Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 14:
The proscribed RPF and its armed wing PLA has declared that it would boycott the forthcoming visit of the President APJ Abdul Kalam to Manipur.
A statement issued by assistant secretary of Communication and Publicity of the outfit, Lily Leima asserted that since the day Manipur was forcibly annexed to the Indian Union, the people of the land not only lost its sovereignty but also denied all the rights due to an individual and a nation.
Moreover, the people of Manipur are being trampled upon under various conspiracies marked by atrocities, violence and crimes against women.
In addition to torture and murder of male population of the State, even children have been targeted.
Not only that, many women have fallen victims to the lust and genocidal criminal activities of Indian security forces, noted the statement while recalling the cases of Rose, Manorama, Pramo, Naobi etc.
The six year long campaign of Irom Sharmila on empty stomach against AFSPA is the offshoot of such bestial treatment meted out to the people of Manipur over the years, it observed.
Saying that many children are being snatched from the bosoms of their mothers and butchered while many school children are deliberately victimised, it remarked that the high-handedness of New Delhi is well manifested in the detention of Irom Sharmila who is just protesting against Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 in the most democratic manner.
Being the constitutional head of the country which is responsible for all the atrocities and human rights violations in the State, people of the State ought to boycott the President's visit, it noted.
Maintaining that the President of India need not come to Manipur, the RPF statement asserted that the President's visit is aimed at consolidation of colonial rule in Manipur.
Declaring that the outfit does not support any move to keep the people of Manipur under colonial yoke further, it observed that the visit of the President aimed at encouraging the colonial machinery and consolidation of colonial rule is malicious for Manipur and its people.
As such the boycott call given by the people of Manipur against his visit to the State on October 16 is justified and RPF/PLA would extend unstinted support to the general strike called on the day, concluded the statement.