We only demand what was ours: Meghen
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Guwahati, October 12 2012: Reacting to the observation in NIA Court that UNLF uses illegal means to achieve its goal, the arrested UNLF Chairman RK Meghen has observed that the objective of liberation struggle is restoration of sovereignty and independence of Manipur and there is nothing illegal in this.

Talking to mediapersons while coming out after appearing before the special court of NIA at Guwahati today, Meghen pointed out that United Nation Human Rights charter and relevant international laws endorse that all means even armed struggle are legal for regaining lost sovereignty.

"They (NIA Court) have to see how far the Government of India as well as other Law courts in India comply with the existing international laws", he added.

The UNLF chief went on to assert that "we have nothing to demand from the Government of India as Manipur was an independent country before its merger with India in 1949 .

Manipur was never a part of India.

So, it is not illegal to fight for restoration of lost sovereignty of Manipur.

What we want is what was ours, what ought to be ours and what should be ours" .

RK Meghen greeting mediapersons while coming out from NIA court

The UNLF Chairman observed that the present conflict was created by Government of India when it forced the then King of Manipur to sign the merger agreement under duress at Shillong in 1949 .

"According to the new Constitution of Manipur, any agreement signed by the King or the Council of Ministers need to be ratify by the Assembly but India failed to ratify the agreement", he noted, and added that the people of Manipur still stand by the decision that the merger agreement was null and void.

Pointing out that in January 2005, UNLF proposed a democratic solution to the conflict of holding plebiscite under the supervision of UN, Meghen categorically stated that Manipur-India conflict cannot be decided by a single or group of organisations because it involves the future of Manipur and so it has to be decided by the people of Manipur.

He further stated that the problem faced by Manipur and its people is understood by many countries in the world and so UNLF has many sympathisers all over the world.

"It is a paradox that India, which claims itself to be the largest democratic country in the world does not accept the democratic proposals from UNLF", Meghen added.

He also lauded all those ITians from Manipur working in Bangalore as well as in their home State and observed that the enterprises started by the ITians in Manipur would contribute to the economy of the state and no revolutionary group should extort or harass them.