Alien rule the most formidable obstacle to dignified life : UNLF-I
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 23 2014: The proscribed United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has categorically stated that the most formidable obstacle for the people of Manipur to lead a peaceful, dignified and prosperous life is New Delhi's colonial regime.

The UNLF was set up on November 24, 1964 to free the people of Manipur from the colonial yoke and restore its sovereignty, claimed the outfit's central committee in a lengthy statement issued on the occasion of its 50th raising day.

To explore all possible means of winning back the lost sovereignty is a natural historical process.

At the international level all colonised Nations have the right to self determination as enshrined in the UN Charters.

It is common experience of the present generation of how dozens of colonised Nations of Asia and Africa regained their sovereignty in the course of the UN's decolonisation process.

The UNLF was set up to represent the people in their struggle to restore the lost sovereignty and past glory of Manipur which was once a very old, independent kingdom where oppression and suppression were unheard of, added the statement.

Commemorating the 50th raising day, the central committee on behalf of the party and its armed wing paid revolutionary salute to all departed leaders of the party including Kalanlung Kamei (president), Thongkhopao Singsit (vice president), Arambam Samarendra (general secretary), Nongmaithem Pahari (COAS), Longjam Manimohon (organization-hills), NK Sanajaoba (organization-youth) and Laishram Kanhai (central committee member) .

The outfit also conveyed deepest regards to all the people of Manipur.

All Nations wish to live independently.

That was why, they fought and sacrificed their precious lives when their Nations were invaded by stronger Nations.

The Nation, known today as Manipur, has its own distinct civilization which is 3500 years old and it has written history spanning over 2000 years.

Indigenous people of the land who settled in the hills and valley have their distinctive cultural identities and racially they belong to the Mongoloid stock.

The valley settlers were divided into seven/eight clans before they merged into a single entity known today as the Meitei.

But the hill people remained divided from village and village.

Nonetheless, the hill people evolved into distinctive communities like Tangkhul, Mao, Maram, Kabui, Thadou, Maring, Anal etc.

These communities again joined together and collectively formed the Manipuri Nation since around 300 years back.

However, on account of strong western influence in both the valley and hills, a line of division was drawn between the hills and valley in the realms of religious practices and administration.

This line of division was deliberately drawn in the interest of British colonial rulers.

The same division and resultant conflict is being sustained under the alleged Indian colonial rule which has further divided the Manipuri Nation into many groups.

Because of these divisions, the historical process of consolidation of Manipuri Nation still remains incomplete, added the outfit.

The consolidation process suffered two major setbacks as consequences of the Seven Years Devastation and the Anglo-Manipuri War.

These setbacks incapacitated the people of Manipur to take the historical responsibility of warding off the expansionist policy of India when Manipur achieved its freedom after the departure of British colonial rulers.

Even as the people were aware of all possible consequences, Manipur was forcibly merged into India in 1949, the central committee asserted.

After Manipur was merged into the dominion of Government of India, Manipur's first National assembly and the elected Government formed by majority Praja Santi Alliance was dissolved.

Since then, Manipur remains a colonised State of India.

In this way, democracy which had just taken its roots in the soil of Manipur was nipped in the bud.

This was one of the gravest injustices committed by India, the so-called democratic country, accused the outfit.

The political objective of the UNLF is establishment of a new democratic country where all indigenous communities enjoy freedom and autonomy at all levels based on the principle of harmonious co-existence, equality and equitable development.

The social objective of the party is establishment of a society where all communities enjoy the same rights, free from any kind of discrimination.

"The UNLF also strongly believes that all the peoples of Western South East Asia (WESEA) should be granted freedom and allowed to live unitedly", the central committee asserted.

The UNLF was named so without taking any community's name and its stance to rename Manipur with a new consensual name is based on the UNLF's principle of equality among all communities, it conveyed.

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