CIRCA recalls rich history of Manipur

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Aug 14 : As in other parts of the State, the Coalition for Indigenous' Rights Campaign (CIRCA) Manipur observed the 77th Independence Day of Mani-pur at the head office of AIMS at Kwakeithel, today.
The observance began with the hoisting of a red flag embossed with Malem Puba Paphal by CIRCA president Somendro Thok-chom.
While hoisting the flag, the gathering raised slogans to restore Manipur to its pre-merger status.
Somendro Thokchom, HERICOUN president Longjam Ratankumar, WASEDEV president RK Tharaksana and IKAL president Naorem Mema Leima were the presidium members of the observance.
Addressing the gatherings, Somendro said that it is very imperative to  make all the young generations aware that Manipur was once a sovereign kingdom in South East Asia and has a rich history spanning over two thousand years.
He claimed that Kuki narco-terrorists from other countries won't be able to demand their homeland and disintegration of Manipur if the State is self governed.
Saying that the Central Government and its security forces should ensure the safety of lives and properties in trouble-torn Manipur if they take the State as a part of India, he claimed that the conduct of Central security forces, however, is questionable lately.
CIRCA secretary general Moirangthem Angamba said that the people of Manipur should never forget the day on which Manipur got its independence back.
Recounting that Manipur lost its independence after the defeat in Anglo-Manipur War in 1891, Angamba continued that it was on August 14, 1947 that Manipur got its independence back.
Further stating that the State Constitution Act was enacted in 1947 and held an election in the following year, he maintained that the first State Assembly of Manipur was convened on October 18, 1947.  
Saying that the independence of Manipur was short-lived as Maharaj Bodhachandra was made to sign the merger agreement at Shillong in 1949 forcefully, Angamba said that Manipur became a State which couldn't decide its own future since the signing of the merger agreement.
He went on to claim that a lasting solution of all the chronic issues of Manipur can be worked out if the political autonomy of the State is restored.
On the current issue in Manipur, Angamba said that there is no palpable commitment from the Centre and the State Government to control the Kuki narco-terrorists, engaged in war crimes and attacked civilians.
Claiming that the State Government looks powerless and fails to exercise  its federal power when Manipur is literally burning, he asked if the State Government is only going to act when there is instruction from the Centre.
Angamba further claimed that the violence in Manipur spiralled out of control because the Centre didn't do enough to control the external aggressors who are waging an all-out war against Manipur. The Centre can still end the violence in Manipur if they are committed, he added.