Imphal, Jan. 1: The Manipur People’s Liberation Front (MPLF) has called on all concerned organisations to discontinue demanding donations and taking “extortions” from public in the name of armed movement from January 15 this year. The MPLF is an umbrella organisation of Manipur’s three major insurgent outfits — the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (Prepak) and the Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF).
A statement issued by the MPLF’s permanent body today said its member-parties have long stopped collection of donations from public in view of the hardship faced by people of the state.
The MPLF also said that it was aware of the “colonial policy of India”, subjecting the people to “various kinds of repression and economic hardship.”
The MPLF said despite the economic hardship faced by people, some other armed organisations were still collecting donations from the public and were extorting them.
“In view of the prevailing economic hardship of the people, the MPLF is constrained to observe that demanding donation amounts to imposing more burden on them while resorting to extortions tarnishes the image of our national liberation struggle,” the MPLF statement said.
The MPLF hoped that all armed organisations in the state would respond to its call positively without any hint of confrontation. It said any information related with the MPLF’s new step may be communicated to its email address.
Greeting the people on New Year, the MPLF expressed its gratitude to the people of Manipur for their support in the last several decades. It said the people have not only rendered unrelented support to the struggle, but have also given them succour.
“This support and help is the basic strength that has made possible the progress of our struggle,” the MPLF, which comprises top leaders of the UNLF, Prepak and RPF, said.