Imphal, October 08: UNLF chief, Sanayaima reveals his plans for a Mass Uprising in Manipur to CNN-IBN Special Investigation Editor, VK Shashikumar.

Transcript of the interview.

VK Shashikumar: Why is it that you stand away from a political process?
RK Sanayaima: The present system is a failed system.

So the system by itself will not work.

So we use our own system.

We ask the MLAs, ministers, bureaucrats to do what is beneficial for the people.

VK Shashikumar: But they're not doing that...
RK Sanayaima: Some of them have to do.

They do that.

But not within the system but under our�what should I say�influence.

VK Shashikumar: Is there anyway according to you to reconcile demands for a Greater Nagaland and Kuki nationhood and your demand for an independent Manipur ?Here boundaries make or break lives�
RK Sanayaima: We're opposed to any sort of political demands like Greater Nagaland.

We feel that this is something that has to be decided among ourselves among all the communities and we believe that the only way for future is co-existence and co-development� whether you call it Nagaland, Kuki land or whatever it is.

But we don't believe getting or demanding land in the Indian system.

But as independent people we should co-exist together and fight together for our independent existence.

Without fighting for that, we will not adjust.

We may adjust individually.

But as a people, as a distinct human group we will not exist.

Just see how much the demography has changed.

There has been a complete change in the demographic structure of the region because of foreign influx.

VK Shashikumar: You're talking about influx from Bangladesh?
RK Sanayaima: Not only Bangladesh, from India also.

In Manipur, out of 2.5 million population, already about 7-8 lakhs is outside population.

See how it disturbed original demography.

This is more disturbing to us.

VK Shashikumar: Do you think this will also be a cause for violence?
RK Sanayaima: In Manipur, you don't see so much xenophobia as you might have seen elsewhere.

Our people are more tolerant.

But when it crosses a limit�we cannot say if it'll turn into a violent reaction.

VK Shashikumar: Will democratization of India's federal structure satisfy the political aspirations you represent?
RK Sanayaima: Well, first of all our sovereign independence has to be recognized.

It's not a question of giving up the armed struggle.

In order to resolve the Manipur-India conflict, which is not just the political conflict, it is now a politico-military conflict, we have proposed the holding of a plebiscite under UN supervision.

We've made a 4-point proposal.

No.1 is to hold plebiscite under UN, NO.2 that UN peacekeeping forces be deployed in Manipur.

No.3 UNLF will deposit all its arms to the UN authority on a date fixed by the UN prior to the date of plebiscite.

And India should also reciprocate by withdrawing all its forces from Manipur.

No.4 UN authority to hand over power according to the result of the plebiscite.

That's the 4-point proposal we've made.

This is the present position we take right now.

VK Shashikumar: When the UN has rejected the question of plebiscite in J&K, saying that when elections are being held, the issue of plebiscite doesn't exist anymore, the conditions don't exist�why are you so confident that the UN will or the international community will accept your proposal?
RK Sanayaima: When our people stand up as one man and fight for what is their due, I think the international community should stand up and see what's happening there.

They cannot just sit down tight.

When the people start fighting for their rights, as a whole.

VK Shashikumar: True, but your war is confined to jungles.

It doesn't move beyond the jungles.

It's really a war, which is hidden.

Nobody knows about it.

How do you expect this war to get out of the jungles and for the world community to accept that this is indeed a people's war?
RK Sanayaima: That we'll see in the coming years by people's movement for plebiscite.

If you go down the valley, the movement is gaining momentum there and people in different places are holding meetings & discussions for plebiscite.

That will take the character of movement.

VK Shashikumar: So it's not as if UNLF doesn't have a strategy it does have a strategy?
RK Sanayaima: Yes we do have a strategy � both political and military.

And our strategy is to get the entire people involved in the struggle.

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