Manipur Merger Agreement null and void: RPF-1
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2025: The proscribed Revolutionary People's Front (RPF) has asserted that the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 is null and void.

A statement issued by RPF acting president MM Ngouba on the 46th foundation of the outfit (February 25), observed as Independence Demand Day, asserted that there are three key criteria that render the Manipur Merger Agreement null and void.

Firstly, India violated the trust that should exist between sovereign and independent States when signing agreements.

International customary law has long recognized the importance of trust between sovereign States that are not at war.

However, India breached Manipur's trust on September 21, 1949 .

Secondly, the use of military and paramilitary forces by Indian authorities to intimidate Manipur's representatives in Shillong was a direct violation of international law, read the statement.

India violated Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of another State.

By challenging Manipur's sovereignty in September 1949, India engaged in an act of aggression.

Thirdly, according to Articles 51 and 52 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT, 1969), any treaty obtained through threats or the use of force is considered null and void.

This principle is widely recognized by international law jurists.

Lastly, no referendum was conducted to determine whether the people of Manipur supported integration into India.

In contrast, Junagadh, Pondicherry, and Sikkim were integrated into India only after a referendum was held.

Since a referendum was never held to ascertain the people's will regarding Manipur's integration into India, it can be concluded that Manipur remains a colony under Bharat's military occupation, the statement alleged.

On 26th July 1947, under the provisions of the newly implemented Manipur State Constitution Act, the powers previously held by the Maharaja of Manipur were transferred to the Manipur Legislative Assembly, enabling the elected representatives of the people to govern the State independently.

Secondly, according to Sections 8(a), 9(b), 10(a), 18, and 26 of the Manipur State Constitution Act (MSCA) 1947, as the Maharaja's power to make decisions independently was removed, the agreement he signed was rendered invalid.

Additionally, the Merger Agreement was never ratified by the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Since the agreement was not ratified, Manipur is not bound by the terms of the Merger Agreement, it contended.

India's forcible takeover of Manipur's administration was not permissible under International Law.

According to Sections 8, 10, and 18 of the MSCA, any decision regarding the fate of Manipur and its people should have been first debated in the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Furthermore, it was not only necessary for the Assembly to discuss the matter, but a referendum must be conducted too, to allow the people to express their stance on the issue, it asserted.

Moreover, the political status of the princely States had already been determined before the British left India.

The Cabinet Mission Plan (CMP) of May 16, 1946 already stated that the British paramountcy would come to an end, and the States could only be linked to the Indian Union in three areas, that is, Foreign Affairs, Defence and Communications.

Apart from these three areas, the princely States gained full autonomy.

They regained all the rights that were previously surrendered to the British Crown, and as a result, the States became sovereign entities.

The Memorandum on State Treaties and Paramountcy of May 12, 1946, clearly states that the princely States had the right to negotiate whether to join the new Constitutional structure of the Indian Union.

As a result, the British transformed all the States into fully sovereign and independent political entities.

Under no circumstances could the Indian Union force these States to integrate, MM Ngouba asserted.

The RPF acting president then asserted that the agreement, which led to the annexation of Manipur by India is now null and void as it violates Constitutional provisions and was made without the consent of the people of Manipur.

"The root cause of our people's suffering for generations is the loss of Manipur's independence which was taken away through deception.

This statement is beyond debate, and the people of Manipur have repeatedly declared the Manipur Merger Agreement 1949 invalid on multiple occasions and in various instances", MM Ngouba said.

He also offered revolutionary salute to all martyred heroes who gave the supreme sacrifice in the struggle to liberate Manipur and her people.

Since the day RPF was founded on February 25, 1979, it has been actively leading the liberation movement with strong resolve, unwavering determination and making significant sacrifices.

"We take great pride in these accomplishments and will remain committed to the clear path toward our liberation goals.

There are three key factors that make it possible for us to follow along this path.

Firstly, RPF is a party guided by a scientific ideology.

Secondly, RPF genuinely believes in the just cause of liberating Manipur.

Lastly, we believe in the power of the people," read the statement.

RPF recognizes that the true strength lies not only in the party's own resolve but also in the resilience and unity of the people who have endured oppression under the alien regime, it said.

In the aftermath of World War II and as colonialism began to collapse globally, Manipur started its journey toward democracy and independence.

However, Bharat and its followers have consistently tried to misrepresent the idea of Manipur and its history of independence.

Since the start of the armed struggle by the RPF/PLA, the alleged colonial master and its supporters have been attempting to distract the people from focusing on freedom and independence by giving revolutionaries different misleading titles and providing ambiguous definitions of Manipur's independence.

As the alien rule continued, instead of promoting progress, people's lives grew more impoverished and miserable while Delhi and its followers misled the public by falsely attributing the absence of peace in Manipur to acts of insurgency.

They constructed a false narrative that Manipur's development was hindered due to disruption, thereby misleading people about the revolutionary movement.

They had also orchestrated surrender dramas to create the illusion of peace and stability in Manipur.

However, these ruses couldn't mask their lies and failures, it said.

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