Vows to continue struggle for Independence from India

Irengbam Chouren, chairman of the proscribed Revolutionary People`s Front, RPF, has categorically rejected the possibility of any other solution to the ongoing armed struggle in Manipur other than the end of Indian rule, whether it is of its own volition or not.

In a message issued on the occasion of the 29th raising day of the RPF`s armed wing the People`s Liberation Army, Chouren stated that the revolutionary struggle will not end unless the present regime departs of its own will or is forced to depart.

It is not possible for revolutionaries to bring a solution with India other than this, he stated. If India wants peace in Manipur as well as a long-lasting relationship, they should bring the colonial regime to a close, he stated.

Chouren also observed that India has so far refused to recognise and admit that Manipur had been an independent contry that was forcibly annexed to her fold, but rather using democracy as an effective weapon to draw the people of Manipur in the election process in an attempt to show that Manipur is a part of India.

He however maintained that Indian democracy and elections is not real democracy or elections. Real democracy can be there only when Manipur becomes an independent country, he stated.

In this context, he also said that those wielding power in Manipur at present are there as representatives of the Indian State and must bear total responsibility for various inhuman atrocities suffered by the people of Manipur at the hand of the security forces.

On the plank of development, which he maintained is being used as enticement to strengthen Indian rule, Chouren said it is impossible to believe that India, with forty percent of the world`s poor can make Manipur fully developed with her money. The little amount of money that is being sanctioned to Manipur presently is also due to revolutionary activities, he said.

He urged the public to shed the outdated idea of Manipur not being able to survive without depending on India, and shape the future of Manipur through development activities through our own efforts.

He further noted that while India`s pronouncement is for peaceful negotiation with the revolutionaries through dialogue, it adopts violence in action, apparently on the presumption that the revolutionary movement in Manipur can be finished off easily through armed might. This is however fallacious, he mainitained, pointing out that there is no sign of fall in the number of revolutionaries despite the increase in the number of those arrested or martyred.

He also stated that the RPF does not take those of its members who have retired to live a civilian life to have discarded the revolutionary struggle. Rather, it is taking a long term perspective by giving arms training to maximum numbers of youth to prepare them for an imminent war, he stated.

Chouren also stated that the RPF has been built as with the character of a true revolutionary party. The fact of building the party without any division into factions shows ideal discipline and mutual trust among cadres. The RPF has now become one of the unassailable revolutionary parties of Manipur, he said.

Regarding unity among the revolutionary organisations, Chouren said it is the party`s desire that various revolutionary parties come under one platform. However, as seen from past experience, it cannot be taken for granted that revolutionary work can be undertaken once a few parties with the same vision come together. It is necessary to explore a path for revolutionary parties even with different ideologies and visions for undertaking revolutionary work together.

This is however not easy in the present different state of affairs prevailing within the revolutionary organisations, he admitted, noting that effort first needs to be taken up bring unity to various factions of some revolutionary organisations.

Expressing the RPF`s stance, he said assistance or encouragement from other parties will not be enough to bring long-lasting unity, unless they come to agreement of their own will. Such organisations beset with factionalism should be allowed to search the parth for their unification on their own, in the process learning to discharge their duties responsibly.

He said there is no question of RPF recognising or working jointly at present with various factions, as this will only cause more bitterness.

He also urged the public to stop helping different factions, rather to put more pressure so that factions come together. Otherwise no end to factionalism, he remarked.

The RPF chief also called for urgent introspection among the revolutionary organisations of the direction of revolution works in the light of the whope people of the work undertaking a new united movement against terrorism. If the issue is not taken seriously, they may fall prey to Indian propaganda to portray the independence movement as terrorist activitiy, thereby lossing support of the international community. In this connection, he appealed to all organisations to desist from using terrorist tactics.

On the covert understanding in the name of negotiations between the Indian Army and rebel groups of various communities, he said this is aimed at causing destablisation by driving a wedge between various communities. Warning that the inevitable result of this is a communal war, he appealed to the revolutionary organisations to come together and work unitedly for Manipur with new ideology and vision instead of reposing faith in India.

While urging the media in Manipur to work in an unbiased manner, Chouren also appealed to all sections not to intimidate or inconvenience the media by interfering unnecessarily with media freedom.

Expressing concern over ever depleting forest and receding hill cover, he also urged the public to take responsible steps to protect the environment, particularly intervene in areas where the Manipur governemnt departments have failed.

He also the need for inculcating a sense of patriotism and dedication to the motherland among the children by educating them in Manipur itself, for which good schools, right academic envornment, as well as new and relevant methods of teaching, are required. It would be a disaster for the future of Manipur to send students indiscriminately outside state for their studies, he said, and observing that instead of dragging the schools with their young and budding students into ever increasing strikes and bandhs, it would be more rewarding to raise and discuss specific issues in the classroom.

Chouren further said no one can be isolated from the revolutionary struggle, and all must prepare to take their part so that the struggle is not put in danger.