IT News
Imphal, Feb 24:
Proscribed group Revolutionary Peoples’ Front is all set to observed its 42nd Foundation Day of RPF tomorrow. The day is observed as the Independence Demand Day by the proscribed group.
In connection with the observance President of the outfit Irengbam Chaoren greets the people and pay obeisance to all the martyrs who had laid down their invaluable lives for the cause of the revolutionary movement.
“I would also like to convey heartfelt respect to all the compatriots and share the grief and misery brought about the COVID-19 pandemic. We feel it obligatory to convey our sincere gratitude to all sections of people who have been fighting relentlessly against the deadly pandemic to save fellow human beings.
Charen, in his statement said , “Beloved compatriots, RPF has been waging an armed revolutionary movement in Manipur with the objective of restoring its lost sovereignty and setting up a prosperous and welfare state. Other than complete independence, we don’t see any movement which seeks autonomy or special rights within the constitution of India as capable of determining the future of Manipur. Any arrangement within the constitution of India, special or otherwise will never be able to take Manipur on the path of development comparable to international standard. On the contrary, any such arrangement within the constitution of India will only become a cause of assimilation with India and obliteration of the glorious history of independence which spanned over 2000 years.
At the same time, such arrangements would create situations of conflict with the ongoing liberation movement and it may lead to all sorts of confusion among the masses. In order to avert any situation of confusion and conflicts, we must understand the history of Manipur and respect the ongoing liberation movement. Groups of communal-minded people have been projecting Manipur as a fragmented Nation and driven by a notion that the rights and statuses of the areas where they are settled depend on what they imagine and wish, they have been challenging the integrity of Manipur. But it’s time for all the people to shed communal politics and join the common movement for independence. Other than the common movement for independence, there is no choice for any community settled in Manipur.
Although many communities who speak different languages inhabit Switzerland, they have been not only living together in peace and harmony for centuries but also set a fine example of being an ideal pluralistic society. On the contrary, the peoples of Bosnia & Herzegovina who only think for their own communities are being supported by the opposing forces of Serbia and Croatia. The endeavors of the peoples of Bosnia & Herzegovina to make the country their exclusive domain by excluding the others led to a communal war which has claimed thousands of lives in addition to displacing around 20 lakh people. Although the war was halted following intervention by the international community and signing of a peace agreement (Dayton Accord) in late 1995, there is no stable government in Bosnia & Herzegovina till date and the communities are living with a deep sense of distrust. This is not a positive manifestation of a society. For all these reasons, it’s time for the communities (of Manipur) to choose the better one from the two cases of Switzerland and Bosnia & Herzegovina in the interest of future generations.
On the other hand, protecting the integrity of Manipur is indispensable to the liberation movement which implies that no revolutionary group can afford laxity when it comes to Mes-022521/RPF-PRE Page 2 of 4 integrity of Manipur. Comrade Irabot’s steadfast objection to the initiative to create Purvanchal Pradesh (North East Frontier Province) by encompassing some parts of Manipur and his understanding of the particular initiative as a threat to the integrity of Manipur was well placed. After 1963 there was a proposal to create a Himalayan Federation comprising of Nepal, Bhutan, Sikkim, NEFA (North East Frontier Agency) and Naga Hills but the proposal was rejected by the peoples of Bhutan and Sikkim and argued that their demography would be severely affected by immigrant Nepalese. On the ground that they look physically similar and share common ancestry, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia formed a common independent country called Yugoslavia. But after the death of Josip Broz Tito in 1980, the comprising nations starting prioritizing their own national interests and these Nations became independent countries in the 1990’s at the cost of common country Yugoslavia.
However, Bosnia & Herzegovina where the conditions were remotely similar to Manipur witnessed a war which was the biggest in Europe after the Second World War because there was no solid foundation for its transformation into an independent country and there were many internal conflicts. Revolutionary leaders of Manipur, in their search for a common platform or idea of Western South East Asia (WESEA), must see that no situation emerges which challenges the collectiveness of Manipuri society for it is this collectiveness which serves as the very spirit of the history of independent Manipur. At the same time, revolutionary leaders must also see that our concern for the collectivity of Manipur should not hinder from shouldering and discharging our responsibilities and duties in fighting the common enemy, India.
The pretentious activities of the government of India to develop WESEA on the pretext that India cannot be developed without developing WESEA do no mean India really cares for the peoples of WESEA. It is a trap aimed at enabling New Delhi uses the peoples of WESEA as a shield in countering neighboring China. It is a generally accepted understanding of New Delhi that India will suffer humiliating defeats in the hands of China in future too as they did in the 1962 war if the peoples of WESEA do not stand on the side of India. Efforts to make the peoples of WESEA pro-India necessitate New Delhi to lure the peoples of WESEA with certain pretentious development activities and ephemeral material benefits. The existing conflict between India and China is not restricted to the boundary issue. The conflict has its roots in Arunachal Pradesh which is around 84,000 Sq Kms in area and is contested between the neighboring countries. China has still not recognized Arunachal Pradesh as a part of India rather Beijing treats Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnan Region (South Tibet), a part of their own territory. Some days back, Manipuri Tangkhul Ralengnao Bob Khathing was conferred the ‘Arunachal Ratna’ title for bringing Tawang and Bumla areas within the territory of India from Tibet in 1951 and this can be a testimony of China’s claim that Arunachal Pradesh was once a part of Tibet. As a natural outcome, China has been working to take over Arunachal Pradesh from India which conflagrated the conflict between the two countries.
The conflict is so deep that a war may break out between the two countries anytime. Keeping this foreseeable war in mind, India has been circulating volumes of fabricated propaganda through newspapers and TV channels to persuade their own people to stand against China. A report published recently by EU DisinfoLab, an NGO based in Brussels, revealed that two big video news agencies of India namely; Srivastava Group (SG) and Asian News International (ANI) opened 265 sites in 65 countries and have been circulating fabricated propaganda and concocted news reports since Mes-022521/RPF-PRE Page 3 of 4 2005 to provoke and turn the people of not only India but also peoples of many other countries against China. Even if the people of India believe in the anti-China propaganda and develop anti-China feelings and sentiments, people of WESEA, particularly Manipuri people must ponder over which of the two conflicting powers will be helpful to the liberation movement of Manipur. India is a growing power and it is being speculated that it may become the third biggest economy after some years. Considering this possibility, some revolutionaries think that the growth of India as a major power would have serious impacts on the liberation movement. Many social activists and intellectuals who believe in Manipur’s right to independence too seem to be turning their eyes away from the liberation movement, considering the growing strength of India. Many among the masses have given in to sheer materialism and pursuit for life of luxury and it apparently has turned out to be a major setback to the revolutionary movement. In spite of all these setbacks, the liberation movement of RPF will never stray from the right direction. We have a different war strategy of our own and we firmly believe our people and our strategy will take the liberation movement to the path of victory. In response to India’s proud claim that the revolutionary movements of WESEA can be rooted out by 2024, we would like to warn the Government of India they should first focus all their attention and energy on averting balkanization of India. As a direct outcome of the brazen repressive measures unleashed by Government of India, almost all political leaders of Kashmir who were earlier pro-Indian to the core have started looking to China in order to protect the rights of their people. Leaders of many Indian States have openly declared they would render full support if their States wish to secede from India.
On the other hand, conflicts with neighboring countries particularly China and Pakistan have been escalating and India is facing possible loss of several parts of its purported territory. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, recently quoting Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, stated that India was planning to take over the governments of both Nepal and Sri Lanka. This will surely make all the neighboring countries wary of India and India would be ultimately surrounded by hostile countries. In such a situation, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, taking the unfolding geopolitics into account, must support the liberation movements of WESEA and liberate the region in order to collectively face the imperialistic and expansionist policy of India. As long as Manipur remains under the Indian rule, the misery of our people will never end. It is a common character of all colonial rulers to polarize the colonized people and create diverse aspirations and promote contradictory ideologies so that the colonized people are always kept divided. We are witnessing the same situation in Manipur today. The protracted peace talks for Nagas and its impacts on the society, the truce called Suspension of Operation (SOO) which fosters ethno-centric insurgencies and the toxic promise for territorial council are some of the formidable impediments imposed by India on the path of determining the future of Manipur. These impediments have been creating divisions and fractures among the communities of Manipur thereby negating all efforts to bring any form of unity or cohesion. If we continue to languish under such detrimental situation, it would not be long before we are unable to safeguard our integrity.
Moreover, the distinctive identities of each community will be diluted sooner rather than later and all of us will be living as Indians following their culture and traditions. It is our indispensable duty to unite together and work collectively to save our plural society before we are caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. Mes-022521/RPF-PRE Page 4 of 4 RPF has its doors always opened to all the communities and ethnic groups of Manipur to join the liberation movement. Many people belonging to different ethnic groups are currently serving as freedom fighters under the banner of RPF and its army wing PLA, and many belonging to diverse communities have laid down their lives as the PLA in the course of the liberation movement. Revolutionary groups and community leaders who believe in a united, plural Manipur have been working together. The contemporary movement is driven by a common goal to deliver dignity to all the people of Manipur and show to the whole world that there is a proud country called Manipur. Differences in terms of language, religion or culture does not count in the new vibrant Manipur nor will there be any situation of forging alliances based on being majority or minority. Each and everyone will be guided by the common doctrine ‘We are one’ and we will discharge our duties for the common good.”
