Imphal, June 28, 2010: The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) has called upon all communities and revolutionary groups of the North East region to shed ethno-exclusive ideology but work unitedly on the principle of harmonious co-existence and collective progress.

A statement issued by the outfit's central committee, which touched on myriad issues confronting the region in general and Manipur in particular, also made a fervent appeal for a joint struggle in order to liberate the region from the alien rule.

It has been a long standing principle of the UNLF that people of the region should live together, progress together and wage the liberation movement collectively.

Policies of friendship or antagonism pursued by the party in relation to other armed groups as well as with regard to ethnic conflicts were/are all based on this principle.

UNLF always honoured the rights of each community including the smallest ethnic groups to uphold and promote their unique identities.

If, for instance, the Chirus, Chothes and Koms wish to identify themselves as Nagas or choose to remain as what they are, they have every right to choose either of the options.

This right of upholding one's identity is always associated with the duty to preserve and promote harmonious co-existence and collective advancement.

Clinging to such rights while forgetting the associated duty will only make Manipur a conflict zone of diverse opinions and imperfect ideologies.

Unfortunately, a similar situation is being witnessed in Manipur, the UNLF rued.

The concept of 'autonomy at all levels' was envisaged and adopted by the UNLF to facilitate co-existence and collective progress.

On account of the failure of Manipuri people to take their political stand boldly in the crucial phase of their history, the State has been reeling under alien rule till today.

After Manipur was 'forcibly merged' to the Indian Union in 1949, the State was brought under an alien rule for the second time, just two years after British left Manipur.

Soon after the controversial merger, India, pursuing its own 'national interests' started giving away territory of Manipur in pieces to neighbouring States/countries.

On the other hand, the Government of India has been deliberately keeping development of Manipur under siege till date.

This was a persistent ploy employed by India to ingrain a notion that Manipur cannot live without India.

At the same time, India has been pursuing divide and rule policy with the objective of creating divisions among the forces challenging the alien rule and to sow seeds of animosity among the indigenous communities.

To build up collective strength of all communities and wage a collective war of liberation is a trial facing the contemporary history of Manipur, the outfit said.

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