Month: February 2015

IMPHAL, February 24: If there is any shortage of money in providing health care to the people, Andro assembly constituency MLA Thounaojam Shyamkumar said, he would even share his local area development fund to save their lives.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the 24X7 Yairipok Yambem Public Health Centre in Andro. He further said that as an elected representative of the Andro people, he has the responsibility to provide good health care, education etc. The Local Area Development fund is not only meant for development but can also be used in the health sector too, he said.

Assuring the medical staffs of the Yambem PHC 24X7 that the local meira paibis would take care of their security every day, he appealed them to feel at home at the PHC because five local women from several villages will be deployed for providing them security on a daily basis.

He has also urged the Health minister, Health director and the State government to make the Keithel Manbi PHC and Maoirangpurel PHSC fully functional 27X7 in the interest of the people.

He said the present Health director is the right person for the post of the NHRM mission director because no other directors of the past were as perfect as the current director. Under the leadership of Dr Ibomcha, the entire State has been provided with equal medical facilities.

Under the watch of Dr Ibomcha, the State has an infant mortal rate which is lesser than most of the other states in India. There was a time when infant mortality was quite common in every village but now it has seen a drop as Primary health centres are set up everywhere, Shyamkumar said.

Speaking as the president at the inaugural function, the State`™s health director Dr Okram Ibomcha said under the health directorate, there are 86 PHCs which are yet to be completed and 421 functional PHCs.

The time of delivering a baby is the most dangerous period in the life of a woman, so let`™s stop the culture of home delivering babies at home, he appealed, adding that the State government has plans to remove the grievances of people by making the PHCs fully functional 24X& with delivery facilities across the State. The Moirangpurel PHSC will soon be upgraded to a PHC and the Keithelmanbi PHC will also be soon upgraded to a 24X7 functioning PHC, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/shyamkumar-proposes-to-spend-lad-fund-on-providing-health-care-to-people/

IMPHAL, February 24: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has sent a reminder to the Chief Minister of Manipur demanding changes of terminologies and further issues of redefinition, replacement of clauses in the draft bill, the Manipur regulation of visitors and tenants bill, 2015.

In a statement issued by S Rajendrakumar, secretary to convenor, pointed out that the JCILPS submitted important proposals on February 14 for the ILP bill during the ensuing Assembly session demanding an important legislation of Protection of the indigenous Peoples of Manipur and necessary legislation to the effect.

It revealed that during the meeting held on February 14 with the Chief Minister and the representatives of the JCILPS, the contents of the Government proposed draft bill were disclosed to the representatives however it completely bypassed the aspiration of the people of Manipur.

Subsequently, as a representative of the movements for the interest of the indigenous people the committee recommended certain modifications in the draft bill of the Manipur Regulation of Visitors and Tenants Bill, 2015, it said.

Further elaborating on their modification, the committee reportedly pointed out that in the title of the Bill, the word `Visitors`™ was vague and innocuous, rather demanded a suitable terminology `Non-indigenous` or `Non-Manipuri` or `Migrants` in lieu of `Visitors`.

It put forwards that the passing of the bill in the proposed draft would legitimize the presence of people who had earlier resided in Manipur since 1949, and demanded a cut-off base year 1951 as an unavoidable component in the proposed legislation in order to mitigate demographic and socio-economic imbalance developing in the multi-ethnic population of Manipur.

Observing that a clear objective in the bill for protection of the indigenous peoples of Manipur and its land from demographic marginalisation must be mentioned in the Bill, it held that the objective should be `the necessity to protect the Minorities, distinct ethnic Manipuris who deserves their rightful preservation such as social, cultural, economic and political practices`, etc.

It continued that in the reminder the committee also asked the Chief Minister that the indigenous people in the context of Manipur be inserted in the bill as the ethnic communities who had been born in the state along with those who had merged into the population through kingship and through sharing of its socio-economic, cultural and multi-ethnic civilisation of the state.

In the meantime, it further demanded inclusion explicit legislations like a permit or a pass for migrants as regards to their purpose, whereabouts and validity etc of their presence.

It also said that a cut-off of base year of 1951 to all people participating and creating of demographic influx into the state besides prohibiting land ownership rights to all non-indigenous people and necessary procedure be included in the preparation of the bill proposed.

Further narrowing down to the menace of migrant influx, it urged that a full fledged labour department which has outreach in all the district of Manipur be strengthened in operational matters for registration and regulation of inter-state migrant labourers, and its necessary rules be framed.

At the same, demanded the inclusion mechanism for detection and deporation of illegal migrants or other non-indigenous people, in the proposed bill.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/jcilps-demands-change-of-terminologies-and-more-in-the-draft-bill/

IMPHAL, February 24: Villages which have been traditionally engaged in sericulture farming are targeted to be projected as model villages of sericulture by providing maximum help from the Sericulture department, stated the department`™s director, Waikhom Ibohal.

He was talking to the media at the sidelines of the inaugural function of the five-day training programme for beneficiaries under the North Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme 2014-15, organised by the Imphal East District Sericulture Officer at Heingang Ibudhou Laiharaopham Community hall.

Before the training programme, the director told media persons that the State was one of the most favourable States for starting Sericulture projects in India, adding that sericulture farming has been practiced by our ancestors as a traditional activity. He expressed that during his tenure, villages like Khurkhul, Andro, Pheiyeng and Thongjao which have been engaged in sericulture farming since time immemorial are targeted of being developed into model villages of Sericulture.

Secondly, the Sericulture project recently taken up under the North-Eastern Region Textile Promotion Scheme, 2014-15 must be successfully groomed to start bi-volatile cocoon production. The farmers should also co-operate with the department to make the project successful so that sericulture is revived in the State, he said.

Stressing that highlighting the potential of Sericulture in our State to the people of Manipur was his first priority, he said Mother Nature has gifted Manipur a soil which is conducive for sericulture farming of four varieties of silk such as Muga, Mulbbary, Eri and Oak Tasar with a quality which is very different from other Indian States.

In the second phase of the Manipur Sericulture Project after Japan stopped funding the NERTPS 2014-15, the four districts of Imphal East, Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur have been ordered to take up training programmes for selected farmers.

In this regard, the training programme was a continuation from the ones at Thoubal, Bishnupur and Imphal West. Today, 150 selected farmers from Imphal East district participated in the programme which will go on for five days.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/sericulture-dept-to-project-villages-engaged-in-sericulture-farming-into-model-villages/

IMPHAL, February 24: The All Manipur Working Journalists`™ Union (AMWJU) has clarified that it does not endorse the current boycott of all Ministers and ruling MLAs of the State Government and the `Charter of Demands`™ put up by some editors as it only deals with non-journalistic agendas.

A special general body meeting was held at the Manipur Press Club, presided by AMWJU`™s President, with the boycott matter as one of the main agenda.

After threadbare deliberations, the meeting resolved that the current impasse between an officer of IPR and some editors, triggered by an incident in the office room of IPR`™s APO as an avoidable incident and appeals to both sides to end the deadlock at the earliest.

Making its stance clear over the deadlock, it resolved not to endorse the current boycott of all Ministers and ruling MLAs of the State Government and the `Charter of Demands`™ put up by some editors as it only deals with non-journalistic agendas.

Condemning the repeated life attempt made on Khoirom Loyalakpa, Editor, Naharolgi Thoudang, in the strongest terms, the AMWJU demanded the Government to provide security to the editor until the State Police ascertains the identities of the assailants and solve the case.

At the same time, it also warned that the government will be held responsibility if any untoward incident happens to the editor.

The AMWJU also further appealed to all eligible members who are still not enrolled in the Manipur Working Journalist Pension Scheme to enrol before the end of March 2015 so that they can enjoy the benefits of the scheme.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/demands-put-up-by-some-editors-nonjournalistic-resolves-amwju-gb-meeting/

IMPHAL, February 24: The students` union of the Indira Gandhi National Tribal University-Regional Campus Manipur (IGNTU-RCM) took out a protest rally today from its campus to the Manipur Legislative Assembly demanding that the government must fulfil its charter of demands.

The president of the students`™ union, K Bowang Kho stated that the union has urged the government to appoint a full-time director of the University, adding that the State government has backed off from its assurance that it will provide adequate staffs in the university. Even though the demands were genuine and need-based, the government still has failed to address the issue, he said.

In today`s protest, the student body demanded the government to repair the approach road leading to Makan village from the NH-2 and to provide water supply facilities and electricity in the said village. Stating the reason for taking out the rally, the student leader said the current IGNTU-RCM campus located at Adimjati Shiksha Ashram, Chingmeirong is a temporary one and the permanent campus of the IGNTU-RCM is located at Makan village near Kangpokpi in Senapati district.

Before taking out the protest rally, the students`™ body lambasted the three tribal legislators of the State on the ground that they should be leading the charge in getting the issues addressed but are instead taking a huge interest in proposed Sangai University, which is yet to be materialised. In a written statement, the students`™ body said that it was a matter of deep regret to find the so-called tribal legislators who are supposed to spearhead the issues and welfare of the tribal people are least interested in issues concerning the tribals, adding that a case in point was the participation of tribal legislators like Dr Chaltonlien Amo, chairman of Hill Areas Committee, Dr Alexandra Pao and Samuel Risom who as members of the committee to set-up the Sangai University, are taking an active interest in the money minting project of the State government.

It further continued that the State government and tribal minsters who are taking a keen interest in setting up a private university should instead concentrate on developing the existing central university which will cost little time and money.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/igntu-students-union-demonstrated-protest-rally/

IMPHAL, February 24: Irom Chanu Sharmila has been selected for `Sthree Shakti Award`™ instituted by KA Kunjila Smaraka Sthree Trust, Cochin for her extraordinary courage and determination in continuing her hunger strike for 15 year years, demanding the repeal of Armed Forces (Special) Powers Act, 1958, stated managing trustee and the director FIAT JUSTICIA Adv ML George today at a press meet at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal.

According to ML George, the trust has already offered the award to five individuals from Kerala at different points of time since 2007. It is the sixth such award given by the trust and the first time it is being given away from the State of Kerala.

He said when Sharmila was approached for handing over the award; she gave it in writing that she would accept the award formally only after `achieving her goal`™.

Sharmila was approached for offering the award which carries Rs 25,000 in cash yesterday in her judicial custody at the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Porompat.

He said the award is instituted in the name of KA Kunjila, a freedom fighter and a khadi activist who was also the founder secretary of `Nattika Desiya Mahila Samajam`™.

The cash prize is drawn from the pension amount saved by the freedom fighter, added ML George.

He expressed that there was no hassles in getting permission from the concerned authorities in meeting Irom Sharmila for more than half an hour.

The press conference was also attended by trustees of the Just Peace Foundation and Executive director, Human Rights Alert Babloo Loitongbam.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/sharmila-to-formally-accept-award-only-after-afspa-repeal/

IMPHAL, February 24: A book titled, `Emergence of Manipur as a Nation State (from Prehistory to Mid Eighteen Century) authored by Prof N Joykumar Singh, Department of history, Manipur University, Canchipur and published by Akansa, New Delhi, was released today at Lainingthou Eshing Chaiba Mandap, Khwai Nagamapal Paonam Leikai, Imphal.

Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh, Minister, Work and Transport attended the function as chief guest, Prof P Nabachandra Singh, former Head, Manipuri Department and Director, College Development Council, Manipur University attended as guest of honour and Sapam Bheigya, president, Manipur Historical Society, presided the function.

Dr N Birchandra Singh, Department of History, Lilong Haoreibi College, Lilong and Prof MC Arun, Department of Anthropology, Manipur University, Canchipur gave critical exposition of the book written by Prof N Joykumar Singh.

Introducing the book, Prof N Joykumar Singh shared that his basic objective in writing the book was to show Manipur attained the status of nation-state in a particular time in history. Thus, the work deals with analysis of Manipur`™s timeline in history since the prehistoric times to the eighteenth century.

Dr N Birchandra Singh, Department of History, Lilong Haoreibi College, Lilong remarked that there are seven chapters in the book which deals with different facets of the Manipuri society in different historical epochs.

His work is based on the analysis of puyas, the ancient manuscripts of Manipur. But he follows a scientific method and logically makes comparison between contemporary theoretical insights and the facts gathered in the puyas.

However, one also comes across grey areas in the work and the author leaves it to the readers in the form of questions. This difficulty emanates largely on account of puyas not being scientific works per se.

What is new about Oja Joykumar`™s work is the assertion that prehistoric time of Manipur was largely influenced by the Indic civilization. Another noteworthy feature about the book is the way how Oja Joykumar has handled a sensitive issue like the proto history of Manipur. Overall, the book develops a coherent narrative on the unity and integrity of Manipur. He believes that the work would be useful for future scholars.

Prof MC Arun, gave a critical insight of the book. According to Prof Arun, the book gives a horizontal dimension of the emergence of a nation state in the eighteen century. Vertically looking, most of the books written by Oja Joykumar is associated with movement. But the current book views the history not from a time-line period. One gets the feeling that the book has been written in a retrospective manner.

One way of looking at nation state is from the spirit of the people, or from the angle of ethnicity from a primordial perspective. And the other way is looking at state as a result of the formation of communities in different historical and circumstances.

Oja Joykumar gives a geographical and archaeological detail of Manipur as other experts have viewed. His argument is that different communities make states at different times under special circumstances.

Therefore, he does not give a detail account of peopling in Manipur. He gives an interesting account of how people in the process of interaction, say between the aromatic rice consumers and fermented food consumers but eaters of common rice (non-aromatic), results in formation of state.

Meetei state formation dates back to the 33 AD as the author opines but what is also noteworthy is the analysis of the dynastic rules which was devoid of popular works.

Extension of such people-centric works started only during the reign of Khagemba. Analysis of the Garibniwas in the book is also equally fascinating. The portrayal of Garibniwas as the agency responsible expansion of the territory of Manipur as well as `the act of segregation` needed to rule different ethnos is fascinating.

This period serves as the defining period for the rise and consolidation of Meetei identity in a powerful way. Here we observe a political equation i.e. the emergence of nation state or a state society. The state was at the same time liberated from the dynastic rule and the evolution of a sovereign and creation of a national myth and symbol, say in the name of Govindajee.

His narrative explodes in the seventh chapter, and crowns his work as the exposition on nation state finds a wonderful climax.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/book-release-emergence-of-manipur-as-a-nation-state/

IMPHAL, February 24: Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro has declared the formation of a high level enquiry committee to look into the issues of CBSE institutes in the State.

Speaking at a press conference held today at SSA office, Babupara the Education Minister further stated that students whose admit cards were denied by CBSE authority cannot be intervene by the state government for this year batch as it is already very late.

Neither the institutes nor the students came up with this issue when there was time, but now the State government cannot do anything on the verge of the exam, he maintained.

Students whose admit cards were denied have to give the exam in the coming year, he added.

The Minister further said that an enquiry committee will investigate the matter thoroughly and after getting all the reports of all the unregistered schools and colleges; strict action will be taken up.

He said that strict actions will be taken up against MM Higher Secondary, Wangkhei and Little Rose Higher Secondary School, Canchipur for admitting fake students in their institutes.

The Minister informed that a cabinet meeting held on March 5, 2011 had resolved to permit only two institutes in every district to provide no objection certificate (NOC); however this norm is not being followed by the institutes in the State.

As of now Imphal East District has already 17 CBSE institutes and the rest are yet to be known which the enquiry committee will investigate into at the earliest, he said.

Establishing too many institutes for the sake of business is one bottleneck to bring quality education in the state, he maintained and added that the number of candidates appearing for X and XII is also degrading year after year which is a great concern for the state.

Education Secretary H Dilip speaking at conference informed that a committee has been formed to monitor the upcoming CBSE examination with one supervisor in all the 25 centres across the State.

The press conference was also attended by Education Secretary H Dilip, CoHSEM Chairman W Authur, Board Secretary Ch Sarat and Council Secretary Kh Sarangjit Education and Joint Secretary Abdul Salam.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/enquiry-committee-to-look-into-cbse-issue-students-rescue-unlikely/

IMPHAL, Feb 24: The Revolutionary Peoples`™ Front, president, Irengbam Chaoren, sent out a greeting and revolutionary message on the eve of the organisation`™s 36th year of `Independence Demand Day`™.

`At the very outset I would like to convey my deepest regards to all the people of Manipur subjugated by the colonial rule`, the rebel chief said in his lengthy message.

The message said one anxious question in everybody`™s mind is `when would we achieve our independence` saying this anxiety itself is a testimony of the fact that Manipuri people are suffering under colonial rule.

He said `our continuous engagement with the question of Manipur`™s sovereignty testifies that freedom is dearest to our people. At the same time, the colonial rule has been conspiring to exploit this common anxiety to their advantage. In tandem with the economic growth of India, our natural resources, lakes, mountains and forests are being robbed away right in front of our eyes.`

The message adds that `in the process, a comprador class has been gaining strength out of economic packages, research projects, schemes and infrastructure development projects doled out by the colonial masters.`

It said that the colonial rule has been working overtime to demoralize and suppress the revolutionary movement. `The question of freedom of all those nations which were left out of the decolonization process in the aftermath of the Second World War is still very much alive. In fact, the questions of sovereignty for Northern Ireland, Basque, Zapatista, Aceh, Kashmir, Assam, Manipur and many other nations are becoming graver day by day` it added.

It further said `political transformation brought about by the Second World War across the planet presents a very difficult and complicated existential crisis to all those nations who are still struggling for independence. Disintegration of the Soviet Union in the early 1990`™s paved way for capitalism and capitalist interests to infiltrate into every sphere of man`™s life throughout the world.`

The message said: `infiltration by capitalist interests produced serious impacts on liberation movements in different geographical locations of the planet. In addition to the classical understanding of colonialism, a new variant called Neo-liberalism where the wealthy capitalist class supersedes the society and the masses started infesting the nations which are already reeling under colonial rule.`

The message further explains that the `situation is quite similar to 18th century Europe where all the factories, mills and means of production were controlled by a wealthy few. In addition to physical occupation through military forces, colonial regimes are being sustained through international banks, financial institutions and corporate bodies. It is now a reality.`

`International Financial Institutions (IFIs) have started invading Western South East Asia (WESEA) including Manipur. Of the total money invested by Asian Development Bank (ADB) in India during 1986-2011, 34.64 per cent was in energy sector. Transport and Telecommunications made up 30.89 per cent. Maximum share of ADB`™s investment in WESEA (North East) goes to energy and transport. This is a matter of serious concern. Maximum investment in energy and transport sectors in a region where there is little or no industrial productivity is an undeniable manifestation of the Government of India`™s ploy to exploit the resources of WESEA for a protracted period in collusion with developed countries. As concomitant impacts of this ploy, more and more hill areas of Manipur are being militarized and numerous colonies of Indian immigrants are being planted at the project sites and elsewhere,` it added.

It said `countries which have had experience of colonialism often took the form and character of their colonial masters after achieving independence, for instance India. Manipur, Tripura, Kashmir and many other nations which regained sovereignty after the departure of British colonial rulers were forcibly annexed by India. After the forced annexation in 1949, Manipur was fast transformed into a dependent economy and our people are being suppressed under the boots of Indian military forces. The incompatibility and conflict between WESEA and India have been demonstrated time and again beyond any doubt by the acts of discrimination and racism meted out to people from WESEA in different parts of India. Rather than accepting that racism is ingrained in their worldview, majority of the Indian people have been trying to project people from WESEA as inferior to them racially and culturally. Different forms and dimensions of people`™s struggles are all reflections of the armed revolutionary movement. All these people`™s struggles collectively crystallize the future of the armed revolution. Many youths who passed out from different colleges and universities of India understand the legitimacy of the armed movement and they have been continually taking up arms against the colonial regime. Our people, our students and our mothers and sisters have been struggling to free themselves from this wretched, bonded life.`

`In all nations which are struggling for independence, the masses and the freedom fighters share a close-knit intrinsic relationship. In Manipur where a violent storm of liberation movement has been brewing for quite some time, people are ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of freedom and right to self-determination. This is no exaggeration. Our glorious history is a living testimony and the same legacy is very much alive today. There is no dearth of armed freedom fighters in Manipur as there is a well-defined course of revolutionary movement and a very clear objective. Here it will be worthwhile to recall Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro`™s statement: `Together with 82 people, I brought a successful revolution in Cuba. The number of people does not count, what matters is faith in the revolutionary movement`, the message further said.

The RPF president said, `as a revolutionary group, RPF shares an umbilical relationship with our masses. It is this relationship which has been strengthening and sustaining the liberation movement. Again it is this filial relationship which makes the liberation movement a movement of the masses. RPF has been striving relentlessly to strengthen this relationship and the party is well aware that it is fully dependent on the masses just like fishes cannot survive in the absence of water.`

Expressing dread of separation from the masses it said `the inseparable bond shared between the revolutionaries and the masses will ultimately propel the liberation movement to its greatest heights. In such a scenario, there would be no distinction between revolutionaries and our suffering masses or non-combatants. In another word, civilians will become freedom fighters directly or indirectly. Civilians or neutral population will disappear when the liberation movement reached its zenith. It is this socio-political condition where the revolutionaries and civilians cannot be distinguished which is feared the most by the Indian State. That is why, the Government of India and its puppet local Government have been consistently scheming to draw a line of segregation between revolutionaries and the masses.`

Touching on the alleged misery and oppression of life in Manipur, it further said that `the armed movement for right to self-determination of Manipur is today known far and wide across the planet. On account of the prolonged colonial rule, all administrative departments have become highly corrupted beyond any hope of redemption. Lives of many innocent people were cut short abruptly and without any honour. A number of people who were picked up by security forces disappeared without any trace only to resurface as skeletal remains at camps which were/are occupied by Indian military forces and their stooges. Social activists and scholars who have the audacity to protest or critique against people`™s sufferings and repressive measures are being singled out and victimized by the Indian State. Given these harsh realities and the undeniable political history of Manipur, right to self-determination is a legitimate and indispensable right of our people.`

Alleging a divide and rule policy in Manipur, it said `since the past many years, several powerful agencies and colonial instruments are being employed by the Indian State to subjugate our masses and ultimately filter out the idea and yearning for independence from the political moorings of the society. To achieve their objective, Indian agents have been drawing artificial lines of division between different communities of Manipur, and the State`™s economy and natural resources have been taken under their complete control. Driven by the greed of capitalism, Indian capitalist class and their local cohorts have been exploiting our resources. In the name of people`™s welfare, the Indian State has been following a Neo-liberal policy where a few capitalists decide the fate of the vast majority. Through this Neo-liberal policy, the Indian State and their products have completely dominated and overwhelmed the markets of Manipur which was once self-reliant. In the name of development programmes which are based on the fundamental concepts of capitalism, the Indian State has been employing all available means to suppress the liberation movement of Manipur. After re-defining Look East Policy as Act East Policy, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been bargaining with the neighbouring countries of WESEA to help the Indian State suppress the revolutionary movements of WESEA in exchange for economic benefits, trade and commerce. Our people must be on guard against this new policy of India`™s BJP Government.`

`We can also see different aspects of cultural subjugation by the Indian State with the help of its military might. India had the intention to colonise Manipur, Assam, Tripura and other ancient kingdoms of the region since the very early period. India has been following different policies of cultural hegemony since the 18th century. And today, these policies of cultural hegemony are being used as powerful tools for consolidating and sustaining their colonial rule in WESEA. This cultural invasion needs serious introspection and analysis,` it further said.

Chaoren`™s message further said `in view of the changing socio-political and economic scenario across the planet, our society must evolve and adapt with a vision for the future. One dimension of social evolution which demands extra attention is `identity`™. Our people must devise a collective defence mechanism from the all-pervasive onslaught of globalization otherwise our nation would be condemned to doom. We must enhance our productivity (both agricultural and industrial), make our markets more vibrant and dynamic, and build a strong economic foundation.`

`Our people are being compelled to look up to the Indian people and their cultural practices as role model while all our economic activities have been made dependent on the Indian State`™s planning. This has a direct bearing on our identity. In addition to limitations associated with small territorial size, limited resources, small population, disunity, underdevelopment and poverty, our society is now being besieged by social and cultural imperialism`™` it added.

The RPF president also called upon the people to reinvent themselves: `Social ethos of Manipuri people who were once known for their profound love for dignity and self-respect has degenerated to such an extent that many people are unashamed to plead, beg and play sycophancy for some material benefits. By dismantling traditional value systems which were rooted in lofty ideals, a large section of our people have re-invented themselves as copy-cats blindly emulating foreign (Indian) culture and traditions which are not at all suitable to the soil of Manipur. They have no time to ponder over the fading culture, tradition and identity of the nation. Manipuri people who once lived as a proud, independent nation are being governed by outsiders and we are tamely following their diktats as if we are born slaves. It is simply ridiculous that many think unfurling the Indian flag at the sacred Kangla would bring about greater rewards from the colonial masters.`

The RPF chief also called for a unified Manipur identity: `It`™s not the time to keep the nation which has a proud, unbroken written history of more than 2000 years divided and polarized on ethnic lines. Rather than separating the nation under the generic terms `Naga`™, `Kuki`™, `Meitei`™ and `Meitei Pangals`™, it`™s time to mould a collective identity of a unified Manipur. Unity and only unity among the indigenous people can secure us and our future from the doom which is lurking quite distinctly on the horizon of our socio-economic and political landscape.`

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/rpf-president-greets-people-on-partys-36th-year-of-independence-demand-day/