Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, April 21 2010:
The proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has issued a lengthy statement on the eve of the sacred Khongjom Day.
The statement issued by T.Leisemba, Secretary, Publicity, RPF said that it is worth recalling that on 23rd April, 1891, valiant forefathers sacrificed their lives at the sacred battle of Khongjom against the British to protect and defend the freedom and sovereignty of Manipur.
Leisemba said, they were not prepared to easily give away freedom of the nation without giving a fight to the then greatest imperialist power on earth where the saying goes "sun never sets to their empire." The great forefathers firmly believed in the principle that it is better to live for a moment with freedom and dignity rather than to live for hundred years under bondage and servitude.
He further said that the patriotic forefathers who cherished this spirit gave their lives without any hesitation while fighting the enemies.
Even those youths who are yet to emerge from the protecting arms of the mothers gave their precious lives for the motherland.
Eventually, the nation had lost her freedom.
Their deeds and actions have earned them martyrdom and they died as freemen and not as slaves, Leisemba said in his press statement.
He said, "On the eve of the Khongjom Day, it is a matter of importance for us to ponder over and introspect whether we are free or not.
After the nation was able to free her from the shackles of British imperialism yet she was coerced into becoming a part of India who was more sinister and venomous in its imperialist designs than the British" .
"Many pro-Indian compradors are hell bent on playing the canard of claiming Manipur a free state.
These compradors are desecrating the sacred river by their namesake acts of offering floral tributes in the memory of our heroic forefathers which is nothing but acts of insulting the heroes of the land" .
Asserting that the onslaught of state terrorism has rendered the people into leading a life of sham living, the Secretary, Publicity, further pointed out that the imposition of draconian laws has denied peoples' right to freedom of expression and suppressed free exercise of opinion in the guise of compensation.
The present regime had unleashed countless sufferings over the hapless people of this land, Leisemba said adding that many black laws are imposed, people are oppressed, butchered, chastity of young women are disrobed with brazen disregard of international conventions which civilized nations may find disgusting to hear such stories.
He said, the battle of Khongjom had shown the path of freedom to the disgruntled and anchorless generation.
People must prepare themselves to be a part of today's fast changing world.
This is the people's right to live.
The basic rights of the people of Manipur have been continuously denied by India though she was able to remain free from the British.
The freedom struggle must strive to attain new heights by treading the footsteps left behind by the forefathers, Leisemba asserted.
The Indian politics based on the principle of class and caste has divided the communities of the region with their principle of divide et impera thereby destroying the unity of the people and that weakens the social fabric of the region.
"We should not forget that we are the offshoots of Paona, Yengkhoiba, Heirangkhongja, and Chinglensana.
On this sacred and auspicious Khongjom Day by recalling the heroic deeds and acts of the brave forefathers, we call upon our compatriots to prepare ourselves to sacrifice and carry forward the freedom struggle," Leisemba said in his statement.