RPF's message on 37th Raising Day of PLA -Part I
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, September 24 2015:
On the 37th Raising Day of the People's Liberation Army, the armed wing of the proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF), the outfit's president Irengbam Chaoren in a statement conveyed his deepest regards to all the countrymen saluting all those brave men and women who have laid down their precious lives in the journey of the revolutionary movement.
On the occasion, the RPF president in his message said, "Our ancestors have created today's Manipur with the swords and spears that were manufactured from the local iron ores using the self-backed charcoals.
Thousands of precious lives were sacrificed to protect the sovereignty of Manipur" .
He said, "For more than 500 years, our forefathers fought battles after battles against our neighbour Myanmar to protect the boundary of Manipur.
These stories of battles, wars and supreme sacrifices are written in the golden pages of our history.
The Battle of Khongjom fought against the mighty British forces even after fully knowing the outcome of the battle is a tale of supreme sacrifice made by our forefathers for the beloved motherland" .
However, the newly created India annexed Manipur and the people could not stand united and resist the annexation.
Even as a strong force of renewed colonialism swept across Manipur, the people then accustomed to foreign culture and customs started undermining "our own identity and our people" let the new current of colonialism take firm roots as if it was an inevitable change brought about by time, Chaoren said.
At the same time, the ruling elites of Manipur fascinated and influenced by the newly established Indian regime welcomed Indian agents with open arms.
They hoodwinked the masses by churning out volumes of propaganda that merger with India could bring stable administration and rapid progress in Manipur.
Slowly and steadily, they adopted the role of a puppet Government.
On the other hand, some communal elements living in the hill areas of Manipur have been collaborating with neighbouring countries with a malicious intention to balkanize Manipur.
For centuries, Manipuri people fought as far as Chindwin River to protect its boundary.
The Anglo-Manipuri Treaty signed 180 years back recognised Jiri River and Barak River as the western boundaries of sovereign Manipur.
Now the ideas of 'Nagalim' and 'Zalengam' which are of very recent origin have the audacity to challenge the centuries old, internationally recognised political boundary of Manipur, the RPF president stated.
On the other hand, incessant influx from India has not only completely transformed the demographic profile of Manipur but the migrants have dominated all types of economic activities.
"Nevertheless, the vast majority of the masses have no intention to leave Manipur which we rightfully inherited from our valiant ancestors but they have a nagging fear of Indian immigrants completely dominating the socio-economic and political landscape of Manipur in the near future, the RPF leader said.
Manipur nation was eventually consolidated as a single united nation with Kangla as its capital or centre of power.
Beginning with the earliest settlers, different ethnic groups who migrated to Manipur in different historical epochs collectively made up the Manipuri nation.
Through co-existence for centuries and inter-marriages, an inseparable bond bounded together all the ethnic groups of Manipur.
to be contd... .
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