Imphal, June 14: Reiterating their firm stand against divide and rule policy being allegedly perpetrated in the State, the All Manipur United Clubs' Organisation (AMUCO) observed Protest Day today with social worker Thounaojam Iboyaima as functional president.

During the observance, a serious deliberation on the repeated ploys of external forces to divide the people of Manipur and other incidents of confrontation, though small in magnitude, among different ethnic groups of the State were also held, informed a press release issued by AMUCO.

When the wave of imperialism swept all over the world in the 19th century, the colonised people were also exploited economically as "trade follows the flag".

Further, the imperialist powers devised the disastrous "divide and rule" policy in order to perpetuate their colonial legacy.

On the other hand, the Nupi Lans, the Kuki Rebellion, the movements led by Haipou Jadonang and Rani Gaidinliu and the people's movement launched under Hijam Irabot are all standing testimonies to the firm stand of the Manipuri people against imperialism.

But, it is also a historical fact that the people of Manipur could not make their anti-imperialist movement successful.

In retrospection, it is also clear that the most basic factor behind the failure of people's movement was the inability of the people to unite as a single force due to the divide and rule policy of the imperialists, AMUCO noted.

The people's movement to free themselves from the yoke of imperialism were given a death blow by the forced merger of Manipur into the Union of India in 1949.In continuation of the people's movement against imperialism, the armed movement of the Manipuris to restore sovereignty in the land was intensified by 1980, recalled AMUCO.

But in 21st century, imperialism has adopted a totally new character in the form of globalisation under which the economic powers of the world have been exploiting poor and developing countries to their benefit.

Keeping in mind of the new form of imperialism being expanded all over the globe under the cloak of globalisation and liberalisation, the AMUCO concluded that the Bangkok Agreement of June 14, 2001 as an imperialist strategy schemed by the Union Government.

Even as main objective of the Bangkok Agreement of June 14 was restoration of peace, it did cause disastrous misunderstanding and conflict among indigenous peoples of the North East, particularly of Manipur.

This was also the real motive behind the Agreement as far as the Union Government is concerned, remarked AMUCO.

It further asserted that under the prevailing situation and changing faces of imperialism, it is imperative for all the parties waging national liberation movements to unite together and fight their common enemies with the combined strength.

In such a situation, it is not acceptable to reduce the strength of the insurgents by confronting each other.

On the Protest Day today, AMUCO once again reaffirmed their resolution against oppression of oppressed nations and perpetuation of alien rule in these subjugated nations under the banner of 'imperialist globalisation'.

AMUCO also called upon the people to take a firm stand against any form of imperialism in any corner of the world.

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