Dimapur, April 1 (MExN): The All Zeliangrong Students’ Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) and Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur has demanded for the safe release of a minor girl, Alice Kamei. The minor girl is held captive by RPF/PLA since March 10, 2013. She is a resident of Chingphu Zeliangrong village, under Nambol Assembly Constituency, and a student of Class-IX at Grace Reach Academy, Hiyanglam, Thoubal district, Manipur.
So far, 48 hours total blockade on National Highways in Zeliangrong areas in the hill districts has been imposed as a first phase agitation. A joint press note issued by Publicity wing AZSU (AMN), ZYF (AMN) & ZSUM stated that second phase of democratic public agitation in the form of sit-in-protest will start in valley districts from April 3 for Imphal East district, April 4 for Imphal West district, April 5 for Bishnupur district and April 6 for Churachandpur district.
The youth organizations in the note stated, “The RPF/PLA is one of the valley based armed resistant group who demand for a sovereign country. Therefore, being one of the revolutionary organizations allegedly fighting for the cause of the people, it should not resort to child recruitment to be their cadres under any circumstances”. It also said that there is no legal sanctioned universally to absorb any minor child who has not attained the age of 18 in any arm organizations. Under 18 years are not allowed even to cast vote in the election as they are lacking reasoning ability and unable to determine their decision. Girls under 18 years are not allowed marriage and boys under 18 years are not allowed recruitment in the any arm forces. Prolonged captivity of the minor girl by responsible organization is dishonoring the public voice of the people.
The youth organization also felt that the State Government’s ‘insensitiveness and sleeping over the issue’ is quite unnatural and dubious on different perspectives especially when failed to see any breakthrough into the case. “The ineffectiveness and inability of State Government to handle the matter exposed insincerity and lack of commitment. Enough time has been given to the State Government but unable to act has created impression whether there is another parallel government in the State,” it said and added that the State Government on many occasions made appeals to underground cadres to return to mainstream is farcical when it cannot save a minor girl who has been kept for such long period without any reason and justification.
The youth organizations in the joint note also informed that to secure release of the minor girl, the Zeliangrong people in collaboration with different social organizations will take up serious and intense form of different kinds of public democratic agitation including public rally in the Hills and Valley districts as a third phase of public democratic agitation against the captivity of the minor girl
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