SOREPA extends greetings
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 30 2025: The Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA), Kangleipak has extended May Day greetings to all the workers around the world including those in Western Southeast Asia (WESEA).

SOREPA has also paid homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the fight to achieve a shorter work day and secure workers' rights.

Delving into the origin of May Day, a press note issued by SOREPA publicity and organisation secretary MC Yaiphabi said that on May 1, 1886, around five lakh workers gathered in protest at Haymarket Square in Chicago, USA demanding an eight-hour work day.

In their effort to subdue the protest, the police began firing at the demonstrators and a bomb exploded amid the chaos.

A total of eight workers lost their lives at the protest while many others were injured, said SOREPA.

In response, the entire world condemned the Haymarket Square incident, now known as the Haymarket Affair, and stood in solidarity with the workers and their demand.

The workers' movement slowly spread to other European countries and on July 14, 1889, the International Workers Congress held in Paris declared May 1 as International Workers' Day.

Since then, May Day has been observed across the globe.

In the case of Kangleipak, a march led by revolutionary leader Hijam Irabot in 1939 from Moirangkhom passing the office of political agent C Jimson marked the first observance of May Day before the Government started its official commemoration.

Saying that the condition of farmers in the State is distressing, SOREPA added that agriculture is important to uplift the economy of a State.

A country that produces food abundantly will progress swiftly while another that is burdened by food shortage will not.

Another issue posing a serious challenge to farmers is the lack of proper markets leading to post-harvest loss of crops.

Pointing out that the elite class frequently devours the pay of daily wage earners, SOREPA maintained that wealthy people are bringing in labourers from outside who will work at cheap rates while leaving the local workers jobless.

The press note expressed hope that discussions on the resolutions needed to bring food security and deciding the type of society the current generation will leave for the fixture generation should be the true meaning behind commemorating May Day.

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