AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS CONTINUE STIR

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE, MADURAI, MARCH 18

STUDENTS who were arrested by the police and taken to the Government Rajaji Hospital are still continuing their hunger (fast-onto-death) strike. These students should not be force fed as it will be against the guidelines for treating such patients as issued by WHO, warned Henry Tiphagne, Executive Director, People'e Watch.

It may be recalled that on Monday (14-03-2011) a group of students, alleged to have been instigated by the staff who are in support of CSI Bishop A Christopher Asir went on a rampage and 30 students including a few (faculty and non-teaching staff), who were on a relay fast in the campus. were were injured and dozen vehicles (8 cars and around 30 two-wheelers) damaged.

Led by the American College Students Federation (ACSF) president Vijay a group of students (7 students including Vijay) resorted to an indefinite hunger stir. They demanded that the high-level committee constituted by the State should intervene in the issue and should appoint an unbiased special officer to monitor the College since Bishop has been known to use his powers ('goondas' power - as witnessed by the violence on 14th March in the campus).

The next day a cotere of clergy owing allegiance to the Bishop met the Collector and submitted a petition (actually they dicould not meet the Collector. These pastors did not get any appointment with the Collector or DRO or RDO, They finally could submit the petition only to the revenue, Thasildar). This move was flayed by many as they pointed out that it revealed the vested interest that the Bishop had in the running of the institution. Even the acting principal R Mohan (the bishop's candidate) in a letter to the State Human Rights Commission had mentioned that Christopher Asir presides over the governing council proceedings not as a religious leader but as a first representative of the Christian Minority. If that was the case, many faculty and the students wondered why the clergy was asked to submit a petition to the (district) administration.

It was in this situation that the police had come to request the students to drop their stir. When the students refused to budge, an ambulance was brought brought into the campus and the students were forcibly removed. However, as students who were supporting the stir objected to the arrest, the police used mild force to disperse the students.

Vijay said that the students are undaunted and would continue their stir in the hospital as well. The students have registered their objection with the duty doctors for any diagnosis and treatment. Henry Tiphagne, who visited the students in the hospital, said that the police have been constantly intimidating the protesting students in the campus. "Especially, Chidambaramurugesan, an Inspector (Law & Order, Tallakulam Police Station), who had told the students, "I will shoot you down in the guise of encounter", Henry charged.

Instead of watching trouble brew in the institution, the State should take immediate action to ensure that the education of the students is not affected.