The proscribed umbrella organisation Coordination Committee (CorCom) on Saturday extended greetings and respects to the labourers and farmers of Manipur on the arrival of May Day and called for their unity “to uproot the colonial rule.”
The day is observed in commemoration of the uprising that took place on May 1, 1886 at Haymarket in Chicago during which labourers rose against the rich and wealthy sections, CorCom stated in a release issued by its media coordinator M Sak-hen.
The uprising voiced a demand to set an 8-hour working day and increase of wages for the welfare of labourers, it stated.
For more than 100 years, Manipur has existed under colonisation including under the British colonisation, it stated. There are two phases of this colonisation: the one under the British and the present one under India. Although these happened under different administrations, both are connected in terms of its basis in economy, CorCom stated. After the British left India, Manipur was further colonised by India, it added. “The exchange of colonisers resulted in losing the will to decide our future and it cut off the means for the people to build a better life on their own terms,” it stated.
As the state has become a captive market by the coloniser, the people have been reduced to only the middle class and labourers, it mentioned. The poor have become poorer and their numbers have also increased as a result of the oppression and atrocities committed against the people, it stated.
To survive, many women have come out on the streets as vendors and labourers. Although they have been idolised for being brave and breaking stereotypes, what ought to be considered is these women are made by the system as they have been forced to work out of poverty, CorCom stated. The rise of so many daily wagers actually shows the real condition of Manipur, it added.
The people must realise that they have been living in such poor conditions and their situation getting worse day-by-day after India took its economy by the throat, it alleged.
Therefore, to remove the heavy burden of the labourers and farmers, the colonial rule of India must be toppled and the independence of the people must be gained, it stated. CorCom will spearhead any movement for the labourers and farmers and will lead the fight for the people, it stated.
