One day convention on Manipur – India conflict and its objective

The Indigenous People’s Organisation, Manipur (IPOM) organised a one day People’s Convention on Manipur- India conflict and its objective today at the Jubilee Hall of Imphal College, Kwakeithel Tiddim Road Imphal with Advocate Y Devadutta, President IPOM, Khaidem Mani, Senior Advocate and Former Acting Chairman, Manipur Human Rights Commission, Prof. N Joykumar, Retd. Professor, Dept of History, M. U., Dr. Homen Thangjam, Faculty Member, Pol. Science, IGNTU-RCM, Dr. Khaidem Athouba Meitei, Resident Editor, Hueiyen Lanpao as Functional President, Chief Guest, and Guests of Honour respectively.
Presentation of Lengyan Phee to the dignitaries, lighting the ceremonial candle and welcome address by Chongtham Amarjit Kha Nganba, Executive Member, IPOM was followed by Key Note Address by Rakesh Moirangthem, Secy General, IPOM who elaborated on the formation of an armed revolutionary group and subsequently the Meitei State Committee and Revolutionary Government of Manipur, etc as a consequence of and protesting the infamous Manipur Merger Agreement signed under duress on October 15, 1949 under which the hitherto independent kingdom of Manipur was merged with India.
Retracing the long and chequered history of armed struggle and the rise of intellectuals and academicians with a growing focus on the ideals and principles of Marxism-Leninism and Mao Ze-Dong thoughts influencing the youths in the late 70s to the changing dynamics of the struggle to include addressing social evils like corruption, drugs and human trafficking as well as violence against women in the 1990s which reiterated the importance of social reformation in the armed struggle for independence, Rakesh Moirangthem also highlighted the failure of the mushrooming groups of armed revolutionaries to unite for a common goal despite formation of various platforms such as Revolutionary Joint Committee (RLC), Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF) and Coordinating Committee (CORCOM) and the deteriorating trust and support of the common people and degradation of morale as well as the rise of unscrupulous activities by members of these armed groups compounded by the forced isolation of these groups by the state and central security forces leading to the weakening of the armed struggle movement in the state. Speaking on the resurgence of support and expectations from the common people for the armed revolutionaries after eruption of violence on May 3, 2023, and the growing apprehension of the future of the armed revolutionary movement in the state due to the increasing instances of extortions and other acts of terror by armed miscreants, the keynote address ended with an appeal to the people of the state to put forward their suggestions and ideas on best way to carry forward to struggle for independence by retaining the core principles and adapting the strategies to the changing scenario of the world as well as the state.
The Business Session was followed by Advocate Y Devadutta, president, IOPM as Chairman of the Convention, Khaidem Mani, Senior Advocate as Moderator and Prof. N Joykumar, Retd. Professor, Dept of History, M. U., Dr. Homen Thangjam, Faculty Member, Pol. Science, IGNTU-RCM, Dr. Khaidem Athouba Meitei, Resident Editor, Hueiyen Lanpao as contributors and presenters. Question and answer session, lunch and recommendations of the people were followed by vote of thanks from K Dhanajit, Media Coordinator, IPOM.
Today’s people convention resolved to request both the Central and State Governments to initiate a Political Dialogue with Non-State Actor, to reach an amicable solution that is accepted by all. It was also resolved to form a Peace Commission, in order to put into motion, the first resolution adopted in today’s People’s Convention. And, to entrust IPOM with the task of selecting the members for this Peace Commission.