ManipurOnline

2006-12-03T11:10:00.000+05:30

Manipur Territorial Integrity To Stay: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today ruled out integration of Naga-inhabited areas at the cost of Manipur. The announcement comes two days before the next round of Naga talks with the top NSCN (I-M) leadership in Amsterdam and has dealt a major blow to chairman of the outfit Isak Chisi Swu.

All states contiguous to Nagaland are averse to the idea of carving out “Nagalim” from their territory. “It is the duty of the Centre to protect the people of the state and respect their sentiments,” Singh said as the crowd at the Kangla Fort ground burst into applause.

By Singh’s side was Union labour minister Oscar Fernandez, who will head the group of ministers negotiating with the Naga outfit.

Chief minister Ibobi Singh said there could be no compromise on the boundary of the state and problems needed to be solved through negotiation.

In the last round of talks with the outfit, no breakthrough could be achieved.

The NSCN (I-M) has demanded integration of Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland under a single administrative unit.

Praising Manipur’s “diversity,” Singh glorified the mix of tribal groups and Meiteis in the state. “The richness and diversity of culture here have attracted everyone. Nehruji referred to this state as the Switzerland of the East and the Jewel of India. Indiraji wanted Manipur to shine like a gem,” he said.Indicating that the tribes in the hills and the Meiteis in the valley have lived together for ages, Singh said it is a perfect example of unity in diversity that exists in our country.

2006-10-01T06:39:00.000+05:30

Border Trade: From 22 Items To Free Trade

Union Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh has announced that free trade would be introduced in place of the current border trade on 22 selected items between India and neighboring country Myanmar. However, no third country would be allowed to enter the trade.

The Union Minister who arrived here yesterday on a three day official visit inspected the development works being taken up in connection with the border trade at Moreh today.

Commerce and Industries Minister N Mangi, Health Minister DK Korungthang, Director of Ministry of Home Affairs (Border Management), Senior Manager of IBD and UBI, Kolkata PP Singh, Customs Commissioner RD Negi and Principal Secretary (Commerce) PC Lawnkunga were among the people who accompanied the Union Minister during the inspection tour.

Soon after arriving at the border town of Moreh, Jairam inaugurated a 40 metric tonne capacity weight bridge constructed by MANIDCO near Moreh Gate no. 1.

The weight bridge was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakhs under ASIDE scheme of the Commerce and Industries Ministry, Government of India.

Later the Union Minister inspected the condition of the office of Land Customs and Station and Moreh Hospital.

Later, participating in a meeting held at the convention hall of Moreh Trade Centre, the Union Minister declared that the existing border trade between the two neighboring countries on 22 selected items would be stopped and free trade of all the items available in the border post will be introduced from now on. However, no third country will be allowed to take part in the border trade, he added.

The Union Minister further announced that India Government has a plan to construct a modern integrated customs and land building at an estimated cost of Rs 70 crores at Moreh for further development of border trade.
He also entrusted Principal Secretary (Commerce) PC Lawnkunga to identify a plot of land measuring not less than 50 acres which will be required for the purpose.

While accepting the proposal raised by NGOs for organizing International Trade Fair, the Union Minister also directed the authorities concerned to submit the necessary report so that an International Trade Fair can be organized in November 2007.

The Union Minister further noted that a 15-day long training program on import and export under Indian Institute of Foreign Trade might be conducted as part of the Trade fair.

On the issues put up from the sides of Indo Myanmar Border Trade Union, Jairam Ramesh said that the Centre has already given its nod to introduce bus service from Moreh to Mandalay.

However, as for air cargo services from Imphal to other States of India, the Union Minister pointed out, it would be appropriate to discuss the matter only after there are adequate products and cold storage facilities.
The Union Minister also assured that Government of India would provide subsidy in transportation of Sericultural products from Manipur to other Indian States.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the condition of the National Highway 39, especially from Imphal to Moreh, Jairam said the manner of implementing the road work for which India Government had sanctioned Rs 15 lakhs is not commendable. So it would be better to hand over the task to BRO, he added.

As to the appeal made by ADC Moreh drawing the attention of the Union Minister for fencing the border in view of the prevailing law and order and insurgency problem at Moreh, the Director of Border Management of Ministry of Home Affairs replied that survey work is currently being carried out border fencing by next year.

Before embarking on his Moreh trip, the Union Minister had personally went to inspect the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex and Sericulture projects being taken up in different parts of Imphal East District earlier during the day.

Courtesy: The Sangai Express

2006-09-03T07:02:00.000+05:30

Vision Manipur Program

Launched with an aim to revive the game of football in the country, the Vision Delhi program takes its first step with the school league kicking off here on Wednesday. The league will have 48 participating teams. The Vision Delhi Program, part of a pilot project named Vision India Program, was launched with the help of Asian Football Confederation, All India Football Federation and Delhi Soccer Association. A similar program is launched in Manipur, where the local football association comes into the frame. AIFF secretary Mr. Alberto Colaco told reporters today that 48 teams, mostly public schools, would be in the fray in this tournament. “This is just the beginning and we are expecting more schools, especially the government ones, joining the fray. The AFC, in collaboration with AIFF and the DSA, has conducted three workshops as part of our preparation and we hope the school league will be a success,” Mr. Colaco said here. He also said that Manipur would also have their league starting this month. “The progress in Manipur has been one of the best in Asia and the school league there will start on 9 September with 32 under-11 teams,” he informed.

The Statesman, New Delhi September 02, 2006

------- Apparently, the Vision Delhi Program already has a sponsor. For Delhi, the AIFF has got the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to sponsor the school league and hence the project will be called the SAIL Vision India Project Delhi.
------- Perhaps, the AIFF needs to find a sponsor for Vision Manipur as well. Manipur is the future of Indian Football and it is good that this is realized. However, there is no SPONSOR yet. That is crucial.

2006-05-31T04:19:00.000+05:30

Manipur Fumes Over Rio ‘sneak-in’

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh may have shrugged off two banner-waving youths welcoming him into “South Nagalim” in his own state but his Nagaland counterpart’s “trespassing”... into Manipur territory and calling for Naga integration was too much for him to digest.

The Manipur Assembly today unanimously condemned Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s “behaviour” and urged the Centre to rein him in. The Assembly also termed Rio’s entry into Manipur and call for Naga unification as “irresponsible” and urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to restrain the chief minister of the neighbouring state from creating communal disharmony.

The House took up the matter after members from both the ruling and Opposition benches raised the issue during Zero Hour. The members quoted a newspaper report, which said Rio entered Senapati district without informing the Manipur government and addressed a public meeting at Tadubi on May 25.

The report said Rio urged Naga legislators in Manipur to campaign inside and outside the Manipur Assembly for unification of all Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative unit. Rio also reportedly announced that he would reward two Naga youths who unfolded a festoon welcoming chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh to “South Nagalim” during the his visit to Senapati on May 22.

Although present in the House, none of the Naga legislators took part in the deliberations. Senior ruling party member M. Nara Singh said Rio trespassed into Manipur. “His statement is an attempt to trigger communal violence and it calls for a befitting reply from the Manipur Assembly,” Nara Singh, who is also convenor of the ruling Secular Progressive Front, said.

The chief minister said he has apprised Union home minister Shivraj Patil and Union minister Oscar Fernandez, who is leading the government team in talks with the NSCN (I-M) leaders, of the development.

“We should all condemn Rio’s entry and provocative statements. The Manipur government will not remain a silent spectator if the Nagaland chief minister repeats such acts in future,” the chief minister said.

The House should warn the Nagaland government not to repeat it,” Ibobi Singh said in a hard-hitting statement.

Courtesy: The Telegraph

2006-05-27T06:47:00.000+05:30

Drumming up interest
Zakir Hussain's showcase brings ancient Indian percussive arts into the spotlight

Short of climbing mountains and traversing deserts in far-flung pockets of India, your best bet for catching the musicians of Zakir Hussain's Masters of Percussion is attending Saturday's performance at the Wortham Theater Center.

"It's a showcase to display little-known percussive art forms of India," Hussain said. "Every two years, I bring different kinds of drummers and percussionists from different parts of India, who rarely get a chance to be seen."

This year, some of the drummers represent tribes from the extreme eastern mountains of southern India and others the extreme western deserts. Some of their instruments have a 2,000-year history.

A new element that adds visual interest is the Manipur Dancing Drummers from the eastern mountains.

"The Manipur guys tie the drum to their body and then they play the drum and visually imitate the patterns of the drum," Hussain said.

"They are very acrobatic. They perform flips and somersaults, and the music is all being played live while they do this.

"And now that I've convinced them that they should be traveling without their hunting knives, it's even safer," he said, with a laugh, alluding to myriad cultural challenges such a tour presents.

"There are different languages within the group. At least between south India and north India the common language is English; but the eastern and western regions don't even speak English. The language has been a bit of an issue, but once we start playing rhythms they are universal, and all that language stuff goes out the window."

Hussain and his two brothers represent the classical traditions of northern India.
The ensemble also includes a sitar player.

"There's drums, there's rhythm, there's dance, there's song. All these come together in hopefully one balanced and very cohesive performance," Hussain said.

Hussain performs at least 150 concerts annually and shuttles between homes in San Francisco and Bombay.

Born in 1951 in Bombay, Hussain learned to play the tabla with his father, celebrated Indian drummer Ustad Alla Rakha.

In 1969, the prodigy became a music professor at the University of Seattle, where he developed a love of world music. He has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Tito Puente, Van Morrison, George Harrison and Ravi Shankar. As a child, he started playing the tabla, a percussion instrument that he describes as both versatile and mysterious. He also plays jazz and fusion and scores music for independent films.

The Masters of Percussion group tours every other year. This tour began on April 29, Hussain's father's birthday.

"He's the one who taught us this art form," Hussain said of his father, who died in 2000.. "We are dedicating the tour to him. He's the first, the premiere drummer who came out of India that everyone heard. Buddy Rich made a record with him."

In the early '90s, Hussain and his father toured as a duet. They began adding other percussionists whom they had met in their travels to the show.

"On the stage we're all professionals," Hussain said. "we're all musicians representing our traditions and proud of it, and it comes through very nicely."

After the tour, the musicians return to their homes throughout India. But the tour tends to be a life-changing experience.

"I've successfully corrupted most of these guys in the sense that they have started coming down from the hills or the villages and playing performances all over India," Hussain said. "Now they also have students who come and study with them. Things are becoming more and more open."

eileen.mcclelland@chron.com
Courtesy: The Houston Chronicle

What do you think of the comments by Zakir Hussain on the Manipuri Dancers?

2006-05-14T10:24:00.000+05:30

"Non-Self-Governing Territories" (according to the UN, there were 17 in 1996)

A 1996 report by the Secretary General says that the great majority of these NSGTs were small island territories which suffered from various handicaps, including limited size, remoteness, vulnerability to natural disasters, and lack of natural resources, as well as migration of skilled personnel.

Matters pending at the UN (dispute over sovereignty) include East Timor (controlled by Indonesia but considered a Portuguese NSGT by the General Assembly), Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Gibraltar, New Caledonia [France], and Western Sahara (a Spanish colony seized by Morocco). Also American Somoa and Puerto Rico.

Other Small Territories which are not in dispute but which are more-or-less self-governing and not UN members include: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guam, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, Tokelau, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. Bermuda has one of the world's oldest parliaments.

Kashmir is listed by the UN as an occupied territory whose final fate is yet to be determined.

Courtesy: www.globalpolicy.org

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What are the clearest early warning signs of a failing state?

Among the 12 indicators we use, two consistently rank near the top.

Uneven development is high in almost all the states in the index, suggesting that inequality within states—and not merely poverty—increases instability.

Criminalization or delegitimization of the state, which occurs when state institutions are regarded as corrupt, illegal, or ineffective, also figured prominently. Facing this condition, people often shift their allegiances to other leaders—opposition parties, warlords, ethnic nationalists, clergy, or rebel forces.

Demographic factors, especially population pressures stemming from refugees, internally displaced populations, and environmental degradation, are also found in most at-risk countries, as are consistent human rights violations.

Identifying the signs of state failure is easier than crafting solutions, but pinpointing where state collapse is likely is a necessary first step.

Courtesy: www.foreignpolicy.com

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IT IS UNDERSTANDABLE THAT MANIPUR WAS A STATE AND IT IS NOT A STATE NOW. IT IS A NATION. BUT THEN INSURGENCY EXISTS WITH THE AIM OF BRINGING BACK THE LOST SOVEREIGNTY.
REGARDLESS, DOES MANIPUR EXHIBIT TRAITS THAT COULD DETERMINE IT IS A FAILED STATE?

2006-02-09T01:25:00.000+05:30

Communal Tone

It is a tragedy that a number of civilians have been killed and maimed by the IEDs planted in the interior parts of Churachandpur district and while the blame game over the issue is on between the proscribed UNLF and the security force, what is a matter of concern is the attempt by some elements to give a communal tone to the issue at hand.

There is no ground to condone the planting of IEDs which do nothing except make life hell for the common people and at the same time it is also absolutely unjustified to give a communal tinge to the planting of the IEDs. The concern should be about the planting of the IEDs and the heavy toll it has taken on the innocent villagers of the far flung areas.

The security force and the UNLF may continue with their slinging match but the general public and the social organizations must see to it that no attempt is made to communalize the issue. We agree that the outfit in question is dominated by the Meiteis, but there is no reason why the Meiteis should be blamed for any action taken up by the outfit concerned here.

Make no mistake; it makes absolutely no sense to equate any action launched by any outfit with any community. If the people are against any particular outfit then it should be against that outfit and not against any particular community.

In this age of globalization, when people are beginning to look beyond the boundaries of their Nation, it would be not only stupid but also suicidal for us to continue to cling on to the philosophy of ethnic divide. Again it is important for the general public to be aware of the elements who are only too happy to rake up an issue along communal lines for their own personal ends.

Manipur is a land made up of different ethnic groups and communities and it is precisely because of this that extra care needs to be taken to ensure that communal seeds are not sown by any force or any element.

Why should every issue be seen only through the narrow prism of communal divides? And who stands to gain by giving a communal hue to any issue that comes up? In fact the situation has come to such a pass that any issue whether it is education, lack of development, absence of medical facilities etc, are invariably given a communal tone and we need to seriously question whether such posturing is going to do any good to anyone.

As ordinary citizens of this land, let's all ponder over this issue deeply. There may be forces at work which will be only too happy to see communal tension becoming the order of the day and there may be elements who will not hesitate to spew communal poison and it these elements which we should identify and root out from our society.

We do not need a Pravin Togadia amongst us. As the majority community we do agree that the Meiteis need to be more sensitive to the sentiments of the other communities, but blaming the majority community for all the ills besetting the State makes no sense.

The Sangai Express Editorial Thursday February 09, 2006

2006-01-05T09:02:00.000+05:30

`Revive Inner Line Permit System`

Seven lakhs of the 24 lakhs population of Manipur are migrants and 1/3 rd of the voters in each constituency is non-Manipuri. The fate of the Tripuris in Tripura might soon befall on the Manipuris. This was conveyed by Sapamcha Jadumani, the president of Federation of Regional Integrated Indigenous Societies (FREINDS) in the first ever interaction with media at the federation`s office today.

He further said that to meet the challenges posed by the rising number of influx population on the economy, polity and culture of the state, the Inner Line Permit System which was in existence should be revived.Jadumani conveyed that the influx population has already started depriving the indigenous people many of their rights, including right to employment, take part in competitive examinations, etc. However, he said the worst effect could be seen in the economic spheres as the outsiders have reached a stage where they determine the prices of essential commodities.

The FREINDS` president said that this colonization of our economy should be controlled. He said that reviving the Inner Line Permit System is only a means to control the rising problem of migrants` population and should not be seen as a communal tool since all the Indian citizens are welcome to the state and should stay as non-Manipuri. Referring to the recent incident in Jiri where the Bengali Muslims threatened the indigenous people there to stay away from carrying out their economic activities, Jadumani said that the need for Inner Line Permit System is very urgent.

He said that efforts will be made to include the issue of reviving the Inner Line Permit System in the agenda for the coming Assembly session and once it comes into existence all the non-Manipuri settling before 1951 will be considered as Manipuri. It maybe noted that the Inner Line Permit System was used till November 18, 1950 till the then chief commissioner Himat Singh discontinued it by issuing a simple notification. This system is still used in all states of Northeast India except Assam, Manipur and Tripura.

Source: Imphal Free Press

2005-12-01T10:25:00.000+05:30

'Manipur Nagas want to merge with Nagaland': Survey

In a move that could create serious repercussions among Manipuri organisations, the Naga National Party (NNP) has said that a two-month survey that it conducted in the hill districts of Manipur had shown that the Naga people in the districts would prefer the districts to merge with Nagaland.

The NNP said that the study had been conducted "extensively" in the Naga areas of the hill districts and that it had also held meetings in various district headquarters in the course of the survey.

Stating 12 reasons for the Nagas wanting to merge their areas with the Nagaland state, NNP said that successive Manipur governments had "exploited the Nagas politically, economically, religion-wise and in terms of development". There were no signs of development in areas such as Poi, Chatric and Challou in the Ukhrul district, among others, it said.

"Opposition to the Indo-Naga ceasefire extension and Naga integration by the Manipur government without considering the aspirations and desires of the Nagas are also some of the reasons why Nagas did not want to live in Manipur any longer," the NNP said. The Manipur chief minister's statement "asking Nagas to leave Manipur without their land" was an insult to the community, the NNP said.

Other reasons for Manipuri Nagas wanting to merge with Nagaland, said the NNP, included the delimitation issue and the introduction of Meetei Mayek in the state. (Newsfile)

Source: Kuknalim.com

2005-12-01T08:05:00.000+05:30

Govt thinking of reviewing decision a year after lifting AFSPA from Imphal area

A little over a year after the government lifted the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the Imphal municipal area by removing the Disturbed Area Act from this area, a need is being felt in the official circles or reviewing the decision.

Escalating incidences of insurgency related crimes in the municipality area, is now compelling the state government to think of a review, especially with the security forces putting on the pressure claiming they feel handicapped in dealing with insurgency in the state due to the lifting of the Act.

In this regard, a high level meeting of the state government to review the law and order scenario in the whole of the state in general and Imphal municipality area in particular will be convened on December 1.The meeting is to be attended by the state governor, chief minister, top officials of the state home and police departments and army, Assam Rifles and central paramilitary forces` officials deployed in the state.

A high level source said that review of law and order in Imphal area would be the primary concern of the meeting which is expected to make a detailed comparison of the incidence of insurgency related crimes one year back, before the lifting of the AFSPA from municipality area and the situation at present.

The agenda for the meeting also includes consideration of issues relating to the central government`s `ceasefire` with KNF (president group) and review of the highway patrolling scheme.It may be noted that as a consequence of prolonged agitations for more than one month in the middle part of last year, the state government had decided to remove the disturbed area status from the Imphal municipality area by an order of the state home department issued on August 8, 2004 allowing lifting of the AFSPA from the area.

While issuing the order it was dated back to May 2004. During the period from August 2004 to August 2005 around 900 crimes, mostly related with insurgency, were registered at various police stations, the source disclosed and said that while reviewing the developing law and order situation, this tally may be the main deciding factor on whether disturbed area status be reimposed in the Imphal municipality or not.

Regarding the suspension of operation (SOO) between India government and Kuki National Front (president group), the state cabinet in one of its meeting held in the last week of September this year had decided that any arrangement contemplated for the suspension of operation and subsequent negotiations will not be acceptable to the state government if these involve discussion/negotiation about issues relating to the territorial integrity or adversely affects the interest of its people, at any stage or in any way.

It may be noted that in the last three to four months there have been reports of a ceasefire coming into effect between some Kuki underground groups and the central government of which, however, the state government has denied having any knowledge. A communique of the MHA had come to the state in this regard only after the outfits made claims in this regard through the local media.In this connection, the state Cabinet had also demanded furnishing of the fundamentals of the proposed SOO from the government of India before the state government`s consideration and formulation of its response.

The state government also urged the Union ministry of home affairs that the reply of the Government of India should include information about the proposed location of the designated camps.The Center was also asked to mention details of the action to be taken by the state government if the members of the outfit continue to indulge in activities detrimental to the state`s interest like extorting, kidnapping etc.The ministry of home affairs was also asked to obtain confirmation from the government of India on the expenditure and requirements of the designated camps and also provide dedicated security for the same.

2005-11-28T08:28:00.000+05:30

`Plebiscite only way to end conflict`

The Joint Action Committee, an apex organisations of all the civil society bodies, clubs and NGOs and Meira Paibis of Sekmaijin to Khordak Echil area convened a public meeting on theme `role of plebiscite in resolving the Manipur-India conflict`. The meeting was held at the premises of the Laphupat Tera High School today. Several prominent persons, members of Gram Panchayats and leaders of Meira Paibis of the area took part in the meeting. Professor N Joykumar, dean of social science, Manipur University, Professor W Nabakumar, dean of students welfare, Manipur University, Salam Bharatbhusan, president, Editors Forum and advocate Y Devadutta, president United Peoples Front also attended the meeting as resource persons.The meeting viewed seriously the ongoing conflict between Manipur and India as a political one and it resolved that it should be solved politically keeping in view democratic norms and practices. Observing that the people of Manipur have every right to maintain freedom and strive towards development, the meeting resolved that plebiscite is the only way to resolve the ongoing Manipur-India conflict without bloodshed, once and for all. It also resolved that government of India should decide to hold plebiscite in Manipur.The meeting also resolved that all the underground outfits in Manipur should come under one banner and strive towards holding the plebiscite. It further resolved to apprise the United Nations and government of India about the demands being put forward by the oppressed people of Manipur.

Source: The Imphal Free Press

2005-11-24T23:15:00.000+05:30

Delimit Cry Rings In Hills - Pressure Mounts On Ibobi
By Khelen Thokchom

The issue of delimitation in Manipur is likely to snowball into a major controversy with the hill districts strongly opposing the move by the Okram Ibobi Singh government to skip the exercise.

An all-party delegation is currently in New Delhi to meet officials of the Delimitation Commission and press for maintaining status quo in the 60 Assembly constituencies in the state. However, the residents of the hill districts have formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) to counter the move by the state government and political parties.

Following a resolution taken by an all-party meeting last month, the Ibobi Singh-led delegation met the chairman of the commission, Justice Kuldip Singh, on Monday and urged him to maintain the existing Assembly segments in the state. The delegation argued that “abnormal” growth of population in some areas of both the hill and valley was unacceptable. As such, if the exercise was carried out on the basis of the 2001 census, problems could crop up in the state, they said.

Crying foul over it, the JAC sent a memorandum to the commission chairman to take up the delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2001 census report. It expressed strong opposition to the decisions taken by the Ibobi Singh government and the all-party meeting, saying it was a denial of rights to the hill people.

The memorandum, signed by Ngatangmi Ningshen, secretary of the JAC, said though the hill districts account for 20,086 square km of the total state area of 22,325 square km, the five hill districts had only 20 Assembly seats while the four valley districts had 40.

“As per the 2001 census, the total population of Manipur is 22,93,041 and as per the norms, each of the 60 Assembly constituencies should be delimited to 38,000 population both in the valley and the hill areas through the ongoing delimitation process in respect of Manipur,” the memorandum said.

The decision taken by the Secular Progressive Front government and also by the all-party meeting to maintain the status quo of the existing constituencies was “simply deprivation of rights” of the people living in the hill districts, it charged.

Reacting to the all-party meeting decision to include eight Assembly constituencies of the Outer Manipur parliamentary constituency to the Inner constituency while seeking status quo of the existing Assembly segments, the memorandum said it was an injustice to the hill people. The whole move had an “ulterior” motive, it said. It went on to charge that the policy of the government was partisan.

The all-party delegation is also likely to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Source: The Telegraphindia

2005-11-24T07:27:00.000+05:30

United National Liberation Front (UNLF) – 41st Anniversary

On its 41st anniversary which falls tomorrow, the Central Committee of the proscribed UNLF today presented its annual statement highlighting some urgent and important issues confronting the people.

The highlights of the statement are:

The UNLF will complete 41 years of the struggle launched to restore the lost sovereignty and independence of the people tomorrow. It added that 'Manipur' as a nation is passing through a crucial stage in its history. It acknowledged the contradiction between two basically different political ideologies, one aspiring for a common future in co-existence through freedom and independence and the other seeking territorial space for exclusive ethnic identities thereby creating ethnic conflicts, which it says is dangerously becoming antagonistic.

This situation does not augur well for the entire ethnic peoples of Manipur and this very struggle between these two ideological lines, having become antagonistic, is fast approaching the flashpoint'
This is the issue that needs to be addressed at all levels along with the issue of erosion in the national identity and the ever contracting economic situation of Manipur. The weakness in failing to take effective measures against the threat in regard to the gradual erosion in the people's national identity is yet to be overcome, admitted the outfit.

“The nature of this threat is the ‘silent invasion’ of waves after waves of foreigners, including Indians, and the cultural onslaught from India having no social values that can be absorbed to our benefit.
A cultural renaissance to rediscover the intrinsic values of our culture that is inherent in our national identity is the only answer against the challenge of external cultural onslaughts,” said the statement.

The UNLF strongly feels that a movement for cultural renaissance is the need of the hour, said the statement. In this regard the outfit appealed to all cultural activists and experts to work together and rediscover the intrinsic values that are inherent in the national identity of the people. The line of the UNLF in this regard is to protect and develop national identity by rediscovering the intrinsic cultural values and to take effective measures to check negative cultural influence from outside.

However, any measure to protect national identity from negative outside cultural onslaught must not miss the economic realities of the people’s day-to-day existence, observed the outfit.

Briefly touching on the present economic situation of Manipur, UNLF said that the economic scenario in the decade ahead is a ‘captive market’ under Indian rule and highlighted by the ruthless onslaught of globalization through the ‘Look East’ policy of India. That this onslaught will bring about far reaching changes, good and bad both, in the socio-eco-cultural life of the people is an inescapable reality, said the outfit.

However, UNLF cautioned the people that this policy of India, though outwardly stated to be for the economic development for Manipur, is actually targeted against the liberation struggle. This is a strategy intended to defeat the national struggle, said UNLF adding that this is because the liberation movement has become strong enough to be militarily undefeatable. Thus India has now adopted the plan to defeat the movement through the process of globalization. As such, the UNLF would emphasize the paramount importance to get prepared beforehand so as to turn the ‘Look East Policy’ of India to the advantage of the people.

Source: The Sangai Express

Welcome

2005-11-24T06:43:00.000+05:30

ManipurOnline would like to take this opportunity to welcome you. This blog is especially created with the hope that web visitors will be able to opine and interact on the various issues facing Manipur in particular and the North-East in general. Happy Blogging!!