RPF clarifies over missing girls
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, April 04 2013: The proscribed UG group, Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has clarified that the two girls namely Alice Kamei (16) d/o Chakritombi Kamei of Nambol Isok Chingfu Kabui and Khaidem Sanahanbi Chanu (16) d/o Khaidem Shyam of Upokpi under Bishnupur district were not abducted but they came of their own volition to join the ongoing freedom movement on March 13, 2013 .

In a statement signed by its Chief of Department of Publicity Bangkim, RPF maintained that it does not believe in forcing anyone to join the struggle against their will.

RPF has its own recruitment policy and it allows people who are 16 years old and come willingly to join the struggle.

Even though the international norm for recruitment in army is 18 years, RPF has made 16 years keeping in view of the existing situation in Manipuri society.

RPF knows how the parents feel when their children join such struggle and path which is full of dangers.

But the present situation in Manipur and the need for a stronger freedom movement has made RPF to accept anyone willing to join the struggle.

As for the two girls, both of them are 16 years old and they are eligible to join the struggle.

So, there is no question of handing them over to their parents unless the two girls themselves wanted to.

Moreover, RPF grants permission to its cadre to retire from the struggle if they want, the statement said.

While appealing to the people to recall how RPF has been safeguarding the people of the state and the Manipuri society since its inception and how its cadres have sacrifice their lives during the course of the struggle, the statement urged the NGOs, CSOs and people not to organise sit-in- protests or any other form of agitation over such matters.

Instead they themselves should come forward and take active role in the freedom movement, it added.

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