Imphal, March 06, 2010: The proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has reiterated that the Non-Manipuris living in Manipur are considered as its friends, but since they are facing hatred of the local people, for their own welfare, it would be best for them to leave Manipur.

This was stated in a press release issued today by Secretary, Publicity, RPF, T Leishemba.

Reports said, the press release was also distributed as pamphlets in all the districts of Manipur.

The RPF stated that "the Non-Manipuris are now facing extreme hatred in Manipur.

Given this scenario, the Government of Manipur, in its attempt to keep their weaknesses and misdeeds under wraps, has been working hard to blame and indict revolutionary groups for the threat and challenge to non-Manipuris".

The press release stated, "The Government has been consistently trying to poison the conscience of non-Manipuris with waves after waves of false propaganda against revolutionary groups.

On the other hand, the IOFs and RAW are bringing in many IOF/Police/Spy agents to Manipur in the guise of innocent labourers to make Manipur a buzzing nest for espionage activities and intelligence agents.

In view of all these designs and activities of the Government of India, RPF is compelled to take a definite stance of its own".

"Considering the hatred of non-Manipuris by the local people, coupled with the activities of the Government of India aimed at capitalising on such situation, it would not be possible for non-Manipuris to live a secure and peaceful life in Manipur.

The Government of Manipur is unable to prevent unwanted incidents.

Nor is the RPF in any condition to help the non-Manipuris, even though they are friends of the party.

In the light of this helpless condition, the RPF is of the view that it would be prudent on the part of Non-Manipuris to leave Manipur for safer places".

With due regards and concern for their welfare, the RPF appeals to all non-Manipuris to leave Manipur, the press release stated.

T Leishemba further said that to RPF�s understanding, all outsiders who came to Manipur after 1949 are non-Manipuris.

According to the press release, in order to avoid unnecessary troubles in matters related to non-Manipuris, the RPF once again lays down the following appeals, that: first, as there is every possibility of numerous agents swarming Manipur, inter-state buses, trucks and other transporters should not bring non-Manipuris to Manipur.

Second, rooms should not be rented out to Non-Manipuris.

Third,plot/land should not be sold to Non-Manipuris.

Fourth, they should not be allowed to become business proprietors/heads.

And, fifth, they should not be hired as labourers.

Excepting those who come for education related purposes for temporary period; experts/scholars coming for temporary works, tourists, players and those coming for art and culture related activities, all other outsiders coming to Manipur are illegal in the view of the RPF, and hence entry of non-Manipuris into Manipur is prohibited considering their welfare.

Further, all non-Manipuris who entered Manipur already and have been living in the state are informed to leave Manipur by May 31, 2010, the press release stated.

The RPF sought public support and co-operation towards this stance of the party.

The press release began with an excerpt from Dawn, Volume I, September 25, 1978. "Who is our enemy and who is our friend? Are the 630 million people of India our enemy? No.The starving people of India, who live from hand to mouth, the peasants and the working class, the exploited and the downtrodden, are not our enemy.

They are our friends.

Because, the poor in India have no home, no food, no clothing that is to say, the poor have no motherland of their own in India".

It pointed out that of the many countries of South East Asia, Manipur is one sovereign nation which has written history for more than 2000 years.

Not only it has its own distinctive culture, tradition and religion but the Manipuri nation has also gifted the game of Polo in the field of sports and Meetei Jagoi in the realm of art and culture to the human civilization.

It stated, "Really, Manipuris are proud to have been born in this wonderful land.

Through coercion and under duress, Manipur was forced to sign the Merger Agreement in 1949, subsequently pushing the once sovereign nation to the status of a colony of India.

Even as Manipur was defeated in the Anglo-Manipuri War of 1891, the British rulers never merged the nation into the then British India.

Rather, Manipur was allowed to retain the status of a separate kingdom though under the supervision of British agents.

But subsequent upon the forced annexation by India, all the political rights of Manipur were snatched away by India.

With that, all the resources of Manipur became exclusive rights of New Delhi.

Earlier, invaluable sacred texts or Puyas were destroyed in bulk.

Following the annexation, a disastrous process of Indianization began steadily removing the Manipuris from their cultural and ethical roots.

After a prolonged stupor under the spell of alien Indian culture and social practices, Manipuri patriots woke up at a stage when Manipur, the land of Manipuris, was on the verge of total disappearance".

"By the time Manipuris woke up, a large number of outsiders, mostly from India have already made their settlements in Manipur.

Starting from cobblers to bureaucrats, these outsiders have penetrated into all available fields of occupation.

In short, they have gained control over the socio-economic and political life of Manipuri nation.

Domination and subjugation of Manipuris by Non-Manipuris (Indians) bred widespread resentment, dissent and anguish among the indigenous people.

By the time, freedom-fighters started targetting Indian Occupation Forces in late 1970s, the IOFs set on a cycle of oppression and murder of innocent people of Manipur.

There is every possibility that this added fuel to the fire raging within the hearts of Manipuri people against the colonial rule.

Perhaps, this might also cause the victimised, innocent Manipuris to turn their wrath to any non-Manipuri within their surroundings when they cannot fight back IOFs and bureaucrats.

Because of all these reasons, non-Manipuris were the principal targets during the agitated period of "Foreigners Issue" of 1980.There were instances when an individual or a group assaulted or killed non-Manipuris.

Still, there are reports of sporadic killings of non-Manipuris from different corners of the state.

In the backdrop of these attacks, the Government of Manipur, functioning at the mercy of the Government of India, instructed the non-Manipuris not to venture outside Imphal city.

Despite these measures, there are reports of assault on and killing non-Manipuris".

The press release stated, "As a matter of policy and principle, non-Manipuris are not enemies of the RPF.

This was declared since the PLA took birth on the soil of Manipur (DAWN: Vol-I) and the party has been strictly adhering to this principle.

After fostering a firm relationship with the Maoists who are fighting for the downtrodden and oppressed people of India, the RPF has been working together with the Maoists to take on the common enemy, the Government of India.

Non-Manipuris coming to Manipur to earn their livelihood for a square meal a day are small fraction of the 23 crore underprivileged people of India who cannot afford a full meal.

To the RPF, they are products of the Government of India�s oppressive regime, and they are friends of the party".

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