Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 28 2010:
The United People's Front (UPF) celebrated its 12 foundation day at Manipur Press Club here today.
The function was graced by Prof N Joykumar of History Department, Manipur University and UPF president YK Dhiren as chief guest and president respectively.
UPF founder president Kh Ratan, UPF ex-president Y Devdutta and Thingom Mangi were guests of honour of the function.
Speaking on the occasion, UPF general secretary K Bikramjit said that Manipur was once a powerful, sovereign kingdom in South East Asia.
However, today the people of this once sovereign state have been denied the right to live.
With the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act imposed in the State for the last many decades, security forces have been killing people besides committing all kinds of excesses, Bikramjit remarked.
The UPF was established on August 28, 1998 with the objective of enabling the people of Manipur live free and dignified life just like other peoples, he said.
Lauding the activities of the UPF done in the last 12 years, Prof N Joykumar observed that there is no easy answer to the question of ensuring all fundamental rights to the people of Manipur.
When the labour force of the State has been completely dominated by non-local people, everything that the people of Manipur has been using in their daily life is not produced in the land.
Observing that the economy of Manipur is critically sick, Prof Joykumar said that economy of Manipur has degraded to the status of a slave.
In his speech, YK Dhiren said that the UPF has been standing against all kinds of challenges to the right to life for the last 12 years.
He said that the UPF would continue to work together with the people for the right to life and integrity of the people of Manipur.
Observing that lack of unity among the people of Manipur is a great setback, Kh Ratan asserted that the alleged divide and rule policy being followed by the Government of India can be defeated only when there is unity amongst the people.
Y Devdutta said that intellectuals of the State have been only working in their self-interests.
They have failed to lead the people with their ideas and thoughts.
He accused the intellectuals of being equivocal.