Won't give up demand for Manipur's sovereignty, says Pambei-led UNLF

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 2 : The Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has asserted that the outfit will never give up their demand for restoration of Manipur's sovereignty nor will they surrender their arms despite agreeing to hold peace talks with the Government of India.
A reception ceremony of the outfit was held at Kangla Fort today following the historic signing of the ceasefire agreement with the Government of India on November 29.
At the ceremony, acting Chairman of Pambei-led UNLF Moirangthem Nongyai, at first, appreciated the Government of Manipur for holding the grand reception for them at Kangla Fort.
Saying that the UNLF was established on  November 24, 1964 with the involvement of  all major communities of Manipur viz Meetei, Kuki, Naga and worked together to instil a sense of patriotism among all the Manipuris  for years, Nongyai continued that the front took up arms only in the 1990 out of necessity.
Nongyai further said that they successfully started fighting corruption, crimes against women and children, drug menace and other ills of the society after taking up arms with overwhelming support from the people.
Continuing that a reformist movement is an insepa- rable part of any armed struggle, Nongyai maintained that they have gone through both ups and downs in their movement spanning over five decades.
Nongyai went on to state that they managed to get a foothold in the hilly region after  fighting the Indian military forces on multiple occasions.
Maintaining that they have now agreed to hold peace talks with the Government and end the decades old conflict between India and Manipur, Nongyai stated that the leaders at New Delhi have formally conveyed their recognition of Manipur as once an independent kingdom.
Nongyai asserted that they, however, will never compromise their demand to restore the sovereignty of Manipur despite engaging in peace talks with the Government of India.
He said that they agreed to be a part of the peace process only after the Government of India agreed to consider restoring the sovereignty of Manipur.
The Pambei-led UNLF signed a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India on November 29 at New Delhi to begin the peace process, he added.
Maintaining that the dialogue will be bilateral (between GoI and Pambei-led UNLF), Nongyai said that Chief Minister N Biren Singh played a very important role for the peace process to happen.
He lauded the Chief Minister and the State Government for their initiative.
Appealing to one and all to not take their  decision to hold dialogue with the Government of India as surrendering to India or selling out the State, Nongyai maintained that they will not  surrender their arms to the Government or anybody until the talks end.
Until the talks end, people should not think that the Pambei-led UNLF has returned to the mainstream, Nongyai added.
General Secretary of Pambei-led UNLF Chabungbam Thanil, on the other hand, said that Manipuris are free and proud people who don't like to be ruled or governed by others.
After existing for thousands of years as an independent kingdom, Kangleipak was annexed by Awas for seven years (Chahi Taret Khuntakpa) and another 53 years by the British, he said and added that Manipur stayed as an independent entity for two years after the British left before the alleged occupation by India again.
Claiming that Manipur was forcefully occupied by India in 1949, Thanil said that UNLF was founded in 1964 when its founder late Arambam Samarendra was only about 29 years old to win back the sovereignty of Manipur.
The first president of UNLF Kalalung Kamei was a Kabui while Thongkapao Haokip, a Khongsai, was the vice president at that time, he said.
Saying that the outfit is not valley based and it respects all the communities, Thanil maintained that many of its cadres are educated and they didn't join the movement for not getting decent jobs.
The armed struggle in Manipur is not related with law and order but political, Thanil continued and maintained that they agreed to hold dialogue after going through rounds of discussion among themselves to end the conflict between Manipur and India through political means.
Ministers, MLAs and top ranking officials of the Government attended the programme, among others.