A delegation of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) on Tuesday reached Manipur for a three-day tour, during which it will visit relief camps to meet the victims of the ethnic clashes.
The 19-member delegation to Manipur is led by NESO Chairman Samuel B Jyrwa, Secretary General Mutsikhyo Yhobo and Chief Adviser Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharya.
The group is likely to meet Governor Anusuiya Uikey and Chief Minister N Biren Singh during its stay in the state.
“We are here with a message of peace and goodwill. In our visit, we want to appeal to all people to bring peace to Manipur and restore normalcy,” said Utpal Sarma, the president of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), one of the member unions of NESO.
NESO’s constituents All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) have already been in touch with Meitei and Kuki communities, respectively, he added.
After arriving in Imphal from Guwahati, the delegation visited three relief camps at Bishnupur and Imphal East districts, and met the Meitei people taking shelter there.
“We will go to Churachandpur and visit the relief camps there to meet the Kuki sufferers. We will also have discussions with various civil society groups from both the warring communities and discuss the way forward for a peaceful solution to the ethnic clashes,” Sarma said.
He further said that the delegation has sought appointments to meet the governor and chief minister on Wednesday evening.
Bhattacharjya said, “In these ethnic clashes, the wounds are very deep for both sides. It will require special healing touch and confidence-building measures to remove the mistrust between the two communities.”
“Since the violence broke out in Manipur, the NESO has maintained constant touch with leaders from different communities in Manipur. The visit stands as a continued effort by NESO to foster peace and harmony, further strengthening the longstanding relationship between different communities in the region,” Jyrwa said.
Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) president Lambokstar Marngar and general secretary Donald V. Thabah are also part of the delegation
Besides the KSU, the NESO delegation comprises leaders of All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU), Tripura Students’ Federation (TSF), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), Garo Students’ Union (GSU), and the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU).
