IT News
Imphal, Nov 23:
Proscribed group United National Liberation Front, MANIPUR (UNLF) is all set to observed its 56th Anniversary tomorrow the 24th of November.
In connection with the 56th Anniversary observance , the Central Committee of the armed revolutionary group greets the people of the region and presented the statement of 2020.
Produced below is the statement of the outfit’s central committee:
Introduction
During the 56 years of national liberation struggle to restore the sovereignty and independence of Manipur, the UNLF would like to keep on record honestly that crucial situations were successfully overcome only because of the sympathy and support of our compatriots. The UNLF is profoundly grateful to our people. In future also, we sincerely believe that we will be able to tide over even more difficult situations with the strength and courage instilled by the love and support of our great people. This belief has encouraged us to place some fundamental issues of our revolutionary struggle and the prevailing national and social conditions as well.
Revolutionary Line of UNLF:
Every revolutionary struggle, including national liberation struggle, should be guided by a revolutionary line. The UNLF has long ago made public its revolutionary line. However, we have realized that there has been a communication gap about the revolutionary struggle with the new generations born between then and now. In order to bridge the gap we once again place the revolutionary line of the UNLF for public scrutiny whether it is still valid in the prevailing conditions of our nation and society.
In the 71 years of Manipur under India’s colonial occupation and the existence of remnants of feudal society, the revolutionary line of the UNLF is, first, to conduct a “National People’s Democratic Revolution” for restoring the Sovereignty and Independence of Manipur,
establish a People’s Democracy and free our entire people from the oppressive and exploitative relations of colonial rule and the outdated remnants of feudal society (that is to implement a democratic programme). This is the fundamental stand of the UNLF. The specific conditions of our society, particularly the distinct difference between the feudalism in our society and the feudalism in other societies (in Manipur’s tenancy rule the peasant tills the land with his own equipment and other inputs but pay only one fifth of the produce to the landowner which makes the class contradiction between the landowners and the peasants less antagonistic than elsewhere in other societies) and the backward stage of our economy in capital formation which is the reason for the blurred class contradictions in our society. Taking all these factors into account, the UNLF believes that there is distinct possibility of moving directly towards the path of socialist transformation bypassing the stage of capitalist development. Basing on this belief the People’s Democracy, to be established on completely new foundations, will implement a democratic programme to consolidate both internal and external conditions. Thereafter, the revolution shall proceed to the second stage, that is, Socialist Transformation. This is the main direction of our revolutionary line.
Therefore, the line that our revolutionary struggle shall of necessity pass through two distinctly different, but inseparable stages, is determined by the objective reality of our national and social conditions. In the first stage, the “National People’s Democratic Revolution” shall be completed, and in the second stage Socialist Revolution shall be launched. The objective of the first stage is to restore Manipur’s sovereignty and independence from India’s colonial occupation, and establish a truly People’s Democracy (not the kind of ‘democracy’ under Indian occupation). The objective of the second stage is to achieve the goal of socialist transformation in accordance with the specific conditions of our society and build a society of coexistence and collective development.
A point needs to be emphasized here – Democracy is not possible without Socialism, and Socialism cannot sustain without Democracy. This is a fundamental issue of our ideology. The point is Democracy and Socialism are inseparable two sides of our revolution where one is not complete without the other. Democracy is the system of governance while socialism is the socio-economic formation which the government shall build. The UNLF is of the view that despite some quantitative changes (emergence of several cottage and small enterprises) no qualitative change have taken place as Manipur remains under colonial occupation till today. Therefore, The UNLF Central Committee holds that the revolutionary line of the UNLF is still generally correct.
Why Socialism?
When the Soviet Union (USSR), one of the two super powers then, disintegrated in December 1991, those who are diametrically opposed to socialism in their euphoria claimed that it was the defeat of socialism and that ‘socialism is dead’. The fact, however, is that the causes for the disintegration was primarily the internal contradictions, particularly the national contradictions among the Soviet Republics; the emergence of the Communist Party bureaucracy as a powerful and most privileged class who enjoyed all the good things of the
Soviet State but despised by the peasantry and the working class as a result of which the Soviet Communist Party’s character of being a communist party degenerated considerably; the relatively weaker strength of Soviet Socialism compared to the powerful capitalist block in the world; without taking all these factors into considerations ‘Perestroika’, that is restructuring, of the socialist economy into a ‘market economy’ and the introduction of ‘multi-party system’ and also the loosening of Communist Party control of the Soviet State Power for maintaining ‘transparency’ (Glasnost) ultimately led to complete loss of control of state power; mistakes of the leadership in formulating policies; the accumulated effected of these factors ultimately led to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. In other words, the mistake of introducing Perestroika and Glasnost simultaneously at a time when the Soviet economy was in a state of acute crisis and the widespread grievances of the working peoples against the Communist Party, ultimately led to the explosion of the internal contradictions. However, this does not mean that the capitalist block did not play a big role in bringing about the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
On the other hand, in China, two years after the death of Chairman Mao Zedong in 1976, when the “50 Years Socialist Modernization” was launched, the first step China took was to attract international investment taking into account China’s specific conditions and its backward condition in global economy introduced the ‘socialist market economy’. This programme catapulted China’s economy with GDP shooting up to 20% within 20 years and became the fastest growing economy in the world. In China, however, the chaos that pulled down the Soviet Union did not happen. The main reason was that the ‘economic reforms’ were carried out while keeping the State Power under the tight control of the Chinese Communist Party. That China has acquired the strength of Economic Super Power has been displayed by achieving the fastest economic recovery from the onslaught of the Covid 19 Pandemic. China is also the first country to overcome Covid 19 in a disciplined manner and to return to normal life. Other countries, including India, are still at a loss in tackling the Covid 19 pandemic and its shattering effect on their economies. In a few years’ time, China’s economy is set to overtake that of the US and become the largest economy in the world. By then, China will have achieved the goal of “50 Years’ Socialist Modernization” and become a Super Power in all aspects.
Whereas, ever since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, capitalist economies have not performed any better in solving socio-economic issues, rather they have multiplied. The increasing gap in income and wealth between the owners of the means of production and those who do not own them is one glaring example. In the US, 99% of social wealth is owned by 1% of the population, whereas 99% of the population are subjected to share the remaining 1%. Moreover, the unemployment rate in the US has shot up to 10.02% today. Actually the problems in the US and other capitalist countries are the inevitable result of the inherent contradictions of capitalism. That these contradictions will sharpen is an objective law of contradiction. Therefore, the theory that ‘Capitalism, when it has reached its highest stage of development, will automatically transform into socialism’ is baseless and as such an attempt to mislead the exploited classes. Therefore, our peasants and working peoples should not allow themselves to be influenced by this untenable ideology.
Therefore, since the attainment of Socialism being the correct course of development of human society is taken to be the logical corollary of the dialectics of social development, the UNLF also has all along reposed firm belief in Democracy and Socialism.
71 Years of Colonial Repression:
On 21 September 1949, King Bodh Chandra was coerced to sign the “Manipur Merger Agreement”, which is unacceptable and null and void, and thereafter the ‘Dominion of India’ forcibly annexed Manipur on 15 October 1949. This has remained an unforgettable historical episode in every heart of our people. From that day, the entire people of Manipur has been subjected to lead a life of colonial subjugation. Our people have relentlessly resisted the repression, exploitation, military oppressions and gross violations of human rights intended to intimidate our people into submission. Some effects of Indian colonial occupation:
’” India’s Captive Market and dependent existence;
’” Massive influx of foreigners from and through India threatening the very existence of Indigenous peoples;
’” Policy of Indianisation and assimilation undermining our distinct national identity;
’” Indian Constitution disrupting the age-old relationship of oneness among our fraternal indigenous communities by imposing artificial divisions (such as SC, ST, OBC, etc.) that is inconducive to our society, culture and the spirit of coexistence.
’” India’s ‘multi-party parliamentary democracy’ creating animosities, conflicts, and bloodsheds by fragmenting our communities, all in the name of democracy;
’” Corruption (particularly political corruption) exported by India’s politico-economic system weakening our national character.
Along with the above stated negative impacts of Indian colonial rule, our people are facing the unprecedented effects of Covid 19 pandemic and Drugs epidemic
Captive Market of India:
During the 71 years as India’s colony Manipur has been made a Captive Market. That is Manipur has been turned into a market where Indian products, particularly products of their capitalist industries, are sold compulsively. This has made our life dependent on India for all our essential commodities. Therefore, even the ‘annual budgetary support’ dished out by India are all ploughed back to India. Besides, 95% of the huge amounts of money (deposits) collected by Indian Banks and non-banking financial institutions operating in Manipur are also pulled out for investing elsewhere in India. Investment from such deposits for development activities in Manipur does not even reach 5%. In this regard, these banks and financial institutions have not informed the people of Manipur till today. Though the depositors are paid their due interests, the pulling out of the principal amounts is a distinct phenomenon of colonial exploitation of our people. Not only this, even the income from agricultural products are all drained out in buying commodities exported from India. As
such, the state of Manipur’s economy till today is like “pouring water in a hollow pipe”. This is the condition which has all along suppressed Manipur from accumulating its own ‘capital’. Today, however, a powerful factor that is eroding India’s colonial grip has emerged in Manipur. In our market lots of commodities from the east, particularly from China, which is popular for competitive price and quality as well, has almost eased out Indian products for the last 15 years. But Chinese products are not in the Border Trade list between Manipur and Myanmar. So they are smuggled through the porous land border and sold openly in the markets of Manipur and neighbouring States. The availability of products much cheaper than Indian goods in our market is an advantage for our people in making a choice between foreign products. This is the beginning of our market being liberated from the stranglehold of India’s colonial grip. This competition in the market generates the idea among our people that our economy can be liberated from the ‘captive market’ syndrome and survive on our own. Besides, our people is questioning why Chinese products are available much cheaper than Indian items. This is an expression of aspiring to become free and independent. However, we are still dependent on India for daily essential commodities. It is only natural, therefore, for our people to become conscious about this ‘dependency’ and look for liberation. Only a matter of time.
Influx of Foreigners:
After three years of its establishment in 1964, that is in 1967, the UNLF formed a Political Review Committee to start its first political campaign in Manipur. The campaign launched a new movement to arouse patriotism among the people, particularly targeting students and youth. Public awareness meetings were conducted in localities and villages. In many places Public Address systems were used to spread the message for such meetings. In those meetings the historical existence of Manipur as a sovereign and independent country and the possible scenario after the forcible annexation by India in 1949 were discussed and concluded that the sovereign independence of Manipur has to be regained.
The UNLF untiringly spread the message to caution our people about the distinct possibility of our small country being swamped by the overflowing population from India compounded by the huge influx of Bangladeshis through India. The Tripuris of Tripura was the first to face the tragedy of ‘becoming foreigner in own country’ when India and Pakistan was partitioned on religious ground in August 1947. Huge influx of Hindu Bengalis from the then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) into Tripura reduced the originally 70% Tripuris to a mere 30% in just about one month. The UNLF again and again informed our people the tragic story of Tripuris being reduced to a small minority in their own country. The same phenomenon is repeating in Assam today. The total population of all the indigenous peoples of Assam has been outnumbered by foreigners from Bangladesh and India. Manipur is also facing the same situation today. That Manipur will also meet the same fate of Tripura if Manipur remains an Indian colony is the theme UNLF has all along cautioned our people for the last 50 years. Today the influx of foreigners into Manipur has crossed 8 lakh in the small country having a small population less than 3 million. The number of foreigners has surpassed the total population of the ethnic communities who have settled in Manipur hills for a long time. In some years the population of foreigners will overtake that of the Meiteis also who
enjoy a thin majority as of now. Then, those of us boasting to be the indigenous peoples will be swamped by foreigners. This is happening and is going to happen right in front of our eyes. Now the big question is – Are we, knowingly, going to abandon our future generations being drowned by the huge influx of foreigners?
A pertinent question here is the racist attitude and policy of India in regard to influx of foreigners in Manipur and other States of WESEA now under Indian occupation. The original inhabitants in WESEA are yellow skinned, snub-nosed, slit-eyed, and average height belonging to Mongoloid race. As such, India has all along pursued a policy of implanting settlements of Indian origin non-Mongoloid peoples in this region. One glaring example is India did not take any effective step to identify and deport illegal migrants from Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan). Whatever steps India may have taken ultimately turned out to be eyewash. The demographic subjugation caused by the huge influx of foreigners with the tacit encouragement of India government was in fact imagined by our scholars about three hundred years ago. In one of their books called Matamgi Khonglei Puya they predicted that “Eastern Gate will be opened, Western Gate will be closed” (“Nongpok Thong Haanggani, Nomgchup Thong Longani”). They also predicted that the railway line being laid from Jiribam to Imphal will also be the route for the foreigners to flee (Tongjei Maril da Meetop Meeyancha sing Chenkhigani). This riddle needs to be interpreted in the context of the present situation so that our younger generations are oriented towards the eventuality. However, nothing can be achieved without the actual hard work of national liberation struggle. As a logical conclusion, the UNLF took the decision 56 years ago that our independence should be regained and for that purpose a national liberation struggle should be launched in order to save the indigenous peoples from being swamped by migrant foreigners.
Therefore, on this occasion, the UNLF reaffirms its commitment to the “National People’s Democratic Revolution” as the only path to resolve the Irreconcilable National Contradiction caused by the forcible annexation of Manipur by India in 1949. This principled stand has been the Guiding Principle at the present stage of our liberation struggle. The UNLF Central Committee reaffirm this Principled Stand.
Indianisation vs Our National Identity:
In the early years of 18th century, King Pamheiba after converting to Hinduism, abandoning Sanamahi Laining, declared that Hinduism shall be the State religion and also renamed our country as ‘Manipur’. This anti thesis, the beginning of the creation of a Hindu base in our society, caused a crisis of identity among our people. This internal weakness of our society has provided a big advantage in effecting the policy of Indianisation.
The thrust of Indianisation is to instill in our people the sense of being ‘Indian’, that is ‘Bharat-basi’, and to this end to strengthen and expand the Hindu base on the basis of Indian philosophy and culture. In this regard, policy makers in Delhi see the Meitei community, who converted to Hinduism in the 18th century, to be the base for Indianisation. But the headache for India is that almost all the hill peoples in WESEA have become
Christians. The situation has compelled India to pursue a two-pronged approach for Indianisation. This means a separate policy for targeting Hindu Meiteis in the valley and another policy to target Christian population in the Hill areas, and also to use the two conveniently for the purpose of ‘divide and rule’.
Indianisation is working at two levels – one at India government policy level and the other at the level of Hindu organisations. The thrust of India government policy, as mentioned above, is to instill the sense of being ‘Indian’ on the basis of Indian philosophy and culture. India government has all along followed a policy to promote Hindi by imposing Hindi as a compulsory subject up to Class VIII. Another area where Hindi is being imposed is in the Administrative Structure, e.g. Gram Sabha, Pradhan, Zila Parishad, Adhakshya, Kendra, etc. Whereas in the Hill Districts English terms and terminologies are still used, e.g. Autonomous District Council, Councilor, Village Headman, etc. The terms and names used by Indian political parties and organisations, particularly Hindu organisations, e.g. Mandal, Mahila Mandal, Yuva Morcha, Kissan Morcha, Seba Dal, etc. and other Hindi vocabularies being used in daily activities have creeped into our Manipuri language giving it an Indianised orientation. Some other symbols of Indianisation are wearing of traditional Indian attires by men, import of ‘Bindi’ and ‘sindur’ culture used by married Indian women, just to mention some. An ugly form of Indianisation is the transformation of our traditional ‘Awunpot’, a gift from parents to their daughter on marriage day, into ‘Dowry’, a traditional practice in India to demand by the groom’s family from the bride’s family as a condition for the marriage. The distorted practice has severely undermined our rich social values. It is very imperative that ‘Awunpot’ should be saved from the onslaught of ‘Dowry’. Though Art and Culture is an important area working for the purpose of Indianisation, education is the area where maximum effort is being given because students are considered the best bet for the project. How the New Education, Policy vis-à-vis Manipur and the region, unfolds the Indianisation content remains to be seen.
The most effective tool being used in the widespread promotion of Indianisation is the electronic media, particularly Satellite TV Channels transmitting Hindi films and Hindi Serials. The influence of this cultural onslaught from the sky is something to be worried about. Today quite a big number of men and women have been deeply influenced by Indian social and cultural values, and they themselves in turn have become committed promoters.
Meanwhile, South Korea TV Channel ‘Arirang’ suddenly became popular in Manipur not only among the younger generations but middle-aged peoples as well. This eastern wind was so strong that the impact of Indianisation among the young generations has been significantly neutralized. At one time, this was something never thought of. However, there is something to be seriously pondered. Despite its de-Indianisation effect, the swing from Bollywood to Kollywood, if not restrained, may face the danger of losing our cultural roots. Therefore, our youth belonging to all ethnic communities, should seriously think about the responsibility they should take, as the future pillars of our nation, in protecting their respective culture and identity.
The aforesaid conditions bring forth two important questions. First, in order to confront deliberate policies of Indianisation, the original stand should be reaffirmed and reinvented.
There is imperative necessity of taking up new plans to protect our national and social identities. Second, culture being a trend of conscious human activities cannot be stopped even by a Chinese Wall. Therefore, the foremost task is to preserve and develop our distinct identity. When our foundation is strong, no harm can be caused by absorbing compatible elements of rich cultures of the world. At the same time, if we can promote our distinctive cultural values to other countries of the world, our cultural values will be enhanced. Thus, we need to dig out the roots of our distinct identity and protect the cultural values and identity to be always associated with our nation. And these values need to be made relevant with our existence today.
Therefore, the UNLF believes that specific plans and policies are required to protect our distinct national identity from the slow process of Indianisation.
Erosion of Our Unity:
It was when the Constituent Assembly of India was busy drafting the Indian Constitution that Manipur was forcibly annexed by India in 1949. So there was no representative from Manipur in the Constituent Assembly. As such, no provision giving recognition and protection to the ethnic communities settled in the hills and the valley, the brotherly affection among them, relation of interdependent existence and their distinct identities, was provided in the Indian Constitution. In fact, it should not be expected because the region was never a part of India. Therefore, all the policies and programs of India government taken up in Manipur after annexation, did everything to undermine our national unity and integrity. Some examples – social divisions as are provided in the Indian constitution, which were non-existent in our society, such as Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes, have created caste/ethnic antagonisms as a result of ‘quota’ quarrels. These contradictions have caused frequent tensions/conflicts among the ethnic communities. So long as these contradictions created by the constitution of India sustains, in other words, unless and until all the ethnic communities are not united to change the situation, it is not possible to march towards wholesome collective existence which only can secure our survival.
India’s Multi-Party Democracy vs Manipur’s Integrity:
India is said to be ‘the largest democracy in the world’. It’s democratic structure is multi party parliamentary democracy guided by the principles of ‘liberal democracy’ and the economic structure was initially ‘mixed economy’ based on the concept of ‘democratic socialism’. That is, Private (capitalist) Sector and Public (Socialist) Sector (PSUs owned by India government) were allowed to co-exist, though the latest trend is heavily tilted in favour of private sector. Because PSUs, except a few, cannot perform because of frequent political interference and heavy corruption. A number of them have been privatized while some have closed shop. Later, when the US led ‘globalization’ (rather capitalist
globalization) imposed ‘reforms’ of neo liberalism (to integrate developing economies with international capital by imposing ‘reforms’ to remove all restrictions so as to facilitate international capital to earn super profit) India also had to begin ‘reforms’ in the last decade of the 20th century. Today the process of ‘reforms’ have more or less been completed and Indian economy is now fully integrated with capitalist global economy. As a corollary to the economic integration, Indian foreign policy is also shifting from ‘non alignment’ to ‘alignment’ with the US. Another compelling reason is the simmering tension, which may become open conflict any time, with China on the old issue of boundary and territory (Aksai Chin, Arunachal, etc).
The negative impact of India’s ‘multi-party democracy’ on Manipur – small, colonial, thinly populated – in the last 70 years needs to be analysed and understood together by all the ethnic communities so that collective measures could be taken. Otherwise, this Indian ‘democracy’ which is not democracy for us, is undermining our country’s unity, and the corruption it has exported eating into the very vitals of our body polity is neutralizing our national character and the spirit of oneness, will ultimately bring the complete downfall of our society. We would like to share some of our views with our compatriots.
The biggest threat on our unity under India’s colonial dispensation is the so-called ‘festival of democracy’, that is their ‘election’ and how it is conducted. In a small country like Manipur having more than 30 different ethnic communities has its own logic in the elections under multi-party system. The various candidates of several political parties, not excluding independent candidates, resort to cheap propaganda causing animosities which severely undermine intra-community or/and inter-community harmony. A very sensitive area is ST/SC/OBC, etc. reservation issues which is the source of frequent squabbling particularly during election campaigns. All these election campaign activities, sanctioned by the multi-party system of India, dangerously affect our unity and integrity. Whereas, what is essential for us is to strengthen the spirit of oneness and unity, and build our united strength. However, on the contrary, Indian ‘democracy’ fragments our society by encouraging the people to demand their ‘rights’. The India sponsored elections being held in Manipur has fragmented the society at all levels thereby obstructing the growth of united strength. Therefore, that India’s ‘multi-party parliamentary system is not suitable to the prevailing conditions of Manipur and other States of WESEA is amply proved by related happenings.
Therefore, the UNLF would like to take our people in confidence that building a People’s Democracy by abolishing India’s system, which is destroying the vital roots of our society, is a primary task of our national liberation struggle.
Erosion of Our National Character:
We also need to discuss the erosion of our national character by the Indian system being imposed in Manipur. In 1972, Manipur was ‘granted’ the ‘statehood’ of India 25 years after forcible annexation, while Manipur has all along been an independent country. The main reason for this move was the surfacing, in 1968, of the secret activities for a liberation struggle that began in 1964. Another factor was the powerful youth movement against the
colonial rule and its joining hands with the movement for ‘statehood’ ultimately becoming a widespread public movement. The pent-up emotions and grievances of the Manipuri people was witnessed by Indira Gandhi herself when her election rally at Imphal Polo Ground was disrupted by stone throwing students and youth in 1969. To pacify the surging public emotions by giving ‘statehood’ to Manipur on the one hand and to pump in huge amount of money to suppress the nascent liberation movement was India’s strategy. The political middle class that began to emerge with ‘statehood’ has now become an important part of the new middle class. On the other hand, India’s capitalist industry also began to groom an economic middle class to make them sell their commodities as ‘captive market’. This class has also become a powerful part of the new middle class. But the two being dependent on India’s system cannot see the noose tightening on our neck. As such they, as a collective, become the source of the idea, devoid of national character, that dependence on India is vital for our survival. These two groups of the new middle class are two inseparable sides of India’s system. The economic middle class help the political middle class in the gamble for state power, and in return the political class extends all help to the economic class in expanding their business. But the emerging trend is politically oriented individuals of the economic class having political connections fight elections and become MLA/Minister, and there are examples of individuals without financial clout but having political connections becoming MLA/Minister. This is a phenomenon of individuals acquiring both political and economic power and become super powerful in the society. This phenomenon brings forth a reality that ‘in a class society the State belongs to the ruling class and that the state serves the interests of the ruling class.’ Meaning, when capitalist and powerful middle class are the ruling classes, the state machinery including the Judiciary, are used, rather abused, to further their personal interests. This is the situation prevailing in Manipur also. In such a socio-economic-political situation it is only natural that the exploited and oppressed classes in their struggle for existence cannot think about national character and his self-respect. This is why they sell their ‘votes’ in the Indian sponsored elections, which has no relevance with their existence, and remain as mere ‘spectator’ of the ruling class ‘festival’. Therefore, the UNLF reassures our people that the classes who are ‘mere spectators’ today will be one of the ruling classes in a Peoples Democracy. It is pertinent here to expose an inherent contradiction of India’s ‘parliamentary democracy’ and its prop the capitalist economy. Elections of ‘people’s representatives’ to the State Assembly and the parliament are boasted as the ‘festival of democracy’. True, India’s ‘elections’ are festivals of throwing away of cash, boozing and womanizing and festivities. But the big question is – What is the source of the money? Obviously it is Black Money which constitutes 90% and remaining 10% is the amount candidates declare in their nomination papers. The next question is – How Black Money is generated. After attaining power MLA/Ministers need to raise funds for the next elections. This objective law of ‘elections’ compel the MLA/Ministers to source the fund from big infrastructure projects, the main source of money. This fund is supplemented from resources like appointments, transfers and postings, etc. This practice has become an accepted culture of the system. Therefore, the conclusion that the manner of conducting elections is the fountainhead of corruption is a reality which cannot be challenged. Today India’s elections generate Super Corruption, and corruption in turn feeds the system. It is this vicious circle which spins the working peoples. A dangerous aspect of election
corruption is distribution of money which has become an election ‘culture’. Giving and taking of money in election campaigns has turned elections as markets for selling and buying of ‘vote’. This trading of votes dangerously neutralizes the national character of the individuals involved in this ‘vote market’. A society peopled by individuals without national character is akin to a spineless person, and such a nation is like a living dead. However, this phenomenon itself is creating favourable conditions for building the struggle for existence. That is, as opposed to the neutralizing pressures of the Indian system, a new awakening for collective survival is taking shape. This new awakening will produce the real strength of our revolutionary struggle. Meaning that the colonial rule itself will produce the factors that will overthrow the colonial dispensation itself. This is an objective law of liberation.
India’s Internal Contradictions:
Today’s ‘New India’ is claimed to be a world power by the ruling dispensation. But looking from a distance India seems to be a power. However, on looking closer, it is revealed that internally India is at the lowest ebb of its existence. First, right after BJP/RSS came to power in Delhi they began to work on their Hindu agenda which activated long dormant internal contradictions one after another. On the issue of ‘Beef eater and beef seller’ they have killed a number of Muslims in market places and even at homes thereby reopening the age-old Hindu-Muslim religious-communal contradiction; attempt to impose Hindi language in the Dravidian South invited a massive opposition from Tamil Nadu giving a shot to Tamil nationalism; the ban imposed on Kannada festival Jalikatti aroused a massive backlash of Kannada nationalism; all these contradictions have the potential to acquire the dimension of a regional contradiction between Aryan North and Dravidian South; all these are factors indicative of the internal political divisions in India today.
However, the factor that will weaken India in the long term is BJP/RSS attempt in West Bengal to wrest power from the Trinamul Congress based in areas dominated by non Bengalis resulted in confrontation between the two forces leaving many people dead. The confrontation gave rise to Bengali nationalism. That Bengalis are ideologically highly conscious people and patriotic nationalist to the core. Bengali nationalism will not confine in West Bengal only. It will cross border into Bangladesh which was once a part (East Bengal) in the undivided Bengal during British rule, and in today’s situation Bengali dominated Barak Valley in Assam cannot be ruled out. In such a scenario, the break-up of India into several parts, which has never been a united country in history, may result from the movement for a united and independent Bengal. Because right now also the ruling party in West Bengal wants to change the name West Bengal to ‘Bangla’ (India government has not endorsed the idea). The disintegration of Soviet Union, a super power then, by the combined impact of internal contradictions was something nobody imagined. Therefore, the UNLF also believes in the distinct possibility that the combined impact of historical contradictions will disintegrate India, which was never a united country.
Another internal weakness of India is the looming crisis of leadership. It is generally believed that Narendra Modi is the ‘most dynamic leader’. True he has qualities of head and heart
others do not possess. But his weakest trait is the excessive centralization, not in sync with parliamentary democracy. Now it has reached such a situation that nothing happens without Modi, which goes against the parliamentary systems ‘PM is first among equals’. His Cabinet Ministers now have lost initiative and motivation. Thus Modi have become the weakest link in the BJP leadership. No successor has visibly emerged in case something happens to Modi. The situation is even more serious in the Opposition Parties. The Congress is in disarray because of the crisis of leadership at all levels. Thus, in the coming ten years India is going to face an unprecedented crisis of leadership. This weakness cannot be overcome by ‘Agni’ ballistic missiles and ‘Gaganyaans’.
Over and above the internal political contradictions, Indian economy badly thrashed Demonitisation and GST is again whipped by Covid 19 pandemic, may collapse any time. The forecast for 2020-2021 GDP is (-) 9.6% which is going to hit the poor sections hardest and the number of starvation deaths will rise. If the economic slowdown persists there is every likelihood of India government facing people’s uprising. Therefore, India may look like a world power but internally is a fragmented country is the scenario observable to UNLF. The reason for placing the matter to our compatriots is to apprise that the strength of India our liberation struggle is confronting is not the ‘world power’ India but the Indian Occupation Forces sent to suppress our struggle by the India bogged down internal weaknesses.
The World and Our Environment:
Today’s relationship among the countries of the world is very complex and complicated, difficult to identify allies and enemies as well. In today’s multi-polar world, among the three pillars US, China and Russia, the lone super power US is now declining though it is still ahead of others. Regarding world economy, in some years China will overtake the US to become the largest economy of the world. By that time, China also will have become a super power. India will remain a distant fifth.
Today there is no place in the world where China’s economic power has not penetrated. Even the US is meeting budget deficit with USD 2 Trillion from China’s purchase of US government Security Bonds. In our environment, China is making huge investments in infrastructure and economic projects for its Belt and Road Initiative in South Asia and Southeast Asia. China’s investment has penetrated even in Nepal, India’s one time ‘special sphere of influence’. Bhutan is not far away. China’s penetration in Nepal and Bhutan will have far reaching significance in the region’s geopolitics. How India responds to this new scenario in the longer term is yet to be seen. For India, even the ‘Look East-Act East’ has not gained momentum for various reasons. The ‘Act East’ policy has encouraged people of our region, particularly of Manipur, to orient towards the east and veered away from Delhi, Mumbai, etc. to Yangon, Bangkok and Singapore in Southeast Asia. How far Delhi is agreeable to this orientation? Or is it something they did not think at all? To us it is the beginning of ‘Opening of the Eastern Gate’ as was predicted in the Puya ‘Course of Time’.
Today one place in the world where Chinese investment is blocked is Manipur and other States of WESEA. Even Chinese tourists are not given visa to enter this region. Besides, Chinese goods are no longer allowed to enter the market here. Unable to compete Chinese investments, countries including India are wrongly informing their people that China’s unprecedented investments is ‘economic colonialism’. But China is pursuing their Global Strategic goal of Belt and Road Initiative. Now some countries initially reluctant to join the BRI have now jumped in the Chinese bandwagon, in their own interest. India has opted out of it, in its own interest.
Finding a small pathway for our struggle to regain sovereignty and independence, amidst the myriad of contradictions between big countries, is itself a complex process.
Covid 19 Pandemic:
The one thing in 2020 which affected the entire world is Covid 19 pandemic. The US has blamed China as the origin of the virus whereas China has fingered the US for planting virus in China. Whatever the truth, the fact is that while the virus spread fast in Europe, US, India and elsewhere in the world and took its toll, China in a short time controlled the virus and became the first to declare unlocking and returned to normalcy. The reason for the success is correct strategy and strict and disciplined implementation. China is also among the first to begin human trial of the vaccine.
In Manipur, wrong priorities in strategy allowed the virus to reach community transmission. Because of this strategic mistake, the rate of daily spread reached above 200 positive and 4 dead. Even then the total has just crossed 20,000 positive and 200 dead (most of the dead had other health problems and aged ones). This casualty, if compared to the Cholera epidemic in the 1930s is insignificant. Though the actual number of dead is not known, the dreaded epidemic at that time many families were wiped out leaving none cremation. It was an unprecedented sight to see dead bodies lying inside and the courtyard of households. Compared to this epidemic, Covid 19 is just a normal virus. This is not to mean that precaution and care should be neglected against Covid 19. But one thing is sure that an air of panic and fear have been spread in the minds of our people. Tracing the reason for creating an alarming situation the UNLF is inclined to believe that it was done to divert the public mind from the crisis situation of the Indian economy. Another reason is the fear of the virus will push people to go for testing. As much as the number of testing increases, the business also flourishes. And it makes it all the more easier to siphon off money from the Covid 19 Fund.
However, in the sphere of social responsibility Covid 19 is a boon in disguise. The virus has re-instilled the traditional community spirit of sharing well and woes in our society. This is really reassuring. Bringing down whatever is available in the hills to the valley and reciprocating from the valley to the hills as well is something that instantly strikes emotions. The spontaneity of response shows the hidden spirit of coexistence and that we can survive
together. Another phenomenon is the mushrooming of small alternative markets in various
localities is also a positive development. However, the most important work in the struggle for existence is food production. In this regard the UNLF appeals to the entire people of Manipur to integrate the slogan of “Essential Self Reliance in Food” (Chinjakta Mipan Taangdaba) which the UNLF launched a few decades ago, with that of “Coexistence and Codevelopment” into a movement for collective survival.
With the hope for the future, we cannot forget those who fought Covid 19 from the front. We are all praise for our doctors, nurses and all others who took it as a social responsibility. We salute them all. We also mourn the loss of doctors and nurses who sacrificed their lives in fighting the virus and share the pain with their families.
Drugs Epidemic:
The trafficking and abuse of Drugs in Manipur began some 40 years ago. It may be some thirty years that it spread like an epidemic. The fact that it spread everywhere and killed thousands in the world, it deserves to be tackled as a pandemic. Since then, the kind of drugs smuggled into Manipur are Heroin No. 4, Brown Sugar, WY Tablets, etc. But it is Heroin No.4 that affected almost wiped out two generations of our youth. We fought the Drugs epidemic as a community. The revolutionary organisations provided the teeth in the fight against drugs. And it produced positive results. That was when the source of drugs was the notorious Golden Triangle.
Today, Brown Sugar is processed right in the heart of the valley in Manipur. Heroin No.4 is in the line of production. And OPIUM from which Heroin No.4 and Brown Sugar are processed is not far to bring. Because Poppy, from which Opium is harvested, is cultivated in almost 65% of our hill areas. This is turning our Manipur an ocean of drugs and will drown our youth, the future pillars of Manipur. Considering the serious and widespread devastation of our young human resources drugs have caused, Covid 19 pales into insignificance.
Therefore, the UNLF call upon the entire communities of Manipur and all concerned that it is time to fight the last battle in the War Against Drugs to save our future. The UNLF also appeal to drug traffickers, peddlers, and all those engaged in Poppy cultivation to withdraw from these activities and become partners in saving and protecting our precious young generations from the Drugs Epidemic. Let us hold our future together.
Conclusion:
The UNLF has from time to time informed our people that our liberation struggle against India will be of necessity long drawn out, passing down from generation to generation. The basic reason for this strategic necessity is the complexities in building the united strength of all the ethnic communities of Manipur and the simple fact of fighting against a big country like India. In this struggle, several thousands of revolutionary fighters have made the supreme sacrifice, thousands more have been killed in ‘fake encounters’, and unknown numbers remain untraced. The sacrifice of these brave hearts is guiding light for us today. We will march towards final victory following their footprints.
Revolutionary Message:
On the occasion of the 56th Anniversary of the United National Liberation Front, the UNLF Central Committee extends revolutionary greetings to all and once again pledge our solidarity for the common cause.
1. Our warm revolutionary greetings to all the indigenous peoples of Manipur and other States of WESEA. We would like to reach out the message of unity, build our collective strength to realise our independence, respect for one another’s distinct identity for coexistence and codevelopment and for a brave and prosperous common future. Happiness to all!
2. We extend our hearty revolutionary greetings and salute to all the revolutionary leaders, cadres and soldiers of all fraternal revolutionary Parties of Manipur fighting for sovereignty and independence of Manipur, as well as to other fraternal revolutionary Parties of WESEA and also reiterate the stand for a united struggle.
3. We also greet the brave people of Kashmir in their struggle for national self- determination. Their resilience and unity is a great inspiration to our struggle. Victory to the people of Kashmir!
Last but not the least, the UNLF Central Committee offer the highest respect and revolutionary salute to all the Late Founder Leaders and also to the leaders, all the cadres and fighters who have made the supreme sacrifice. We renew our pledge to march towards the revolutionary goal. May their soul rest in peace!
“Victory to our People!”
”Long Live, UNLF!”
Kangla, CENTRAL COMMITTEE 24 November 2020 United National Liberation Front : Manipur
