Pambei-led UNLF calls for mass support to Peace Agreement-II
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 24 2025:

Contd from previous issue

The fundamental principle of the movement launched by the party since 1964 is based on the 'Idea of Manipur' and the fact that Manipur was an independent country inhabited by several indigenous communities, the outfit's Central Committee continued.

The idea of Manipur is a multi-dimensional concept and it can be studied from different perspectives viz; historical, political, socio-cultural and economic.

Manipur became an independent Nation even before the birth of the Indian Union.

Whereas the Northeastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Meghalaya were created by laws passed by the Indian Parliament, Manipur was a pre-existing independent country borne out of history, the Central Committee's statement asserted.

Politically, Manipur has its own distinct territorial boundary and identity.

The sovereignty of Manipur was recognised at the international level by several international treaties like Anglo-Manipur Treaty 1762, Treaty of Yandaboo 1826, Jiri Treaty 1833 etc .

After the defeat in Anglo-Manipur War 1891, the British Empire did not annex Manipur fully.

After Manipur regained independence on August 14, 1947, a Constitution was enacted and a democratically elected Government was formed on October 18, 1948.These historical facts testify that Manipur was an independent country before it was forcibly annexed on October 15, 1949, it said.

One basic element in the formation of the idea of Manipur is the bond of unity shared among the indigenous communities.

The hills and the valley are not a dichotomy but an inseparable continuum.

There are many well recorded histories of hill people becoming plain people and plain people adopting the life of hill people.

Whatever differences seen outwardly are all colonial creations.

All the indigenous communities share a common origin and as such, they ought to share a common future, it asserted.

Another major pillar of the idea of Manipur is the symbiotic relationship shared between hill people and plain people.

This relationship forms the core of the State's economy.

Moreover, the hill people and the plain people are economically interdependent and culturally inseparable, it said.

Highlighting the impacts of rampant deforestation, climate change and declining productivity, the outfit stressed the focus on sustainable development.

Saying that the outfit and the Government of India will engage in a political dialogue, the Central Committee asserted that it will never compromise the objective of National sovereignty and the right to self determination.

The political dialogue will be held with a far-sighted vision in a comprehensive manner, with special focus on solidifying the idea of Manipur, it said.

The political vision of the party is granting equal political, economic and social-cultural rights to all indigenous communities and establishment of an independent country where there is no room for exploitation or discrimination, the Central Committee asserted.

India violated Article 2(4) of the UN Charter when it annexed Manipur without the consent of the people after king Bodhchandra was forced to sign the Manipur Merger Agreement under duress at Shillong on September 21, 1949 .

As per the Common Article 2 of all the four Geneva Conventions, the National Liberation Movement of Manipur is an international armed conflict, it said.

On the question of the validity of the Manipur Merger Agreement, Articles 51-52 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties say any treaty made without consent of the people of a Nation is wrong from the very beginning.

Again several judgements of the International Court of Justice say that no country can be annexed forcibly or its territorial boundary altered, the Central Committee pointed out.

The liberation movement seen in Manipur is not an internal problem of India but it is an international conflict which emerged from the forced annexation of Manipur by India, it asserted.

In a landmark turn of events towards resolving the Manipur-India conflict, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the party and the Government of India on November 29, 2023 .

The fact that a ceasefire agreement has been signed does not mean the party is retracting from its objectives or seeking a compromise after being vanquished, it asserted.

On the contrary, the Ceasefire Agreement brought the two sides to a mutual understanding that the protracted conflict cannot be resolved through violence.

The Central Committee asserted that time has come to work out a political solution based on historical facts and mutual respect.

A peaceful political dialogue is needed in order to determine the political future of Manipur.

The National liberation struggle of Manipur has opened a new chapter of greater height, the Central Committee asserted.

The Central Committee has also paid respect and revolutionary salute to all its Central cadres, members, officers, NCOs and privates of the armed wing, families of the martyrs who had laid down their lives in the course of the liberation movement Manipuri diaspora and all the people who took part in the foundation day anniversary.

It has also extended warm greetings to all party members now languishing in enemy prisons, revolutionary fighters and all compatriots who have been maimed due to torture by the enemy.

The Central Committee has conveyed warm greetings to fraternal revolutionary organisations of Manipur and WESEA.

It also conveyed gratitude to all countries and people who have been supporting Manipur's right to National self-determination.

The Central Committee has further paid homage to all the founding leaders, as well as leaders, cadres, members, freedom fighters of the party and all the civilians who have laid down their lives in the course of the liberation movement.

The Central Committee added that the outfit will carry on the liberation movement until its destination is reached and its goals achieved.

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