RPF chief cautions people against neo-imperialism-I
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 24 2013: President of the proscribed Revolu-tionary People's Front (RPF) Irengbam Chaoren has warned the people of Manipur to be prepared for they are now confronted with an all pervasive, risky situation associated with neo-imperialism.

Saluting the people of Manipur as well as all the heroes who have laid down their lives and brought forward the people's revolutionary movement on the occasion of the 35th raising day of People's Liberation Army (PLA), its armed wing which falls on September 25, Chaoren pointed out that in addition to the miserable conditions of colonialism, people of Manipur are now confronted with newer but equally grave threats under the alleged Indian colonial rule in the form of neo-imperialism.

A statement issued by the RPF President reminded that "Our forefathers fought valiantly with all their might against invading British forces in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891" .

They did fight unto the last even though their defeat was a foregone conclusion.

Yet, they fought to the last man to preserve Manipur's sovereignty and protect the sanctity of its territorial boundary which was drawn and guarded by the blood of 'our ancestors' .

It is rather disappointing that the present generation seems nonchalant even as Manipur has been 'colonised' by India for the last 60 years as if Manipur people are destined to live under colonial rule for good.

Such complacent and passive nature of the present generation renders people's sense of nationalism and patriotism questionable.

The RPF chief went on to ask, "Do we have the moral right to pay tributes and sing about the glorious deeds of our forefathers?" .

It is one pertinent question that people should ponder over.

If one ponders for a possible answer to this question, then certainly one can see the true picture of the ongoing revolutionary movement and understand the indispensability of such a movement.

It is a great misfortune that some sections of people rather than studying who are the conspirators tend to blame the revolutionary groups for all social evils and untoward incidents which are genuinely or apparently connected with the revolutionary movement.

This tendency not only undermines the revolutionary movement but would also ultimately ruin the nation which by implication means insurmountable obstacles for future generations.

"It's time for all our people to join or lend support to the historically legitimate revolutionary movement instead of reducing ourselves to the status of pawns and create enemies within ourselves", Chaoren exhorted.

Changes and transformations seen in Manipuri society which are engineered and steered by alleged imperialist India and their local agents are too harsh.

Corruption, violent race for amassing personal wealth, killings, groupism, inter-communal and intra-communal conflicts have become the order of the day.

Large numbers of youth have given themselves to intoxicating drugs and many unimaginable things and events are happening right in the society as a result of adopting the narcissistic and malevolent way of thinking, generally identified with Indians.

To correct these social evils and reverse degeneration in the people's character and ethos would be impossible without a complete revolution.

Herein lies another major reason for the essentiality of the revolutionary movement and its success can only save the nation, asserted the RPF President.

It is a matter of serious concern that there are around 30 revolutionary groups in Manipur at present.

If one studies how such a large number of groups came into being and who bred them, one cannot help implicate the Government of India.

Birth of so many revolutionary groups through promotion of communal divide among the indigenous people of Manipur, nurturing pseudo revolutionary groups and then vitiating relationship among revolutionary groups to create rivalry and conflict are all parts of the Government of India's policy aimed at de-escalating the liberation movement of Manipur.

Countering such malignant policy demands certain roles from the ruling class of Manipur.

The Government of Manipur, in the interest of the people, need to work sincerely to neutralise all pseudo revolutionary groups set up at the behest of Indian agents, and control their activities aimed at projecting genuine revolutionary groups in bad light.

The Government of Manipur also needs to work towards eliminating all sense of communalism deliberately cultivated and encouraged by the Government of India.

At the same time, there is an urgent need for leaders of well established revolutionary groups to work relentlessly towards organising and mobilising all revolutionary groups having same goals and objectives so that all these groups which now appear scattered and drifting can struggle together under one common leadership.

CorCom need to accept this momentous responsibility and strive to translate it into action.

Denial of freedom, rampant violation of rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the resultant misery being endured by the people of Manipur are consequences of entrusting political power to a select group of people who would readily dance to the tune of New Delhi and the situation is quite similar to the British period where the king nominated by them was put on the throne as nominal head of state.

"In addition to these miserable colonial situations, our people have started facing newer but equally grave threats under the Indian colonial rule.

In another word, our people are now confronted with an all pervasive, risky situation associated with neo-imperialism", warned the rebel leader.

Killings, arbitrary detention, harassment and all kinds of repressive measures unleashed upon the people of Manipur by the Indian military in the name of counter insurgency operations are classic characteristics of colonialism.

These are threatening realities of colonialism and the scourge of neo-imperialism is equally grave.

Rendering a nation or country economically dependent, dilution and assimilation of indigenous culture and traditions, abolition of indigenous religious practices and languages, posing challenges to indigenous identity are all not so vocal instruments of neo-imperialism but they are potent enough to eliminate an entire nation.

Stating that several nations have become extinct while some others are struggling on the verge of extinction on account of neo-imperialism's merciless onslaught, Chaoren questioned, "How would we fight back the onslaught of neo-imperialism?" It's high time civil society, scholars, intellectuals, media and students take up the issue vigorously .

Perhaps, because of the series of fake encounters, unaccounted killings, rape and murder cases, bandhs and blockades, multiple challenges to national integrity, imminent loss of Manipur's territory due to border fencing and numerous cases of human rights violation, people can spare little attention to the devastating forces of neo-imperialism.

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