand rather than outrightly rejecting the authority of the unmandated activities,\u201d the SDSA and NSUC said.
\nExtending its solidarity and support of its counter part Kuki Students\u2019 Organisation, general headquarters (KSO-GHqs), the two students\u2019 bodies the government of Manipur to respect the unity and authority of the genuine ATSUM rather than indulging into divisive policies of discouraging the tribal students movement.
\nThe two students\u2019 bodies still re-affirm its decision to remain disassociated with the present \u2018self-style ATSUM\u2019 tenure unless an inclusive recognized ATSUM is formed. No activities of the present ATSUM will be allowed to implement in the jurisdiction of the SDSA and NSUC and that, any breach of our decision will bear serious consequence.
\nQuestioning the authority of the present ATSUM, the two bodies asked the present \u2018self-style power hungry\u2019 executive council to cease all efforts to misuse the name of ATSUM for personal and vested interest. While affirming its unconditional support of tribal issues and grievances pending with the State Government, the SDSA and NSUC along with KSO\/HQ in one mindset and integrity will not tolerate any design or motive to sabotage tribal students\u2019 welfare issues in Manipur.<\/p>\n\n