Restoration of independence should be collective responsibility: RPF-III
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 26 2017: Manipur's existence as an independent Kingdom State for ages is neither a heresy nor a folklore but a facticity of history.

The facticity of possessing indigenous language, script, belief system, culture and arts, sense of a maturing boundary with a history of established military power with administrative institutions are neither alien nor unknown to the Manipuri worldview .

The neighbouring powers such as Ava, today's Myanmar, had historically accepted Manipur's presence in the Western South East Asian political theatre .

"The memories of the battle of Khongjom fought during the Anglo-Manipur war of 1891 exemplifies the fact of our national being that is rooted in the love for freedom and independence.

Our aspiration for independence is not a mere historical heresy but an established ethos that defines Manipur.

However, under the garb of India's pretentious democracy, time tested morale and national sensibility of the Manipuri people have been severely eroded", lamented the rebel leader .

The civilizational symbiosis between the hill dwellers and valley dwellers in the State for more than two thousand years has practical foundations on which it is built upon.

The symbiosis has always stood firm against the powerful exogenous onslaught on its independence .

Inspite of a short occupation of Manipur by the Burmese, the 'Treaty of Yandaboo' of 1826 restored the independence of Manipur.

The British's association with Manipur as a friendly ally did not last long due to treacherous colonial conspiracies of the British .

The people of Manipur did not find it difficult to sense the colonial ambitions of the British.

There was no dearth of national aspiration among the Manipuris whose valour to protect and preserve Manipur's political freedom led to the Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891.The defeat in the 1891 resulted in the colonization of Manipur .

The retreat of British imperialism in 1947 automatically led to Manipur's reversion to its age old independent status.

On 15 October, 1949 India again forcefully merged Manipur within its fold by unilaterally abrogating the then Manipur's constitutional and republican Government.

The annexation of Manipur in 1949 marked the beginning of India's renewed colonization of Manipur, it alleged .

The oppressed existence of the Manipuris is not something that is ought to be permanent.

There shall be a time when the undercurrent aspirations and love for independence would mature into moment of breaking the shackles of India's alleged colonialism .

India's illegitimate occupation of its frontiers and fast failing inter-country relations particularly with its neighbours exposes the fragility of India's control over its frontiers.

The explosion of people's aspirations and hostile neighbours would surely culminate into an opportunity for Manipur's liberation.

There is a need for working out on the nature and systems of governance that would uphold the collective sensibility of the peoples in Manipur, Chaoren stated .

With this perspective in mind, it would be in the fitness of things not to divulge the collective energy by raising unnecessary movements on short-sighted communal demands as genuine alternatives for the people .

Such movements are tantamount to absence of self-respect, Indianisation and reproduction of creamy layered Manipuri Indians.

Understanding such a potential danger would be a big contribution toward strengthening of the ongoing armed struggle .

"We must not forget that prior to 1949 Manipur was never a part of India, the same political destiny is awaiting us in near future too", asserted the RPF President .

RPF is committed to wage the liberation war in association with the like-minded organizations.

RPF's belief in united struggle has today culminated in the unified armed struggle among the parties .

"The victory of the unified struggle over India's colonialism is affirmed as long as we remain united, no matter how powerful India is", reads the statement .

"At present we may be a small force, but we shall blossom into a stronger force comparable to enemy India.

In the near about 40 years of armed struggle India's oppressive counter-liberation activities have never been able to shake up the foundations of our liberation project.

The sacrifices of the ongoing struggle are to lay the ground for a glorious independent future of the people in Manipur.

The spirit of sacrifice is the pride that RPF takes forward to rejuvenate the being of a Manipuri", Chaoren concluded.

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