Autonomy cannot determine Manipur’s future: RPF-I

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 24 : The proscribed Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) has categorically stated autonomy given within the Constitution of India can never determine the future of Manipur.  
“Other than complete independence, we don’t see any movement which seeks autonomy or special rights within the Constitution of India as capable of determining the future of Manipur”, asserted RPF president Irengbam Chaoren in a statement delivered to media on the occasion of the outfit’s 42nd foundation day (February 25, Independence Demand Day).
While paying obeisance to all the martyrs who had laid down their lives for the cause of the revolutionary movement, Chaoren conveyed respect to all the compatriots and shared the grief and misery brought about the COVID-19 pandemic.
The rebel leader also conveyed gratitude to all sections of people who have been fighting relentlessly against the deadly pandemic to save fellow human beings.
Any arrangement within the Constitution of India, special or otherwise will never be able to take Manipur on the path of development comparable to international standard. On the contrary, any such arrangement within the Constitution of India will only become a cause of assimilation with India and obliteration of the glorious history of independence which spanned over 2000 years, reads the statement.
At the same time, such arrangements would create situations of conflict with the ongoing liberation movement and it may lead to all sorts of confusion among the masses. In order to avert any situation of confusion and conflicts, every one must understand the history of Manipur and respect the ongoing liberation movement, it asserted.
Groups of communal-minded people have been projecting Manipur as a fragmented Nation and they have been challenging the integrity of Manipur. But it’s time for all the people to shed communal politics and join the common movement for independence. Other than the common movement for independence, there is no choice for any community settled in Manipur, Chaoren asserted.
Chaoren said that protecting the integrity of Manipur is indispensable to the liberation movement which implies that no revolutionary group can afford laxity when it comes to integrity of Manipur.
Comrade Irabot’s steadfast objection to the initiative to create Purvanchal Pradesh (North East Frontier Province) by encompassing some parts of Manipur and his understanding of the particular initiative as a threat to the integrity of Manipur was well placed, the outfit remarked.
Revolutionary leaders of Manipur, in their search for a common platform or idea of Western South East Asia (WESEA), must see that no situation emerges which challenges the collectiveness of Manipuri society for it is this collectiveness which serves as the very spirit of the history of independent Manipur.
“At the same time, revolutionary leaders must also see that our concern for the collectivity of Manipur should not hinder from shouldering and discharging our responsibilities and duties in fighting the common enemy, India,” it said.
The ‘pretentious activities’ of the Government of India to develop WESEA on the pretext that India cannot be developed without developing WESEA does no mean India really cares for the peoples of WESEA. It is a trap aimed at enabling New Delhi to use the peoples of WESEA as a shield in countering neighbouring China, it continued.
Delhi is still haunted by the 1962 war and does not want a repeat and hence feels the need for the people of WESEA to stand on the side of India, claimed the statement.
It said that the existing conflict between India and China is not restricted to the boundary issue. The conflict has its roots in Arunachal Pradesh which is around 84,000 Sq Kms in area and is contested between the neighbouring countries.
China has still not recognized Arunachal Pradesh as a part of India rather Beijing treats Arunachal Pradesh as Zangnan Region (South Tibet), a part of their own territory, it remarked.
Some days back, Manipuri Tangkhul Ralengnao Bob Khathing was conferred the ‘Arunachal Ratna’ title for bringing Tawang and Bumla areas within the territory of India from Tibet in 1951 and this can be a testimony of China’s claim that Arunachal Pradesh was once a part of Tibet, it alleged.
 The conflict between India and China is so deep that a war may break out between the two countries any time. Keeping this foreseeable war in mind, India has been circulating volumes of fabricated propaganda through newspapers and TV channels to persuade their own people to stand against China, it said.