Mail News Service
Imphal, Sep 24: The President of Revolutionary People’s Front (RP F), Irengbam Chaoren issued a statement on the eve of the 34 th foundation day of its military wing the People’s Liberation Army (P L A). He said, “ following Manipur’s merger in a crucial chapter of history suddenly with Indian Union our forefathers’ war of independence has been transformed into an internal conflict within India, gradually obliterating day by day the more than 2000 year old history of an independent kingdom.
At this juncture sections of the people, who have forgotten their own identity and made dependency their sole source of survival, are trying to keep Manipur a part of Indian Union forever by advocating that Manipur could not join the global race if Manipur falls out of India. On the other hand they have been trying to find a source of living by begging from India and when they could not get any they try to get something by putting the blame on rulers by saying that Manipur is underdeveloped because it is not getting its due share and ultimately they try to project that with the doles Manipur will have meaningful freedom under Indian Union and with these begging bowls Manipur can be a welfare state.
On the other hand, the freedom struggle, which is marching ahead with the firm belief that peace and normalcy could be restored in this society, which is plagued with many troubles and filled with chaos, through negotiated settlement with India is being put aside by projecting it as an internal conflict. In the midst of all these some selfish people are siding with the enemy for personal and family gains and making it their sole duty to fight the revolutionaries. As a result of the spread of dependency culture by these narrow minded and self serving people our masses have become panic stricken and cowards and our society a meek one. Taking advantage of the situation India is playing Manipur in whatever manner it wants as a result of which Manipur has become a land of complete disorder and it would be very difficult to pull together.
In the meantime, After annexing Manipur without the consent of the people India’s treacherous policy of expansionism has not only turned Manipur its market and economic playground but also using it as its fort. New Delhi, which has not created any worthwhile infrastructure in Manipur during its 65 years of independence and has successfully nurtured the culture of dependency is now trying to convert Manipur into a playground of merciless Global Capitalism. Our masses should realize India’s game plan to project that construction of some roads with funds from global investors is the real development of Manipur, where 60 year long militarization suppressed our indigenous people and kept them far away from all the modern day meaningful development benefits.
On one side as a result of Look East Policy and endless competition of capitalism India is trying to win military and other logistic supports from South Eastern Asian countries so as to crush the freedom struggles of Manipur and West Eastern South East Asia, now named India’s North Eastern Region. In addition to this in the name of neo-liberal policy and a new competitive way India has not only overtly and covertly violating human rights by enforcing inhuman laws but also trying to snatch away the indigenous economic system, environment and natural resources.
The agreement signed on July 19, 2010 by India with Jubilent Oil and Gas Private Ltd (JOGPL), headquartered at Netherlands and based at Noida for extraction of oil from Manipur without the knowledge of the people is continuation of India’s coercive rule. The attempt to extract oil from Churachandpur, Jiribam and Tamenglong is a big plot ofIndian government and Global Capitalism to loot natural resources of the people. The extra power given by Indian Constitution under Seventh Schedule to Union government to use freely natural resources found in any part of India is as good as “Drain of Wealth” under colonial rule. India government is challenging the rights of the indigenous people guaranteed by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 by giving false report in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that one sixth of the total geographical area of Manipur does not have any important flora and fauna.
Spineless representatives of Manipur, who have addicted to the culture of dependency could not prevent extraction of oil and preserve valuable wealth of Manipur like oil, which should be used by generations after generations. Our priceless environment and natural wealth could be protected only when the hill and plain take a collective decision by shedding narrow and sectarian outlooks. The strong opposition put up by communities in the hills of Manipur against the attempt to extract oil clandestinely is a right step. We all should join the movement.
The ill-treatment meted to the people of the WESEA in other parts of country in the aftermath of Assam violence has made clearer the relationship of WESEA and India is that of an oppressed colony and colonial masters. On top of this harassment, rape and ill-treatment of women of this region and ignoring of complaints of neglect and ill-treatment of the people are not a new story. This is an extension of political framework of Indian state based on racism. All these things have clearly exposed an Indian political culture, which could not see the region beyond the geo-political and strategic point of view.
The present case will not be the end of racism. Because of this reason it is impossible for the people of this region have a peaceful living in other cities of the country. India is trying to cover up its racism by spreading false propaganda that the exodus of people of the region from other cities recently was caused by rumours and instigation by Pakistan. Moreover, India’s attempt to lend a communal colour to the clash by projecting it as a fight between the indigenous people and Muslims is a part of the game plan against the freedom struggles of the region.
Land lords dominated India’s political class, who have mastered the British imperialism founded the nation-making process on militarism, racism and divide and rule policy and the system is still in practice. As India’s scheme of things did not include the region Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel told Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on November 7, 1950 that “ People of this region could not be trusted because of their Mongoloid like features”. The same treatment is evident in targeting people from the region in other cities and this has strengthened the case for the need of restoring our freedom. We all should remember the directive by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Indian soldiers to flee the region by leaving its people alone during the 1962 Sino-India war.
It is high time for all the revolutionary groups of the region to come together and launch a fresh warfare against the colonial rule. It is because of this reason that various revolutionary groups were successful in forming a united front for a more effective and stronger warfare. In such a crucial time the move by some communal forces to have trust on Indian state was nothing but falling into the traps laid by Colonial Empires. Therefore, now is the time for revolutionary groups entering into the ongoing peace talk to come back and join the struggle for a united fight.
Because, no negotiated agreement made under the framework of Indian Constitution could settle the sovereignty issues of the region. Now scheming India is relentlessly luring revolutionaries by distributing lucrative posts in their political space. In this backdrop all should be very cautious about the recent offer made by MLAs of a state to resign and hand over the reign of governance to one group having peace-talks. The Mizo Accord of 1986 duped revolutionaries by making them members of their political class. However, all the states borne out of peace-accords are now surviving on an economic system founded on grant-in-aid with the status of an economically dependant state.
On one hand, the present movement for “Alternative Arrangement” should not be given support because this could not end the so called oppressions and suppressions being perpetrated against the Nagas. It is not only the Nagas who are reeling under the repressive colonial rule, all the communities residing here are also suffering the same. The only means to end the sufferings is to stand together. If the present puppet rule in Manipur is communal people can collectively dethrone it.
RPF never believes in any communal policy or sectarian activities. Our party has no faith in the policy of fighting communalism with a communalism means. The communal policies of Manipur government should not be fought with Alternative Arrangement. It is equally communal. This will only pull apart the people and widen differences between communities. We all should understand that our enemy is Indian government and its puppet government in Manipur. India and Manipur government are not the enemy of only the Nagas, but also of all the communities.
At the conclusion, I would like to remind all that the need for freedom could be looked beyond the canvass of historical circumstances. The unstoppable journey of the freedom struggle has its faith in finding roots of our history because this can only usher in a society where there exist non-communal, classless people, communal harmony and wellbeing of all the people. The ongoing freedom struggle in Manipur is not for a future founded on the history of well off and powerful people. The masses should realize colonized and oppressed people have the need for living as a free men. It is the responsibility of the revolutionaries to fulfill the aspirations of the masses.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/rpf-chiefs-message-to-people-2/
