The Military Affairs Committee (MAC) of the proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) extended greetings to all on the arrival of the 35th Foundation Day of its military wing, Manipur People’s Army (MPA) on Wednesday.
In a release signed by its deputy secretary of publicity M Sak-hen, MAC stated that MPA was created at a place called Tonyu located at a hill range in the Eastern Naga area 35 years ago. The struggles the organisation underwent to overcome the many shortages and needs at that time were a huge battle in itself, it stated.
With the shortages of funds and food; bearing the cold temperature atop the peak of a chilly mountain with little clothes to wear; surviving through the night near a small fire; and the Basic Military Training (BMT) from one’s own resources and wits without anyone’s help, following a half-eaten meal made of boiled sweet potato soup and the few arms and ammunitions – despite all these shortages and needs, the MPA was forged with fire from the absolute determination to fight the enemy so as to regain the lost independence, MAC stated.
On this day, UNLF MAC honour the training instructors and the leaders who have retired, passed away or are still actively functioning at present for the responsibilities they carried to lay the foundations at that time, as well as the cadres who completed their BMTs despite all the challenges.
The major role taken by the first army commander during that time deserves mention and his contributions towards MPA shall never be forgotten, it mentioned.
MAC/MPA shows reverence to the first chief army of staff, late brigadier Ayekpam Wangpa alias Tomba for playing a key role in making the MPA become a fully fledged armed wing and guiding it towards the right path. Afterwards, the MPA under the aegis of UNLF MAC, carried out its first successful operation by launching an ambush upon a CRPF convoy of the ‘Indian Occupation force (IOF)’ in December 1990, it further stated. During that ambush at Lamdan in Laimaton Chingsang, the MPA took possession of five firearms, it added.
A series of successful attacks upon the ‘IOF’ followed afterwards, it further stated, adding that the people may recall the many successful ambushes which the MPA had launched at small and large battlefields. Besides, many villages still have not forgotten the welfare activities carried out by UNLF/MPA at a time when the modern day health facilities were almost non-existent, and had little access to drinking water or food, it stated.
MPA was only following instructions by the organisation to fight the enemy and work for the people, it mentioned. To this day, MPA is still working for the self-determination movement.
On MPA’s 35th foundation day, UNLF, MAC/MPA extend revolutionary salute to the member groups of the umbrella organisation, Coordination Committee (CorCom), its leaders of each unit, officers, and all the revolutionary fighters.
“Let CorCom shine brighter! We further extend greetings to the leaders of other revolutionary groups and all the cadres,” it mentioned.
UNLF, MAC/MPA also extend revolutionary salute to each unit, officers and revolutionary fighters of NSCN and ULFA which are fighting for the self-determination of ‘Western South East Asia (WESEA)’ region, it stated.
Lastly, the organisation extends heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families of the leaders of MPA who had laid down lives, and the freedom fighters who had become people with disabilities after sustaining injuries during the battles against the ‘IOF’, it added.
