Waging war with 'communal interest' is dangerous: MNPF
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 24 2015: Manipur is a State inhabited by different communities and if one wages war with self-interest, the "enemies" will take the advantage, asserted Manipur Naga People's Front (MNPF) Chairman John Francis.

The chairman during an interaction with media persons on Wednesday at an undisclosed location along Indo-Myanmar border said that the hills and the valley formed Manipur State and MNPF emerged to wage a "united war" to achieve Manipur's sovereignty" .

John Francis further clarified that MNPF is not a faction of another organization and the outfit has no former underground cadres in its "cabinet" as office bearers and cadres.

The organization was formed by "fresh people" and no former cadres of any underground organization joined the outfit, clarified the chairman.

Waging war with 'communal interest' is dangerous: MNPF

In the present scenario, enemies will try to occupy the front position and take advantage of the situation if any organization "wages war against India" with communal interests, said John Francis.

He urged the communities in the state to leave behind communal interests while fighting for "Manipur's sovereignty." While replying to a question on the recent Peace Accord signed between the Government if India and NSCN (IM), John Francis pointed it was the fourth time that the Indian Government has signed peace accords with the Nagas.

Naga-Akbar Hydari Accord or the Nine Point Agreement of 1947; 16-point Agreement of 1960; the Shillong Accord in 1975 and the recently signed Peace Accord (August 3) were all part of the "divide and rule policy" of the Indian State, reiterated the MNPF chairman.

History shows that Manipur had once expanded its territory to vast Northeastern sides, said the chairman while adding that hills and valley can never be separated.

MNPF said it wants the different communities in the State to live together and united.

MNPF was established in 2011 but launched official work from March 11, 2013 and now the organization has above 300 cadres, informed the chairmen.

He also said the there were infinite number of over ground workers.

John Francis said the organization has its own way of working with other likeminded underground groups to achieve Manipur's sovereignty.

Recalling few actions of MNPF, the chairman said that � one personnel of AR were killed and two injured on February/March of 2014 at Chahong Khunou; two CRPF personnel were killed on August 13 last at Laikoi Ching; office of Tangkhul Nagalong in Ukhrul was vandalized in 2014 for being the mouthpiece of NSCN (IM) and tone bomb explosion at Ukhrul.

Advisor to MNPF Joy Kashum and Assistant Publicity Secretary Thomas Newmai also attended the interaction with the media persons.

John Francis lastly said that people of the hills and the valley in Manipur are "brothers" who can never be separated.

He informed that Tangkhul elders used to say that one can view 70% of the valley area while standing near Lambui village of Ukhrul district.

The Tangkhuls used to stand here and cheer loud when Meeteis, being the younger brothers, lit lights on during the night in the valley.

The occasion has been observed till today as "Mera Wayungba", said John Francis.

Meeteis and Tangkhuls separated at Oknaopokpi area in the olden days and this place is also now known as Yaingangpokpi, informed the chairman.