Condemns arrest of student leaders in Manipur
Date : November 16, 2020
NEFIS CONDEMNS ARREST OF STUDENT LEADERS FOR RAISING ISSUES TROUBLING THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY!
DEMANDS THEIR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!!
REIMBURSEMENT OF UNJUSTIFIED FEE TO STUDENTS ALSO DEMANDED!!
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) condemns the recent arrest of student organization leaders in Manipur. It should be noted that the student leaders were arrested for agitating against the various problems which have been plaguing the university since last several months.
Arresting people merely for agitating and speaking up against the wrongs being committed by the university authorities tarnishes the democratic structure of our polity. The student leaders who have been arrested were well within their rights to demonstrate regarding the problems being faced by the university community. Curbing such democratic protests is bound to have a spiral effect.
Instead of curbing the students’ voice, there should be dialogue between the students and the authorities. NEFIS demands that the arrested student leaders should be released immediately and unconditionally.
Moreover, it demands that a regular Vice Chancellor from among the university academics should be immediately appointed, and the ad-hoc manner in which the university is functioning should be immediately put an end to. There is also the burning issue of unjustified fee being levied from the students. NEFIS demands that it should be immediately resolved by reimbursement of fee to the students.
Thokchom Yaiphalembi Chanu
Member
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS)