Imphal, February 01 2009: THE VTH foundation day of the Indo-Myanmar Fraternal Alliance (IMFA) was observed today at a solemn function held at the Manipur Press Club here.

Minister, IFCD and YAS, N Biren was the chief guest, MLA Dr I Ibohalbi and MLA RK Anand were the guests of honour and president of IMFA, RK Shivachandra presided over the function.

Addressing the gathering, Minister N Biren said, Manipuri people are a race that has a lot of innate talents and abilities.

But today, due to certain mis-steps in history, the Manipuris appear to live somewhat weakly.

If we have to get out of it, we need to rebuild a united strength, Biren said and added, IMFA has been trying to extend help to and follow the footprints of the Meiteis who have settled in different places outside Manipur, which is very good and highly encouraging.

When the Meiteis unite and build a united strength, the prevailing law and order situation in the state would also be improved, the Minister said.

Minister Biren donated a sum of Rs 20,000 for the proposed construction of a temple of Ibudhou Pakhangba by the Meiteis settled in Myanmar.

MLA Dr I Ibohalbi said, the IMFA has begun opening a bridge for uniting the Meiteis who have settled in separate places.

This is very encouraging, the MLA said and hoped that if IMFA succeeds in building a strong bond between the Meiteis of Manipur and those settled in Myanmar, it might pave the way for uniting all the Meitei people who are settled in separate places in the world.

Dr Ibohalbi expressed concern that once there was a thriving market at Prem Nagar at Moreh, which has now been replaced by Namphalong in Myanmar.

People from Imphal used to purchase merchandise from Namphalong and sell the same at Imphal.

But today businessmen from Kolkata and Guwahati come and buy up all merchandise from Naphalong and take it away, which is causing the Imphal market to die gradually.

MLA RK Anand said, the Look East Policy of Government of India is proposed to pass through Manipur for essential reasons, but there are chances for it to skip over Manipur when the policy becomes reality.

Therefore, the people of the state need to think and prepare themselves, or else the Manipuris could get sunk in the impact of globalisation.

President of IMFA RK Shivachandra narrated interesting stories about skilled and highly talented artisans of Manipur who were forcibly taken away by the Burmese during the period of Seven Years' Devastation.

He narrated how they were not allowed to enter the palace of Burma but made to settle near the palace.

He informed the gathering that Nadaose village is the first place in Burma where the Meiteis were made to settle.

Documentary slide shows of his journeys to different part of Mynamar and other south east Asian countries were also shown at the function.

He said, the ways towards south east Asian countries were far better and more convenient for the people of Manipur for trade and commerce and import of essential commodities than the national highways 39 and 53 .

Mutua Bahadur, a renowned cultural expert, also spoke at the function.

The two MLAs donated Rs 10,000 each for the construction of the temple of Ibudhou Pakhangba in Myanmar.

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