Not involved in elections : Koireng-led UNLF
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 21 2024:
The Koireng-led UNLF has categorically stated it was/is never involved in elections held under the Government of India.
According to a statement issued by the outfit's secretary of publicity M Shak-Hen, the Indian political and electoral systems would only spell doom for the ethos of Manipuri people.
For this very reason, people of Manipur ought not put any faith in the Indian electoral system, it said.
Everyone is witness to how the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections held on April 19 divided the people and created turmoil in the society.
One new, evil feature brought about by Indian elections in Manipur as seen on April 19 was widespread violence and electoral malpractices perpetrated through armed groups, it remarked.
There were many reports of anti-democracy and anti-people activities like opening fire, assaulting voters and large scale proxy voting.
All these activities pointed to a systematic effort to murder democracy, it said.
Reacting to allegations made by some womenfolk that "UNLF was involved in certain poll related incidents that took place at Iroisemba", the Koireng-led UNLF clarified that it had nothing to do with any of these incidents.
It is not only the incident that took place at Iroisemba.
All the unwanted incidents that took place at different places are manifestations of the dirty politics of the wealthy political class of India, the outfit alleged.
"Our people must understand that real democracy can never thrive in Manipur under India's alien rule", it asserted.
Since Kuki militants, allegedly patronised by India, launched a war against the Meitei community on May 3, 2023, the Meitei community's existence and the integrity of Manipur have been put under serious threats apart from causing untold misery to all the people, it said.
Instead of facing these threats and challenges collectively, the people are being fragmented as a result of participation in the alien Indian political culture, the outfit continued.
There are reports of 'some unknown armed persons' threatening and abusing mothers who were looking after the safety and needs of village defence volunteers during the past 11 months.
All these unwanted incidents are results of participation in the Indian electoral process, it asserted.
The Koireng-led UNLF stated that the people of Manipur would be able to enjoy all the democratic rights only when Manipur regains its independence.
Putting faith in democracy, the UNLF earlier raised a proposal to hold a plebiscite in order to resolve the Manipur-India conflict but the Government of India did not give any response, it said.
The outfit then appealed to all the people not to get themselves involved in the Indian political culture, the central characteristics of which is wresting power by using all kinds of unfair means including money and muscle powers.
Asking all the people to be always wary of those puppets of the Government of India, the outfit further appealed to one and all to focus on how to face collectively and overcome the threats challenging the existence and integrity of Manipur.