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Imphal, October 31 : An emergency federal assembly of the All Tribal Students' Union Manipur (ATSUM), which was held today at its office located at Old Lambulane, endorsed the recommendations of the Public Meeting convened by the students' body on October 24 on the indefinite closure of educational institutions in some valley districts of the state.

Sharing the pains and sorrows of all bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones caused by state and non-state actors especially those of July 23 at BT Road, the federal assembly of ATSUM appealed both the government and the agitating students' bodies (AMSU, MSF and KSA) to lift the 'ban' imposed on all educational institutions, including institutions under CBSE/ICSSE by October 2009, according to a statement issued by the assembly secretary of ATSUM, Ningthou Kamei and its speaker Tonghen Kipgen.

"We justified the agitations launched under the banner of Apunba Lup in protest against the July 23 incident of BT Road.

However, the indefinite closure of all educational institutions in some valley districts as a part of the agitation is uncalled for and is taking the issue beyond the limit," the ATSUM statement noted.

Appealing for allowing private schools to collect their normal school fees so that ttheir teachers continue to get their meager salaries, the ATSUM demanded that the government to treat the ongoing impasse as 'calamity' and compensate the private school teachers if their appeal is not heeded.

"If these two terms are not accepted, ATSUM will use all its might and resources to make a 'token' payment to these teachers even if it is just Rs 1 for a teacher," it asserted.

The TASUM also requested that exams conducted by BSEM, COHSEM and MU be held on normal scheduled.

In case normal classes were not resumed by November, ATSUM will organise 'residential coaching class' at selected centres across the state especially for HSLC and Class XII candidates.

All interested students - tribal and non-tribal - will be welcome for the coaching classes, it added.

The ATSUM also requested the state government to intervene so that any student who is desirous of shifting their institutions within one Board can do it freely.

It further added that ATSUM will be compelled to think of 'alternative options' if the present impasse continues beyond the limit.