CorCom shares thoughts on Art 370, CAB-II
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 09 2019: Manipur (Kangleipak) which existed as an independent Nation in South East Asia became a Protectorate of the British empire after its defeat in the Anglo-Manipur War 1891.With the enactment of the Indian Independence Act (IIA), 1947 after the lapse of British suzerainty, Manipur (Kangleipak) and other princely States regained sovereign, independent status, it said.

Soon after, Manipur drafted a Constitution and the first Manipur legislative Assembly election was held in 1948.Manipur was the second country in South East Asia to hold election based on universal adult franchise.

Manipur came under a democratic Government after monarchy was abolished on August 18, 1947, the CorCom continued.

But DGOI forcibly annexed Manipur on October 15, 1949 after violating all the rules and norms applied to independent Nations.

People of Manipur never accepted the annexation, alleged CorCom.

The Manipur Legislative Assembly in its session held on September 28, 1949 opposed the annexation and openly condemned it.

Since then, the people of Manipur have been waging a National liberation movement, it said.

With an eye to suppress people's movements being waged at different places to uproot the alleged undemocratic, colonial system of India, UOI has been working hard to grant Indian citizenship to multitude of immigrants.

By amending the Citizenship Act 1955, UOI has been working to grant Indian citizenship to Hindu immigrants from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the CorCom remarked while noting how the people of WESEA opposed Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) at different platforms.

In case, India forcibly enforces CAB in WESEA just as it removed Jammu & Kashmir's special status using draconian laws and military forces, cultural and linguistic identities of the peoples of WESEA would be pushed into oblivion without any hope of redemption.

All the indigenous minority communities of the region would be overwhelmed by non-local people.

Once immigrants are granted Indian citizenship, they would take control of land as well as political power.

This would ultimately pave way for total annihilation of the Manipuri Nation, the CorCom warned.

It then cited the case of indigenous Tripuris where they have become outsiders and a small minority in their own homeland.

The railway project, Indo-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, Trans-Asian Highway, Special Economic Zones etc have already started causing adverse impacts on the indigenous peoples of WESEA, it said.

The only way to protect Manipur (Kangleipak) and the indigenous people of the land from India's campaign of total annihilation is to restore the lost sovereignty of Manipur through a collective armed liberation, it asserted.

It then said that it's time to intensify the ongoing liberation movement in order to save the present and future generations.

It's time to shed all sectarian outlooks, communal tendencies and topographical differences but unite and struggle collectively to bring a progressive, united Manipur (Kangleipak), said CorCom.

To enable all the people live with freedom without any shackles, all the people need to be prepared to fight the community and restore the glorious past of Manipur (Kangleipak) which existed as a sovereign independent polity by defending its territory, identity, culture and freedom from all external aggressions, the CorCom concluded.

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