Talks if sovereignty on agenda : RPF
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 28 2016: The proscribed RPF has categorically stated that it would not engage in any political dialogue with the Government of India except on the agenda of Manipur's sovereignty.

A statement issued by the outfit's publicity secretary Roben Khuman recalled that Manipur was a sovereign Nation State having a written history extending over 2000 years.

When Manipur adopted a written Constitution as a Nation State, India, now known for its deep rooted racism, was not even conceived.

Following the arrival of British East India Company for trade and commercial purposes at the initial stage, Britain conquered many Nations of the Indian sub-continent one after another and formed a country called India.

However, Indian leaders have been projecting India as a very old and powerful Hindu Nation by conveniently concealing the fact that it annexed 556 small kingdoms/Nations soon after British departure from Indian sub-continent through deceitful means.

Manipur too was annexed into the Indian Union in 1949 against the wishes of the people of Manipur and in total contravention of all relevant international laws, the outfit alleged.

It has been deliberated repeatedly and accepted unanimously that the alleged annexation of Manipur into the Indian Union contradicted the wishes of the people and the king of Manipur.

Recently, renowned scholar of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Prof Nivideta Menon stated that India is an imperialist country and it took control over Manipur and Kashmir in total contravention of international laws.

What the Political Science Professor stated is the truth, RPF asserted.

The primary objective of the RPF's armed campaign is restoration of Manipur's sovereignty and the movement is acceptable to and supported by international laws.

The UN Resolution 1514(xv), 14 December 1960 (Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Country and People) says, "All peoples have other right to self determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economy, social and cultural development" .

Again the UN General Assembly Declaration of December 12, 1974 says, "The struggles of peoples under colonial and alien domination and racist regimes for the implementation of their Right to Self Determination and Independence is legitimate in full accordance with the principles of International Law", the outfit quoted.

Another UN Declaration says, "The armed conflicts involving the struggle of peoples against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes are to be regarded as international armed conflict in the sense of the 1949 Geneva Convention and the legal status envisaged to apply to the persons engaged in armed struggle against colonial and alien domination and racist regimes" .

In the light of these declarations, Home Minister Rajnath Singh's assertion that the Government of India would hold dialogue only when insurgent outfits give up arms carries no meaning.

At the same time, the statement exposed that India is an imperialist country, and it does not respect freedom of smaller Nations nor the international law, the outfit alleged.

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