KYKL calls for UG unity in Manipur

Imphal, April 24: The underground Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, KYKL, is observing its eighth birth anniversary tomorrow. The chairman of the party, Achou Toijamba, has greeted the people of Manipur, and other peoples of the south-east Himalayan region, on the occasion. In his message, Achou Toijamba stated that the KYKL was formed on April 25, 1994 with the objective of unifying all underground groups of Manipur to jointly pursue the struggle for liberation. This ideal remained foremost for the KYKL, he declared. Underscored the need for all underground groups to join together in a single organization to pursue the task of liberating the fraternal peoples of the south east Asian region from colonialism, he said true unity of the different communities would be possible once the different underground groups unite. Reiterating that the different communities of Manipur had the same origin and shared blood ties from time immemorial, he said the contamination by Indian religion and culture in the early 18th century led to deterioration of morals and ethics among the ruling elite, and drove a wedge between the different communities. With the elite turning selfish and losing national character, they forgot the people's interests and the meaning of freedom and an independent existence, he said, leading to the disaster of the chahi taret khuntakpa. The same cause led to subjugation to the-British in 1891 and truncation of Manipur's boundaries, he stated. Stating that if this behavior continues to be followed, true unity cannot be brought, he called for a return to the old and noble traditions and norms of behavior of yore. Achou Toijamba also declared that the KYKL would continue to pursue its Operation New Kangleipak and sought the whole-hearted cooperation of the public as well as the student and teaching community in this regard. Education cannot be treated as a business, and malpractices cannot be allowed to be used to secure success in the pursuit of knowledge, he declared. At the same time, he expressed regret over the killing of a teacher during the last Council examination in Thoubal district. Further calling on the hill communities to join forces with the Meitei community, the KYKL chief said the attempt by India to drive a wedge among the communities on the ceasefire extension issue; he said it had been defeated because of the Meiteis' steadfast belief in the brotherhood of all communities in the state. Cautioning against any further such attempts in the future, he declared that India was the common enemy. Any attempt at the destruction of the Meitei community in collusion with India would also lead to the hill communities, and vice versa, he stated, and appealed to all communities to join together in the struggle to protect their identities.