CorCom to observe Black Day, calls 18-hr strike on Oct 15
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 11 2014 : Denouncing the merger of Manipur with the Indian Union in 1949, the Coordination Committee (CorCom) of six proscribed outfits, namely KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK (Pro), RPF and UNLF, has called an 18-hour general strike from 12 am till 6 pm of October 15 as part of the National Black Day observance.

According to a statement issued by the CorCom, Manipur was annexed by India by forcing the then Maharaj Bodhachandra to sign the Merger Agreement at Shillong on September 21, 1949.Since then, the people of Manipur have been subjugated and deprived of their right to self-determination by India.

The foundations of democracy were built already in Manipur prior to its independence from the British rule.

The formulation of Manipur State Constitution Act, 1947 was completed already by June 26, 1947 and it was finally enacted after the British handed over Manipur's administration to Maharaj Bodhachandra.

The first democratic election of Manipur was held in June, 1948 and the Council of Ministers so elected by the people took oath at Kangla Durbar Hall on October 18, 1948.Manipur had become a democratic nation by holding the first general election successfully in 1948, but it soon became a victim of India's undemocratic democracy.

The people of Manipur have been deprived of their democratic rights ever since Manipur was annexed by India through some illogical merger agreement in 1949, the statement said.

It further said that India, despite being a prominent member of the United Nations, has overlooked the UN charters of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by depriving the right to self-determination of the people of Manipur.

The liberation of Greece from Ottoman Empire, Belgium from Netherlands and the independence of Bangladesh, Guinea Bissau, Indonesia, North Korea and Palestine are clear examples of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights being regarded by the member nations.

In all conventions, it has been acknowledged that Manipur was annexed by India, and not 'merged' as stated in the Manipur Merger Agreement.

The CorCom also appealed to the people of Manipur to stand united and fight to regain their right to self-determination, which has been deprived by India all these years through the Merger Agreement.

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