A Statement from Human Rights Alert forwarded by the Asian Human Rights Commission

The ongoing economic blockade enforced by All Naga Student Association Manipur (ANSAM) and others in the Indian state of Manipur since 11 April 2010 has pushed the people in the state to the verge of existence. The state-wide strike organised by the ANSAM blocking roads and highways, national highway 39 and 53, which are the only lifeline of Manipur, has resulted in acute shortage of food, medicine and other essential commodities in the state.

Manipur is a state where ordinary life is marred with extreme forms of violence ranging from abduction to murder committed by state and non-state actors. The strike led by the ANSAM has added further miseries to the people's lives. In remote hill districts like Tamenglong, even the government food storage facilities are empty since the past few weeks. In Imphal, the capital city, the government and private hospitals have closed down emergency services. Within the next few days they will be unable to maintain its life support systems due to shortage of essential supplies including medicines and nasal cannula oxygen.

The price of food grains and other household supplies like rice, kerosene and cooking gas have escalated to such a level that the ordinary people cannot afford to buy household provisions anymore. Vehicle, including the inter-state and inter-district transport, are off the road as the fuel stations closed since weeks.