Imphal, February 02: Reacting to the Republic Day speech of Governor SS Sidhu this year, the proscribed UNLF today said that in order to find a lasting solution to the Indo-Manipur conflict, the root cause should be first understood and spelt out a four point proposal for the Government of India to ponder over.

In a statement issued to the press today, Chairman of the outfit, Sana Yaima said that the main root of conflict is the independence of Manipur and "As such it is necessary to seek the mandate of the people by holding a plesbicite under the United Nations." To make the plesbicite free and fair, UNLF proposed that the services of the UN Peace Keeping Force be utilised and added, "to enable the plesbicite to be held within the time frame given by the UN, the cadres of UNLF will deposit their arms with the UN Peace Keeping Force.

Similarly, the Indian Government too should withdraw its regular army and para military forces from Manipur".

The statement said that the UN may then hand over the political power according to the verdict of the plesbicite.

Laying down the four point proposal, UNLF said, "We do not think there can be anything more democratic than the suggestions we have spelt out".

Taking note of the Governor's address, the Chairman of the outfit said that it is significant that the Governor described those who have taken up arms for the freedom movement as "Dissatisfied brethren," instead of the earlier description used by Indian leaders, "misguided youths".

"As the Governor has mooted the idea of resolving all issues democratically and through non violence, it has become imperative to remind all that the Manipuris, just the Sikhs, are also peace loving people," said Sana Yaima.

"Manipur has been a democratic society since the dawn of civilisation.

The sole reason why the people have become dissatisfied is the manner in which the then independent Manipur was merged with the Indian Union through deceit and lies in October 1949," said the statement and recounted a brief history of Manipur for the benefit of the Governor.

"Just before the British left Manipur, the Manipur Constitution Act was passed in July 1947 and a democratic Constitution was adopted by the then King Maharaj Bodhachandra.

The first universal franchise under this Constitution was held in August 1948 and 54 representatives were duly elected and an independent Manipur State Assembly was constituted," said UNLF.

The Assembly was inaugurated by Maharaj Bodhachandra on October 18, 1948, said the statement and added that the elected Government was sworn in.

"Since then the legislative power of the King was handed over to the Assembly and all power was then entrusted to the Council of Ministers led by a Chief Minister," recalled the statement.

UNLF reminded all that at that point of time, India was yet to adopt her Constitution.

Peace then reigned in Manipur, said the statement but added, "However India deputed one Dewan who started meddling in the internal affairs of Manipur and confusion and chaos started rearing its ugly head".

On October 15, 1949, India took over Manipur through deceit and coercion, said UNLF and added, "On that every day, the independently formed Manipur Legislative Assembly and the legally elected Council of Ministers were disbanded through an Executive order.

This was the second undemocratic step used by India in Manipur, the first being the time when Maharaj Bodhachandra was kept under house arrest at Shillong and was forced to sign the Merger Agreement".

The once independent country Manipur was then given the status of a Part C State under a Chief Commissioner within the Indian Union, said UNLF.

"The pain and trauma of the Manipuri people when the land was annexed was the same as the pain experienced by the Sikh community, when the Golden Temple was desecrated by the Indian security force," Sana Yaima reminded the Governor.

Today the atrocities committed by the Indian security personnel under the AFSPA stand exposed before the whole world, said the statement further.

Reacting to the observation of the Governor that violence and undemocratic methods have become synonymous with Manipur, Sana Yaima said, "Mr Sidhu should realise that the seeds of violence and undemocratic methods were sowed by the Indian Govt".

The struggle launched by the revolutionary outfits of Manipur is precisely to defeat these forces, said the statement.

"Today we are compelled to take up arms to defend ourselves from the Indian security force.

The conflict that we see today is direct result of the expansionist agenda of India," said the Chairman.

"Manipur would not have been in such a situation today, if India had not forcibly taken over the place, said UNLF and added that this fact should not be lost on the Governor and the Indian Government".

"The observation of Mr Sidhu that Manipur has made progress after it merged with India in 1949 is an affirmation of the fact that Manipur was never a part of the Indian Union," reasoned Sana Yaima.

"Mr Sidhu also commended the achievements of the people in the field of sports, art and culture and social awareness.

However his observation that insurgency has cast a shadow over these achievements, is symptomatic of the stand taken by Indian leaders of laying all the blame at the door steps of insurgency," observed UNLF.

Setting the record straight, UNLF said that today the Manipuri people have excelled in sports, not because of India but despite her.

It is the inborn talent of a people coming to fore and the fact that a place like Manipur which has only about 24 lakh people is dominating the world of sports in India is a signal that with this same determination, the rule of India will be overthrown.

Addressing the Governor, UNLF said that a sincere look inward will pave the way to end the conflict peacefully and democratically.

"It is good for Mr Sidhu to acknowledge that a peaceful and democratic method is needed to resolve the conflict.

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