IMPHAL, October 11: The revolutionary movement launched against India is not only to free ourselves from the colonial yoke, but it is also to join the global race in development. Sovereignty means development, and vice-versa.
A conglomerate of six proscribed organisations, Coordination Committee, CorCom consisting of KCP, KYKL, PREPAK, PREPAK (Pro), RPF & UNLF in a statement signed by its media coordinator H Poirie has stated the above statement in connection with its `National Black Day`™ observation on October 15.
The CorCom in the statement has appealed to the people to support as well as to take part in the movement, reiterating that only collective struggle can decide the destiny of the people.
It continued that `National Black Day`™ will be observed on October 15, as part of the movement and accordingly State-wide general strike has been called on the same day, starting from the midnight intervening night of october 14-15 till 6:00 pm of October 15. CorCom has appealed for people`™s cooperation on the said day. All kinds of activities in government or private establishments, commercial activities, entertainment and movements on the roads are prohibited during the strike. However, medical emergencies, religious rituals and media functioning will be exempted from the strike, said the statement.
Eliciting the genesis of the sovereignty movement, the statement further said that the foundation for democratic political administration was laid, with the institution of the Manipur State Constitution Act in 1947. This was even before the British left
Manipur (kangleipak). And for the first time, democratic election was held in June 1948, followed by formation of council of ministers on October 18, 1948 at the durbar hall of Kangla.
It said this democratic set-up was trampled upon by the Indian government by forcing the then King to sign the `Merger Agreement`™ on September 21, 1949 at Shillong. With the signing of the agreement, Manipur came under the colonial regime of the Indian State on October 15, 1949.
The statement added that the people of Manipur were against the said agreement at the time of signing it, and people have thus stood against it till today, by carrying forward the sovereignty movement.
It continued that there has been lots of public discussion regarding the `merger agreement`™, and the discussions have unanimously agreed that it was forceful annexation of Manipur by the government of India.
Aggression and annexation are not allowed by any of the United Nation`™s systems. There have been instances of countries achieving sovereignty with the assistance of the UN. The right to self-determination of the people has been clearly laid down in the UN Charter on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Till this date, the right to self-determination of the people of Manipur has been trampled by India, added the statement.