People's struggle is a historical responsibility: Chaoren-I
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, September 24 2022: The Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) president Ireng-bam Chaoren has catego- rically stated that the ongoing struggle of Manipuri people is a historical responsibility and a legitimate one.

A statement issued by the rebel leader on the 44th raising day of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) remarked that love for freedom, dignity and desire to live as an independent Nation is the most treasured aspiration of every person in the world.

It was in the light of these values that the Government of India in November 1991 endorsed its stand at the United Nations General Assembly to end colonialism before the end of the 20th century.

However, India's double standard is laid bare as it has neither discussed nor endorsed the question of Mani- pur's alleged colonization till date.

Instead, it has been suppressing the sovereignty of Manipur by harping on draconian laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 till date, according to the statement.

The rebel leader also paid homage to all the 'martyrs' who had laid down their precious lives in the course of the revolutionary movement.

India has been misleading the international community by wrongfully projecting the ancient kingdom of Manipur as its integral part while orchestrating to discredit the ongoing liberation movement of Manipur as 'separa- tism'.

This is a self-evident wrongful propaganda of India, the rebel leader claimed.

The existence of Manipur as a distinctive political entity is evidenced by the fact that MK Velody, Secretary, Ministry of State, India officially announced Manipur as a part of the Indian Union only on 15th October, 1949.On this day, the independent Manipur State Assembly and the then Council of Ministers were dissolved by reducing Manipur to Part C status under the headship of a Chief Commissioner which is a testimonial of India's annexation of Manipur in 1949, Chaoren said.

For this very reason, India ought to live up to what it had endorsed at the UN General Assembly in 1991 and retreat itself from occupying Manipur by restoring the lost political independence of Manipuri people under the established provisions of the United Nations, reads the statement.

The people of India should remember that restoration of Manipur's indepen- dent status cannot be construed as anti-thetical to India's integrity.

Manipur became an international treaty making power on February 28, 1826, when it was involved in a British- Burma treaty, preceding India which is an obvious example that Manipur's existence as an independent State preceded India.

Even prior to this, on 14th September 1762 Manipur and the British East India signed a Defence Treaty while another historic agreement was signed between the British and Manipur in April 1833 resulting in the boundary mapping of Jiri and western areas of the Barak River.

The historicity of Manipur's international treaty making power was witnessed again during the third Burmese War.

The Maharaja of Manipur Chandrakriti and the Governor General of India reached an agreement to help each other.

Comparatively among the galaxy of independent Nations, Manipur deservingly stands as a discrete political entity with independent history and constitutional system.

However, the present day degradation of collective life in Manipur and its inability to live upto its civilizational legacy is due to the hegemonic power patronage enforced by the Indian State, the rebel leader said.

If such a situation lingers, the future of Manipur is at stake.

The only way out is to ensure a vision and political life where the people of Manipur shall have exclusive and independent rights over their national resources by abrogating India's alleged colonial interference in Manipur, Chaoren asserted.

Contrary to the spirit of independence, India has been consistently projecting Manipur as perennially underdeveloped and parasitic on Indian funding as a part of its colonial ideology.

But such projection is not only outdated but also unsuitable to modern day political values.

The people of Manipur need to wake up and understand that the projected dependence of Manipur on India is nothing but a colonial make over.

The apparent psychology of dependence on India has structurally deprived the people of Manipur of the capacity to devise their own process of development.

The state of affairs has degraded to such a level that despite Manipur's location in a prosperous geopolitical international borderland, it has not been able to harness any significant gain.

The prolonged internalization of the belief that only the imports from India feed Manipur has prevented effective usage of National Highway 37 as a route for Manipur's economic prosperity.

The State Government has for long failed to envision a policy that can positively deal with the potential of a hugely populated Barak Valley with an approximate population of 45 lakhs as a potential export market for Manipur through Jiribam, reads the statement.

On the other hand, neighbouring Myanmar is known for its rich agrarian produces and precious minerals and resources.

An effective trade system with Myanmar through Manipur's border town Moreh can promote WESEA as a regional market but those at the helm of affairs are still unable to grasp this fact, it said.

The Look East Policy of India which began in 1991 and now re-christened as Act East Policy has been a shaky project.

The strategic geopolitical reductionism of India is well reflected in the Indian External Affairs Minister, S.Jaishanker's statement on 22 August, 2022 in Asuncion that the future of Asia is linked to the development of India-China relations.

Such a vision of India needs to be studied, Chaoren continued.

On the other hand, the people of Manipur need to understand the significance of fertile wetlands, agrarian spaces, and hills which are naturally endowed with avenues for livelihood.

Not only the Government but also the people of the land need to wake up and seriously contribute to full utilization of these resources and opportunities.

Such a realization would be a major step forward in the development of the State, according to the statement.

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