IMPHAL, Feb 24: The invitation of Indian government to the revolutionary groups for holding peace talks is not about sovereignty of Manipur but it is for consolidating integrity of India at the cost of Manipur`™s sovereignty, stated the president of proscribed RPF, Irengbam Chaoren, in a message given to the people of Manipur on the occasion of its Independence Demand Day.
The message of the RPF president said, `The observance of February 25, the foundation day of the Revolutionary People`™s Front (RPF), as Independence Demand Day together with our beloved people, would go a long way in exposing the harsh reality of colonial exploitation being endured by our people and the wretched life we are leading, and this would also successfully narrate the very character and goal of the ongoing armed movement. The Day is a very important day for the party because it is an occasion to re-evaluate the past activities of the party and rectify our own mistakes so as to consolidate and carry forward the revolutionary movement. It is also an opportunity for the party to re-dedicate ourselves to the cause of the people. On the occasion of this highly significant day, I would like to highlight certain points in the backdrop of the changes happening in Manipur and across the world, and their impacts on our people.`
`The last few years were very perilous period for revolutionary organisations of Manipur and the entire region. During this period, many revolutionary leaders and dedicated members were either arrested or killed. Some other revolutionary cadres surrendered to the enemy. In addition, activities of pseudo revolutionaries caused serious impacts on the revolutionary movement, and they were used by the enemy against the revolutionary movement, thereby seriously disturbing the relationship between the people and revolutionary organisations. All these factors proved severe impediments to the revolutionary movement. Yet, despite all these impediments, the revolutionary movement has taken firm roots as a result of the sheer determination and relentless struggle of the revolutionary groups of Manipur`, it said.
The message further said, `RPF firmly believes that the colonial rule of India can be overthrown only through armed struggle. We did not arrive at this resolution because we are war-mongers or we cannot find another means. We are fully aware that the strength of the colonial rule lies in its multitude of armed forces equipped with the most sophisticated weapons. To defeat the Indian armed forces is the fundamental task of the revolutionary movement. Then, it is only logical to take up arms in order to engage the Indian armed forces successfully. In fact, the armed movement is the only plausible way to regain the sovereignty of Manipur. Revolutionary groups which have full faith in the armed campaign will ultimately take the movement to its intended stage and carry forward the same campaign to the highest level one day or another. At that point of time, India would not have the resources or wits to keep the revolutionary movement away from international glare. Under such circumstances, India would be compelled to seek ways and means to resolve the conflict in front of the international community. That would be the first and final encounter for resolving the Indo-Manipur conflict.`
`Away from this route, the recent initiative of the Government of India for dialogue and oft-repeated preaching for peace is only a part of their deceptive strategy aimed at suppressing the revolutionary movement. Their invitation to the revolutionary groups for dialogue is not about sovereignty of the nation (Manipur). Rather, it is for consolidating integrity of India at the cost of Manipur`™s sovereignty. Putting faith in such invitation or going forward for dialogue as a new policy of the liberation movement would be tantamount to sealing off our own routes. We, all are witness to many revolutionary groups of the region which have been trapped by India`™s dialogue process. Shrewd and well versed in such matters they may be but many of the revolutionary groups have been caught in damp squib with no ways to turn back from the illusionary dialogue process. For all these reasons, RPF would like to appeal once again to all revolutionary groups who are on the path to initiating dialogue with India to retract their steps and re-focus on strengthening the revolutionary movement and fight the Indian regime collectively`, the message of RPF stated.
`Since the day Manipur was annexed by India, our people have been living a wretched life, without any dignity or security. The daily happenings of killings, violence, atrocities, illegal detention, random killings with superficial allegations, forced disappearance of arrested persons etc are all the fruits of being a colony of India. On the other side, prolonged mass movements undertaken through years have reaffirmed the fact that our people are a beleaguered, repressed lot. All these movements and events are clear testimony that there have been conflicts and incompatibility between India and Manipur from the very beginning. It`™s time all of us join hands and wage mass movements in order to uproot the Indian colonial rule from Manipur, which is the root cause of the existing conflict, to herald a new age of prosperity and peace`, it said.
`The so called administration that we see today in Manipur is nothing but Indian colonial rule. It would be out of place to say that our people living under the colonial rule are free people. Holding elections and electing representatives for ruling Manipur under a semblance of democracy is a cunning way of imposing Indian democracy in Manipur. It cannot be a valid ground to claim Manipur is a part of India by coercing people to observe national voters`™ day in Manipur like the Indians did. To build up our strength so that we can determine our own political future is a justified and inescapable responsibility for all of us. It is our duty to liberate Manipur and her people who are now living under the dark shadow of Indian democracy`, the message mentioned.
`At present, Indian armed forces are using all kinds of baits under different stratagems to pull our people in their line. In the name of promoting healthy relationship with the public, the Indian armed forces have been engaging themselves in different activities ranging from distribution of television sets to clubs/local organisations to sponsoring excursion tours for students and women organisations. Such activities are all hogwash and we need to be very watchful of such activities. Some self-centred people are openly supporting such activities of the Indian armed forces and they are cooperating with the alien forces, unmindful of its merits and demerits. Here we should not miss the fact such activities of the Indian armed forces which are apparently benevolent and charitable are a ploy to cover up the inhuman excesses committed by them against our own people. Putting faith in their activities and accepting them as our friends, and joining them in their activities for some benefits would not bring anything positive for the society except creating hatred and animosity amongst ourselves. For all these possible consequences, RPF would like to appeal to all our compatriots to stay away from the Indian armed forces and their activities`.
`Community/ethnicity based movements and their diverse demands guided by parochial outlooks being witnessed in Manipur are all the handiwork of imperialist India`™s decades old conspiracy. Community/ethnicity based movements have resulted in divisions and conflicts of different degrees and types pulling the different communities apart from each other. Now, the situation has come to such a pass that Manipur as a whole has been caught in a serious turmoil and this situation is causing a serious drawback to the liberation movement of Manipur`.
`On one side, different organisations have been negotiating with the Government of India just to secure their communal aspirations. What is questionable at this moment is, whether some short term benefits doled out by India can guarantee welfare and dignified life to any community for posterity. Viewed from this perspective, as many SoO may be signed and as many rounds of negotiation may be held, it is hard to expect any long term benefit for any community from such engagements with the colonial rulers. Rather, such engagements are only abetting India to continue their colonial rule over all indigenous people of Manipur. At such a crucial period, it is imperative for all of us to remove the wedges being driven by India`™s colonial rule cloaked in democracy, and unite together for a unified Manipur`.
`Over the years, Manipur has become a land whose resources cannot meet its requirements. It has become a land with plenty of shortages. What is more worrying is the inability of Manipur to develop its resource bases according to increasing demands which has necessitated import of all essential goods from beyond the borders of Manipur. Though it is a historical fact that Manipur was self-sustaining on its own resources, it is now a harsh reality that Manipur has degenerated to such a sorry state that many people cannot think about Manipur`™s survival without assistance from beyond its borders in almost all sectors. With whatever developments works, whether be it in the fields of education, or health care or transport infrastructure, evolving into profit making business solely for the executing agencies, and coupled with the abnormal inflation rate, the impoverished peasants and daily wage earners are facing untold miseries`.
`On the other hand, wealthy Mayang businessmen, capitalising on the existing situation, have been scheming to monopolise of all our economic activities with a motive to take control of all our sources of livelihood. Not only that, they have been bringing hordes and hordes of their men to fully control the labour market of Manipur. Against such a grim scenario, the puppet rulers of Manipur and their cohorts have been safeguarding the non-Manipuris in exchange for their personal aggrandisement. In the name of law and order, the puppet Government and their agents have been utilising all their resources to safeguard the non-Manipuris with a view to receive some blessings from their masters sitting at New Delhi. This has only encouraged non-Manipuris to expand their settlement in Manipur. This has opened a route for non-Manipuris to intensify their influx into Manipur. For the sake of our future generations, we must take up necessary actions collectively and persuade the existing non-Manipuris to leave Manipur, along with prohibiting new influx`, the message mentioned.
`Last but not the least, I would like to admit that we have to face for some more time the woes and difficulties resulting from the revolutionary movement or arising as a by-product from the movement. These difficulties and plight would be ameliorated by itself as the revolutionary movement progresses and ultimately all these troubles would disappear. However, as it would be impossible to take the revolutionary movement forward without people`™s support and cooperation, all the revolutionary groups and the people need to work together by way of extending full support to each other and rectifying mistakes together on the path to victory. RPF respects and duly notes the people`™s wishes and aspirations as well as the proposals put forward by different organisations for building up collective strength. RPF will take due responsibility towards fulfilling these aspirations and proposals`, the president`™s message averred.
