However, ‘Manipur’ as a Nation is passing through a crucial stage in its history, observed the outfit.

The contradiction between two basically different political ideologies, one aspiring for a common future in co-existence through freedom and independence and the other seeking territorial space for exclusive ethnic identities thereby creating ethnic conflicts, is dangerously becoming antagonistic.

This does not augur well for the entire ethnic peoples of Manipur. The struggle between these two ideological lines, having become antagonistic, is fast approaching the flashpoint, said UNLF and added that this is the issue that needs to be addressed at all levels along with the issue of erosion in the national identity and the ever contracting economic situation of Manipur.

As a result of hard work for many years in cooperation with the people, today the liberation struggle has made significant progress. However, the weakness in failing to take effective measures against the threat in regard to the gradual erosion in the people's national identity is yet to be overcome, admitted the outfit.

“The nature of this threat is the ‘silent invasion’ of waves after waves of foreigners, including Indians, and the cultural onslaught from India having no social values that can be absorbed to our benefit.

A cultural renaissance to rediscover the intrinsic values of our culture that is inherent in our national identity is the only answer against the challenge of external cultural onslaughts,” said the statement.

The UNLF strongly feels that a movement for cultural renaissance is the need of the hour, said the statement. In this regard the outfit appealed to all cultural activists and experts to work together and rediscover the intrinsic values that are inherent in the national identity of the people. The line of the UNLF in this regard is to protect and develop national identity by rediscovering the intrinsic cultural values and to take effective measures to check negative cultural influence from outside.

However, any measure to protect national identity from outside negative cultural onslaught must not miss the economic realities of the people’s day-to-day existence, observed the outfit.

Briefly touching on the present economic situation of Manipur, UNLF said that the economic scenario in the decade ahead is a ‘captive market’ under Indian rule and highlighted by the ruthless onslaught of globalization through the ‘Look East’ policy of India. That this onslaught will bring about far reaching changes, good and bad both, in the socio-eco-cultural life of the people is an inescapable reality, said the outfit.

However, UNLF cautioned the people that this policy of India, though outwardly stated to be for the economic development for Manipur, is actually targeted against the liberation struggle. This is a strategy intended to defeat the national struggle, said UNLF adding that this is because the liberation movement which has become strong enough to be militarily undefeatable. Thus India has now adopted the plan to defeat the movement through the process of globalization. As such, the UNLF would emphasize the paramount importance to get prepared beforehand so as to turn the ‘Look East’ of India to the advantage of the people.

Reiterating its basic line, UNLF said that that unless and until Indian rule is overthrown and independent political power is in the hands of the people, economic development is not at all possible under present circumstances.

“Therefore, India’s ‘Look East’ policy should be taken as a serious challenge to our survival as a Nation. Under the circumstances, we need to make all the necessary preparations to chart out our own ‘Look East’ policy in order to protect and safeguard our National identity and National interests as we join the process of globalization, which is an inescapable reality,” observed the outfit.

Recalling the relevance of the prediction of the Puya which said that ‘Eastern Gateway will open” UNLF said that unless the people are prepared, it will become increasingly “difficult for us to survive as a Nation with the onslaught of India’s ‘Look East’ policy over and above the already precarious economic reality of being kept dependent on Indian grants for State Government employees.”

However, the UNLF opined that there are possibilities to create the foundations of ‘our economy’ even under Indian rule. In this regard the UNLF emphasized the urgent necessity of launching an economic movement on the basis of an economic policy formulated on line stated above. The UNLF would do everything in its capability to make it happen, assured the statement.

Talking on the internal contradiction, the statement said “other challenges apart, the most serious challenge that is confronting Manipur now is the effect of the ‘peace process’ between GOI and NSCN (M) on Manipur. In this regard, the question that has been disturbing the minds of our people is whether the overall integrity of Manipur would be compromised in India’s effort to buy out NSCN (IM) for a permanent peace deal. So far, India has not taken a decision on this line. May be the June 18 Great Uprising still haunts their mind. At the same time there is no credible assurance that India will not do it. Now, reading from latest developments, another possible scenario needs to be discussed as well. That is, the likely misadventure of a desperate NSCN (IM) to flare-up ethnic bloodshed between Nagas and Meiteis when GOI ultimately rejects the demand of NSCN (IM) that ‘Naga inhabited areas be included in Nagalim’”.

Noting that the NSCN (IM) leaderships are not averse to instigating ethnic bloodshed, UNLF recalled the tragic Naga-Kuki bloodbath in 1993. The UNLF would like to reason with all concerned not to indulge in such short-sighted politics which will only result in sinking together, said the statement.

“The UNLF knows well that this is the politics of some self-centered people, not the aspirations of the common Nagas. We would sincerely appeal to the Naga leaders, particularly Naga leaders of Manipur, to seriously look at matters in the larger interest of all concerned. Because it is high time to realize that such politics plays directly into the game of India to divide and destroy us. The historical reality of the Region provides no, other way than peaceful co-existence among all its ethnic peoples,” further said the statement.

On the steps to be taken up, the outfit said that whatever the circumstances, the people of Manipur should remain prepared to face any eventuality. In case the first scenario comes to pass, which is the integrity of Manipur is sacrificed as a result of a compromise between GOI and NSCN (IM), everything including the campaign for Plebiscite would become irrelevant. The only option available then will be to declare the independence of Manipur and embark on ‘Utoop Laan’ of the entire people, the general offensive, to overthrow Indian rule.

Under the circumstances, the ‘MLAs’ and ‘Ministers’ working within the Indian system will be compelled to take a stand according to which they will be judged if they are the enemy of Manipur or not.

In the second scenario, if the NSCN (IM) out of desperateness, resorts to ethnic violence against the Meiteis following the eventual rejection by GOI of their demand to integrate Naga areas to ‘Nagalim’, the response of the Meiteis along with other ethnic peoples should be to prevent, at all costs, any such ethnic violence.

“We feel reassured that the political maturity of the Meiteis displayed during the 18 June Great Uprising and the 52-day ‘economic blockade’ will once again defeat such ethnic-exclusive adventures. The UNLF would, therefore, appeal to all the ethnic communities of Manipur to get prepared in order to face any eventuality boldly so as to protect the common interest of all ethnic communities,” added the statement.

Regarding UNLF's stand to protect common interest of all ethnic communities of Manipur and the region it expressed readiness to work together with the NSCN (IM) provided the latter abandon the path of compromise with India and return to the fold of fighting against Indian occupation.

However, we would urge upon the leaders of the NSCN (IM) that our freedom and independence can be achieved only through a united struggle against India, never by isolated ‘peace talks’ with the adversary, observed the outfit while highlighting futility of ‘Naga-Meitei' fraternity until agenda to wreck the age-old relationship is abandoned.

Observing that genuine unity of the region can only be built up through a common effort for national liberation, the UNLF prevailed upon the NSCN (IM) leadership that respective aspirations of all ethnic peoples in the Region is something to be discussed and resolved among the parties concerned, and not to be negotiated with a third party like India.

The essential principle inherent in this issue is coexistence and co development among all the ethnic peoples respecting one another’s distinctive identities, it said.

Inspite of the prevailing complex and delicate internal situations, the UNLF has been successfully confronting Indian forces, unprecedented in scale and dimension in the history of our liberation struggle. The offensive of adversary force since October last year to capture base areas marks the start challenging the UNLF struggle, particularly of the MPA, iterated the statement.

Contending that MPA had been successfully challenging might of Indian security forces, UNLF said defeat of the numerically bigger Indian force in many engagements like in Chandel, Churachandpur, Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts has created an unprecedented revolutionary situation generating psychological superiority of MPA over mercenary elements.

Attributing the success to sympathy and support of the people, particularly in hill areas, UNLF described the revolutionary movement as having entered a qualitatively higher stage with profound historical significance.

The UNLF would like to congratulate and salute the local people who have made direct contributions, the fraternal patriotic forces and fighters of the MPA for their great achievements, it said while cautioning that there is still no room for complacency as national liberation struggle means a long journey full of ups and downs.

Conveying of preparedness to face unpredictable consequences, the statement emphasized on remaining alert to carry the struggle through its logical end.

The annual statement issued to mark the 41st anniversary of the UG group also focused on new political step to be adopted to deter designs of the Indian Government as well as express sentiment of the people.

Elucidating on the issue, the UNLF said unprecedented democratic struggle the people and emergence of the armed struggle had created a new revolutionary situation in Manipur, prompting UNLF resort to a new political offensive against India by announcing on January 31, 2005 the 4-point proposal for holding a Plebiscite in order to resolve the Manipur-India Political Conflict once and for all.

It will not be wrong to say that the proposal to resolve the armed conflict democratically is a new political step having significance not only for Manipur but also for the region as a whole, it asserted and termed the proposal for Plebiscite as a political step to make the people aware and conscious of their democratic rights, and empower them accordingly, to take part in resolving the conflict that arose with the annexation of Manipur by India in 1949.

Describing beginning of the open discourse on the issue of Plebiscite as ‘the seeding of the inevitable democratic movement for plebiscite’, the UNLF took heart from the fact that the issue of plebiscite was tabled and discussed in the Manipur State Assembly, even though within the Indian system.

“However, one should not have the illusion of holding plebiscite in the immediate future as that will only distract the purpose of the discourse. Because we know that India will not give a positive response readily,” observed the Central committee's annual statement.

Reminding that the only internationally accepted method to take the vote of the people on a vital national issue is the plebiscite, UNLF justified floating plebiscite citing that Manipur-India political conflict need to be resolved according to the wishes of the people.

the first question to be decided by our people is whether they should or should not involve in the process of resolving the conflict even though UNLF is of the firm belief and had already announced that people should be involved in the process, iterated the UG group while adding that despite the proposal for plebiscite the stand on restoration of Manipur’s sovereignty and independence remains firm as ever.

"Despite this stand, the UNLF has committed itself in unequivocal terms to honor the verdict of the people in a plebiscite. Further, the UNLF would like to clarify that though the proposal for plebiscite was first announced by it, it is now up to the people of Manipur to take a decision on it".

It is very encouraging, that the open discourse on plebiscite on the issue of restoration of Manipur’s sovereignty and independence is now being con- ducted in many parts of Manipur, observed the Central Committee.

Reposing faith upon the people’s democratic struggle to ultimately decide the future of Manipur, the UNLF also termed session on plebiscite being held throughout the State as sprouting anew of genuine democracy shunned by India in 1949 while expressing that initiatives taken by the public of Manipur will give a new direction to the region’s liberation struggle.

Noting emerging scenario in the region’s revolutionary situation wherein polarization is becoming clearer by the day, the Central Committee interpreted that on one pole is the political line of national liberation struggle with unity among ethnic people on the basis of self-determination, and on the other is the politics of seeking territorial space for ethnic-exclusive identities.

Clubbing KLO of Kamotapur, ULFA of Assam, TPDF of Tripura, all the genuine organizations of Manipur and UNLF as organizations engaged in national liberation struggle on the basis of the first political line, the Central Committee labeled NSCN (IM) as forerunner of the second line.

Organizations belonging to the second category have declared ‘ceasefire’ with India and some of them have eventually entered the process of ‘peace talks’ ultimately resulting in abandoning sovereignty and independence for the sake of territory, it said and added “This scenario outwardly presents the struggle of the Region as a whole in poor light”.

However, UNLF contended that the emerging situation will prove which one is the correct line of national liberation struggle.

Also referring to ULFA formally proposing that ‘talks can be held only on the issue of restoration of Assam’s sovereignty’ through the People’s Consultative Group, UNLF described the ULFA endeavor as a new experiment in the search for solution in accordance with specific conditions. “We will have to watch the outcome of this experiment”, it added while conveying its revolutionary greetings to all like-minded revolutionary organizations, people of Manipur and Kashmir.

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)