Manipur News

Mail News Service
Imphal, Feb 24 : RPF President, Irengbam Chaoren’s issued a statement on the eve of the party’s 34th foundation day (Independence Demand Day) . He said , “Manipur can embark on the path of peace and progress and become a healthy nation only when Manipur is independent and free from all kinds of subordination. It is a firm belief of RPF that Manipur can be developed as a progressive, egalitarian country only when it regains its right to self determination. For all these reasons, it is the foremost duty of each and every one of us to abolish the Indian colonial rule and win back the lost sovereignty to establish self rule of our own people.
Our enemies which we must overcome are the vast multitude of the Indian military and the highly sectarian policies and strategies of the Indian political leaders. To defeat the colonial forces, there is no pragmatic option other than armed liberation movement. Now is the time for all our people to join the armed liberation movement. Only when the armed movement is raised to the desired momentum, our oppressed people can effectively counter the nefarious policies and programmes of imperialist India and embark on the path of freedom. For this very reason, the present generation of revolutionaries need to sacrifice more and more effective strategies devise by walking on the truthful tradition of people’s revolution and win confidence of our oppressed mass.
Having realised that it would face harsh international criticisms because of its policy aimed at suppressing the liberation movement of Manipur through brute military force, imperialist India is now pursuing a specific strategy called Civic Action Programme (CAP) which is nothing but another delusionary tactics intended to pull away and keep off the oppressed mass from the revolutionary movement.
Through this tactics, the Indian military has been providing some momentary benefits to a handful of people and some of these beneficiaries have developed a mentality of subservience and an attitude to sycophancy. These sycophants have also imbibed a mindset of abhorrence towards the revolutionary movement.
In the meantime, imperialist India, by employing a number of covert strategies, has been sending in different intoxicating drugs which can ruin our underdeveloped society for generations to come. On account of this drug warfare, many of our youth are living a wretched life, bereft of any meaning or purpose. In spite of this grave situation, even if one knows collaborators of the disastrous conspiracy, one cannot disclose the facts to our public and punish the culprits because they were performing their duty only at the capacity of a colonised people.
Rather than focusing on issues related with development and welfare of the people, the colonial regime is more interested in fanning internecine conflicts and confrontation amongst the indigenous peoples. This sinister disposition of the colonial regime was manifested unmistakeably when it recruited a large number of youth in police, security establishments and VDF in the name of providing employment. It is an undeniable fact t India has been continually churning out one conspiracy after another, all aimed at creating complete chaos and anarchy in Manipur. Everybody was witness to the recent public outcry when IG AR (South) made an abortive attempt to present some youngsters who were lured with the false promise of providing jobs as UG cadres in one of their routine surrender dramas. But in many cases, people who refused to take part in similar surrender dramas were simply eliminated in fake encounters. After convincing some gullible UG cadres of initiating peace talk only to present them as surrenderees, the Indian military and their political masters have been consistently conspiring to lower and corrupt the moral values and conviction of our youth.
Some of our youngsters, thus won over by the evil conspiracy of the Indian military, have been masquerading as revolutionaries and committing all kinds of criminal and anti- social activities transforming themselves as enemies of the mass. This is another covert but no so secret strategy of the Indian military designed to project the revolutionaries in bad light.
On the other hand, there were cases when some revolutionaries who came out valiantly with full conviction to win back the lost sovereignty and save the threatened nation ruined themselves because of certain wrong steps made at unguarded moments.
The recent attempt of the Indian military to glorify themselves by claiming to have achieved a major success after deceiving some pseudo revolutionaries who are content to live a life of bondage in exchange for some short term, insignificant benefits was only a manifestation of the Indian military’s base, unethical tradition.
Over and above, there has been no let up in the schemes designed to create divisions and conflicts among indigenous people of Manipur and destroy the age old boundary of Manipur so that all the people of Manipur can be kept under perpetual colonial rule. Imperialist India has been working relentlessly to divide the people of Manipur on ethnic lines notwithstanding the fact that all these people have been living together in peace and harmony for more than 2000 years. All our people will perish without any hope of redemption if we continue to let ourselves fall prey to the devilish conspiracies of the colonial regime which are intended to create complete chaos, anarchy and mayhem in Manipur.
Here, we would like to appeal to all our people of all communities to introspect whether we would have faced the present grim situation had Manipur evolved into a full fledged modern state in the form of an independent country. There are so many countries in the world which are peaceful and progressive, and where different communities co-exist in complete harmony. Or is it a case of our indigenous communities not knowing how to live together? If we look back to our history we will certainly realise that the present situation of distrust and animosity amongst the indigenous communities was created within the short period after annexation of Manipur by India. Before this, all the indigenous communities of Manipur were living together in harmony for centuries.
Presently, one group is demanding alternative arrangement and another is seeking a separate state on the ground that the puppet Government of Manipur is communal. Though these demands are communal, it demands threadbare discussion without any preconceived notions. Either it is alternative arrangement or separate state, all of them entail protection of ethnic identity, representation in administration, access to resources and mode of land ownership.
Protection of ethnic identity, mode and scale of representation in governance, scale of accessibility to resources and mode of land ownership which are fundamental causes of different conflicts, are at present, determined by the colonial Indian law and system. It would be manifestation of immaturity and lack of political wisdom if we must confront each other because we are not satisfied with the colonial system. Our intellectuals, scholars and civil society leaders need to look beyond the colonial law and system. No satisfactory answer can be found to the many questions pertaining to fears, apprehensions and aspirations of our indigenous communities within the Indian colonial law and system. Nonetheless, all the questions can be answered satisfactorily if they are examined beyond the colonial law and system with a long term vision.
However, all of us are at present bound by the archaic Indian law and system. It would be futile to work for a new, vibrant socio-politico-economic system as long as Manipur remains a colony of India. It is here the question of winning freedom for all our indigenous communities becomes paramount. Starting from today when we are waging a legitimate war of liberation, we need to have a socio-politico-economic vision of our own which must be acceptable to all indigenous communities. If we can envision a collective, common future, the present wars of liberation being waged separately by different groups would certainly come together. By that time, it would not be much difficult to defeat imperialist India.
Manipur at present is full of misery. Because of flawed education system, our people are not in a position to generate any healthy idea which can promote our value system. Rather than creating a productive base of our own, more and more people have given themselves to glitz and pleasure-seeking. In tandem with the shrinking avenue for employment, the pool of unemployed people has been expanding alarmingly. While many of your youngsters have been scratching for livelihood, many others have been seeking solace in intoxicating drugs. Many of our youngsters have ceased to stop exercising their faculty of reasoning and they have incapacitated themselves to judge what is wrong and what is right. Everyday there are news and reports of the most dreaded and abhorring incidents as if there is neither social order nor any social guardian.
In the meantime, outsiders have been invading Manipur incessantly by not only immigrating into Manipur but also by marrying our women. Moreover, our language, tradition, culture, religious practices, dance and music and social discipline are being distorted and diluted thereby posing a serious threat to our identity. At the same time, the level of corruption has reached an alarming level and this has robbed work culture off the vast majority of our people besides degrading the moral values of our socio-cultural system.
At this juncture, like in the past when some influential leaders, nobles and bureaucrats shouted and lobbied for integration of Manipur with India in the dream of a developed and prosperous Manipur, some people have started shouting for identification of Meiteis as tribes. It is advisable to ponder on the proposal in the interest of future generations for the same proposal entails obliterating our real identity for the sake of getting some benefits from the Government of India. The present conflicts and confrontations for sharing resources as witnessed in Manipur is a result of Manipur being a colony of external power. While we are scrambling for the resources/fund doled out by the colonial master, the fraternal bond shared by the indigenous communities is disappearing day by day. We would be able to co- exist together without any difference and at the same socio-politico-economic status in peace and harmony only when Manipur regains its sovereignty and there is self rule of our own people.
We must remember that UN General Assembly on December 14, 1969 took a resolution known as “Declaration of granting of independence to the colonial countries and people” which openly endorsed all liberation struggles. I, on behalf of RPF, would like to appeal once again to all our indigenous brothers and sisters to shoulder our historic responsibilities towards freeing ourselves and our future generations from the clutch of imperialist India and its meaningless democracy, and towards establishment of self rule of our own people for a free, progressive and egalitarian society.”

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rpf-chiefs-statement-on-foundation-day/

Imphal Feb 23 UNA : The Locality Area Protection and Preservation Committee (LAPPC) today demanded that the state government should discuss the state land issue, to preserve the state valley Agricultural area and to review the state MLR Act1958.
This was stated by Locality Area Protection and Preservation Committee, Convener, M Churamani Singh while briefing media person in a press conference held at Chingmeirong Sangakpham NEROKA office.
Speaking to the media person he said, as per records in the year 2009, the agriculture land was about 4.6 lahks sq km, however due to day to day increase of the human population in valley areas as well hill peoples settle in the valley areas and increasing of private industries and factories in the valley areas which cause in affecting the agricultural production of the state.
He further said since year’s back Manipur is depending on various foods items from outside the state, from 4.6 lakhs acre of Manipur agricultural land the state is managing somehow and further the state agriculture department also taking up several schemes for crops double and triple cropping in the state Manipur with new method of cropping.
However, the present MLR Act has affected the state land policy, instead of saving the agricultural land and it also affected the state integrity between the hill and valley people, due to its say “people of the valley can’t settle in hill areas, but hill people’s can settle in valley” and so this MLR act is also need to review by the state government added the convener.
The committee also urged the state government not to acquire agriculture land for construction of state development office or industries in the agricultural land, instead to construct at mole hills or in place where not used for agriculture.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/lappc-demands-to-safeguard-agricultural-land/

IMPHAL, Feb 24 NNN: The ‘homeland’ demand of the Kuki people was strongly echoed today during the 26th Raising Day of the Kuki National Organisation (KNO), one of the two umbrella organisations of the various Kuki militant outfits. The other umbrella body is the UPF.
The Raising Day was held at Mata Lambulane near Churachandpur district headquarters.
ZRA foreign secretary H.Calvin was the chief guest in today’s occasion, United People’s Front (UPF) spokesman L. Sanga was the guest of honour and Kuki Inpi, Manipur president Thangsei Haokip was the function president.
The programme included showcasing of cultural dances from different troupes of the Kom, Hmar , Paite , Zou , Thadou , Khoibu, Maring , Gangte and Chothe.
In his presidential speech, KNO president PS Haokip recalled on February 24, 1988, KNO was formed at Molnoi Kuki village near the Indo-Burma border to restore Zale’n-gam, the Kuki nation to its state of former glory when self-rule prevailed among our people.
“On this auspicious day, I also extend salutations to all the departed souls, who sacrificed their lives for the Kuki nation. Today, they may not be with us in person, but their memories will remain a living memory to the Kuki people,” PS Haokip said.
“From the time I took on the onerous responsibility of leading KNO, it has been my desire to personally meet each and every one of you and express my gratitude. It is also my aspiration to interact with you and enlist your goodwill to work together to govern ourselves in order to preserve, secure and develop Zale’n-gam, our ancestral land given to us by the Almighty. I sincerely mean this because we all need to co-operate to revive Zale’n-gam its former state of glory.
“With a view to restoring Zale’n-gam to its historical glory, the help of every clan and sub-clan is solicited. For example, in 1992, the late Pu SNG Haokip invited representatives to engage in sharing and discussing Kuki nationalism and the ideology of KNO in Churachandpur so that we may achieve self-determination for our people,” the KNO chief recollected.
“Similarly, in 1994 KNO took the initiative to welcome our ‘Old Kuki’ brethren in Chandel, who left NSCN (IM) to return to their roots. Similarly, the same people who were with NSCN (K) have also been enlightened and have started to return to the Kuki fold. United Minorities Liberation Army and Pakan Revolutionary Army are living examples. This is the blessing of God upon our people who made sincere efforts to build and strengthen Kuki unity. Our forefathers were blessed by the Almighty even when they did not know Him. Today, with our faith in Him, I believe our people will receive showers of blessing!
“Zale’n-gam: The Kuki Nation was published 1998 to communicate my vision for the Kuki people as it was not possible to deliver it to you in person. Every ‘tribe’ of Zale’n-gam from A–Z is listed in the publication. In alphabetical order come under ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ in Manipur, which includes Aimol, Anal, Baite, Chiru, Changsen, Chongloi, Chothe, Doungel, Gangte, Guite, Haokip, Hangshing, Hmar, Kipgen, Kharan,Khoibu, Koirao, Koireng, Kom, Lamkang, Lhungdim,Lunkim, Lupheng, Lupho, Mate, Maring, Mayon, Misao, Mongmi, Monsang, Ngon, Paite, PurumRalte, Simte, Sukte, Tarao, Thadou, Thangal, Thangeo, Tuboi, Vaiphei and Zou,” PS Haokip went on to say in his presidential speech.
He then stated that efforts have been made to write-up on each of the tribes. On some they are lengthy, but on some less lengthy. “I request more information on any of the tribes so that they can be included in the next edition, especially those tribes or sub-clans, which may not feature in the last edition. The book also relates our unified stand to preserve our territorial integrity against the British colonialists in the Kuki Rising, 1917-1919,” he added.
“By God’s grace today the Kuki people are represented in KNO. In August 2005, KNO and the Indian army signed Suspension of Operation, when KNF (MC) and KNF (Z) joined the KNO umbrella. By 2006, the armed wing of KNO grew to include i) Kuki National Army, ii) Kuki National Front (Military Council), iii) Kuki National Front (Zogam), iv) United Socialist Revolutionary Army, v) Zou Defence Volunteer, vi) Zomi Revolutionary Front, vii) United Komrem Revolutionary Army, viii) Hmar National Army and ix) Kuki Liberation Army. In a ground-breaking development, the United Old Kuki Liberation Army (Khoipu and Maring) and Pakan Revolutionary Army joined KNO, respectively in December 2007 and 2008. In 2010, Kuki Revolutionary Army, Kuki National Front (S) and another Kuki Liberation Army led by L Timothy Kuki joined KNO, raising the umbrella organisation’s strength to a formidable 15. Following these developments, Kuki Unity Celebration was held on 30 October 2010 at Molnom Community Hall. The media team covered the entire programme, which was telecast and published in the newspapers. The Manipur Express interviewed me during which crucial aims and objectives of the organisations were discussed.
“The KNO website, kukination.net (link zale’n-gam.org) was launched in 2006. In 1999, Kuki was represented for the first time in the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations at Geneva, Switzerland,” PS Haokip stated.
“On August 9, 2006, KNO and its armed wing, represented by Dr Seilen Haokip and myself, signed the Deed of Commitment to Ban Anti-Personnel Landmines with Geneva Call at Geneva. KNO is the 31st organization to sign this important agreement from amongst other organisation all over the world. KNO memorandums were also submitted to UN General Secretary and the India and Burma Missions at Geneva,” PS Haokip revealed.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kno-raising-day-held/