Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 10 2009:
The proscribed PREPAK celebrated its 32nd raising day together with people of different communities both inside and outside Manipur.
A statement issued by the outfit's publicity in-charge Aheiba Angom informed that exchange of gifts, sharing sweetmeats and joint feasts at different localities were the main highlights of the celebration.
Conveying gratitude to all those people who participated or assisted in the celebration, the outfit said the raising day celebration was also held at its Ghqs, tactical Hqs, unit Hqs, transit camps and training centres.
At the Ghqs, the party's seven coloured flag was unfurled before the Vice Chairman's message was read out.
Besides offering floral tributes to the departed cadres, a two-minute silence was also observed in honour of the departed cadres.
Between the reign of Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (from 33 AD) and Maharaj Bodhachandra (1941-55) which extends for almost 2000 years, Manipur's sovereignty was lost thrice in the hands of Awa (now Myanmar) during 1819-1826, British 1891-1947 and the latest in the hands of India after the Merger Agreement of 1949, the outfit stated.
Asserting that Maharaj Bodhachandra was forced to sign the Merger Agreement under duress in the presence of Advisor to the Govt of India, Ministry of State, VP Menon and Governor of Assam, Prakash at Shillong on September 21, 1949, the outfit stated that is the bounden duty of the present generation to regain the lost sovereignty.
The outfit also called upon the people to take a firm and collective stand to snatch back the lost sovereignty of Manipur from New Delhi.
Dwelling on the many ills plaguing the revolutionary organisations and cadres such as degeneration in character, growth of many insurgent groups and working on different lines despite having the common gaol, extra-attention on fund collection and the resultant hardships caused to the public, prioritising reformation ahead of revolution, turning weapons of some insurgent cadres to people etc, the outfit observed that many people are contemptuous of the activities of insurgent groups and this has pulled away the people from insurgents farther and farther.
How the people are viewing the revolutionary movement and what kind of hopes they are putting in in insurgent groups need to be analysed collectively by insurgent groups in the context of the existing revolutionary situation.
''Taking due note of all these points, we revolutionaries need to rectify our mistakes and put forth the progress of the revolutionary movement to the people", the outfit said.
The erosion of the indigenous culture and tradition began with the burning of Puyas on October 5, 1732 during the reign of king Charairongba, the outfit called upon the people to preserve and promote the indigenous culture of the land.
Highlighting the crucial necessity of native language and script in building up a revolutionary movement, the outfit said that promotion of native language and script has become an unavoidable part of the revolutionary movement.