Imphal, December 05 2010: Noting that a lasting solution to the decades old insurgency movement is a common wish of the people, ten different civil organisations have urged upon the Govt of India to allow people express their wishes and stance regarding the insurgency issue and its possible solution.

In a joint statement, the civil organisations quoted UNLF Chairman Sana Yaima's statement that he would not hold talks with the Govt of India and that the Manipur-India conflict should be resolved through plebiscite.

Observing that the BBC had flashed the news about the arrest of Meghen from Dhaka on September 29 all over the world on October 12, the civil organisations remarked that the Govt of India was only exposing its habitual attitude of telling lies and deceiving the people by claiming that Meghen was arrested from Motihari, Bihar after a gap of two months.

They questioned the sincerity of Union Home Secretary GK Pillai when he pretended that he had no idea about Meghen's arrest and stated at Imphal that New Delhi had not received any information of Meghen's arrest from Dhaka.

New Delhi's policy of oppressing the people of Manipur like imposition of black laws, killing people in fake encounters, torturing people against all international laws and norms etc were exposed to the core when it claimed Meghen's arrest from Bihar even as Meghen was arrested in Dhaka two months earlier.

Not satisfied with killing people in fake encounters, New Delhi is now pursuing a new policy of 'fake arrests' in order to make involuntary disappearance of people under dubious circumstances.

The false claim of Meghen's arrest from Bihar was an insult to the Manipuri nation.

Those involved in the 'fake arrest' should be awarded befitting punishment, the civil organisations demanded.

Observing that New Delhi was forced to come out with a concocted story of Meghen's arrest after a gap of two months because of people's protest movements and political pressures exerted by national and international human right groups and the media, they remarked that this was a sweet victory for the people.

Asserting that each and very nation has the right to national self-determination as espoused by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international covenants, the civil organisations demanded that New Delhi should respect this right entitled to the Manipuri nation.

Even as the Govt of India has been employing all its power to suppress the liberation movement of Manipur, the issue of insurgency is becoming more and more critical.

As such, the Govt of India should take into confidence the people of Manipur while initiating any step aimed at resolving the issue of insurgency, it added.

The joint statement was issued by the All Manipur Women's Social Reformation and Development Samaj, All Manipur Tami Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup, Universal Mothers Organisation, Ereibak Eenat Chanura Loinsinlon, Thoubal District United Women's Development Organisation, AMSU, NIPCO, MAPI Council, UPF and the United Peoples Administrative Council.

Meanwhile, a public meeting held today at Khabam Maning Leikai has resolved that the Indo-Manipur conflict should be resolved according to international laws, norms and conventions.

The public meeting was organised under the joint aegis of Yaipha Sindam Naharol Club and the Social Reformation and Development Organisation.

Resource persons addressing the gathering opined that only plebiscite can bring a lasting solution to the Manipur-India conflict.

Tracing back the origin of the liberation movement in Manipur starting from the controversial merger of Manipur into the Indian Union in 1949, followed by abolition of the Constitution of Manipur on October 8 same year and imposition of AFSPA, the speakers strongly advocated plebiscite as a democratic means of resolving the Manipur-India political conflict.

Among others, general secretary of the All Manipur Bar Association Advocate Y Priyokumar and Associate Editor of the Poknapham daily, Bijoy Kakchingtabam addressed the meeting.

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