United Liberation Front Manipur observes 59th Raising Day
UNITED NATIONAL LIBERATION FRONT: MANIPUR
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
59th Anniversary
24 November 2023
ANNUAL STATEMENT OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Respected Compatriots,
On the occasion of 59th Anniversary of the United National Liberation Front, Manipur, 24
November 2023, UNLF Central Committee, on behalf of Party and Army, extends warm
revolutionary greetings to all our compatriots. In connection with the occasion, as usual, we take
the opportunity to present the Annual Statement 2023 of the UNLF Central Committee.
- Introduction: At the outset, UNLF Central Committee reaffirms the first and foremost
objective of the UNLF to regain the sovereignty and independence of our country now known as
‘Manipur’, a sovereign and independent kingdom for centuries, from India’s colonial
occupation. This is the non negotiable position, rather a national principle. Because it is not
possible for any nation and people, under colonial occupation, to formulate policies of its own
for nation building according to their own genius. This is the lesson learnt from the colonial
history of the world. Ever since the Seven Years Devastation of 1819 till now, about two
hundred years, it has been a period in history marked by gradual weakening of our inner strength
because of foreign pressure and interference. The semi-colonial and colonial existence during
this period of our history gradually undermined our national character. Ultimately a psychology
of dependence on foreign rulers creeped in among our ruling class thereby undermining our
resilience. What is more dangerous is the crippling effect on independent thinking and the state
of general demoralisation. This has gradually spread among our people the servile mentality of
dependence on India’s doles thereby eroding our national character. This dependent mentality is
actually conditioned by our existence in a Captive Market Economy under Indian colonial
occupation. This is how the backbone of our nation is being broken. This is how we have been
rendered helpless when the idea of Manipur and its unity is challenged by forces, both internal
and external. As a result, we now see sycophancy at its peak among Manipur’s ‘leaders’ who
frequently shuttle to Delhi either to plead for saving Manipur from the current conflict or for
protecting his chair. This is a phenomenon common to all colonial situation. This also happened
during the Burmese occupation of Manipur known in history as Seven Years Devastation when
some princes collaborated with the Burmese king as puppet rulers of Manipur. In such a
historical situation, colonial mentality develops when the subjugated people begin to see the
foreign ruler as their saviour and that without his mercy their nation will disappear. Yet another
grave situation is the real threat of our indigenous people being swamped by outsiders, a
phenomenon of yumdangbana keinaba (owners becoming refugees). The attitude, rather the
policy, of the Indian government vis-a-vis this phenomenon is one of encouraging the
demographic onslaught so as to dilute the original population on the one hand and to create
antagonistic contradictions among the population on ethnic and religious lines and suppress
them, a classic ‘divide & rule’ policy introduced by British rulers. Another Indian policy is to
keep Manipur dependent by keeping it as a Captive Market to suppress its economic
development. Therefore, the UNLF Central Committee once again reiterates its firm position
that the restoration/regaining of sovereignty and independence is the only path for survival of all
the indigenous people of Manipur. It is this objective reality that compelled to launch the
national liberation struggle of Manipur, a small country with a population less than 3.5 million,
against India, a big and strong country having the largest population in the world. But then, this
is not about weak or strong, small or big. This is just the only path for our survival as a distinct
people.
When the victory of our national liberation struggle is achieved, UNLF intends, as
expressed on earlier occasions, to build a new Manipur having no bias on religious thought
and belief, where the indigenous peoples and all other communities shall enjoy the right to
protect, preserve and promote their distinct cultural identities, having mutual respect for
one another’s distinct cultural identity, also to build together a common civilisation
through interdependent coexistence and codevelopment, and to this end to establish a
political system based on People’s Democracy. And the goal for social development is
Socialism.
The UNLF, built on the above stated foundation, has never been an organisation based
on the ideology of exclusive ethnic identity. On the contrary, UNLF has all along been a
revolutionary organisation with an inclusive national outlook with the objective to build together
a sovereign and independent country. Having faith in this political outlook, the UNLF was
founded by patriotic leaders from Naga, Kuki and Meitei communities, the Founder-President
being a Rongmei Naga, the Founder-Vice-President a Kuki and the Founder-General Secretary a
Meitei along with several others. Inspired by the political ideology of the founding leaders many
patriots from the Naga and Kuki communities along with the Meiteis joined the movement led
by the UNLF. Later on, many from the Meitei Panggal community also joined the UNLF. Thus
the UNLF became a symbolic organisation of all the major communities of Manipur. - Manipur and Kuki-Chins: However, the massive aggression by Kuki-Chin tribes against
the Meiteis beginning 3 May 2023, whatever the reasons, has compelled the UNLF to review
and clarify its stand on the relationship with Kuki-Chin tribes. The UNLF has all along treated
the generations of Kuki-Chins who began to migrate into Manipur since 1840s till the
annexation of Manipur by India in 1949 as naturalised citizens of Manipur. We of the UNLF
wanted to believe that those genations of Kuki-Chins have grown a patriotic love for Manipur
and that they wanted to maintain brotherly relationship with the Meiteis and other communities.
The UNLF also believed that the elite of those generations have scaled down their demand for
‘separate state’ to ‘territorial council.’ That is, they have become a generation, we thought, who
have given up the politics of breaking up Manipur. So, the UNLF knows that the recent
aggression against the Meiteis is carried out mostly by those armed Kuki-Chins who have
infiltrated into Manipur after 2004 (that is after the UNLF/MPA began to withdraw from the
then Chandel and Churachandpur districts). They are well established in Myanmar in various
businesses and retain their Myanmar citizenship. Once settled in Churachandpur, or elsewhere in
Manipur, they send their sons and daughters to Delhi and other metros of India for education. It
is these younger generations who shouted from Delhi, during the agitation for ILP, that ‘Meiteis
are a more dangerous threat than outsiders in Manipur’ as if they are the original settlers of
Manipur. Today they are the force which exerts effective influence in decision-making of the
Kuki-Chins. Therefore, the UNLF has accepted the generations of Kuki-Chins who have
migrated before the forcible annexation of Manipur by India in 1949. Thus, it is Chrystal clear
that the recent aggression against the Meiteis, cleansing Meiteis from Churachandpur and Moreh
and burning down of their houses and dwellings after looting whatever found inside those
houses, above all committing gang rapes and killing of many unarmed Meiteis are crimes
against humanity committed by armed Kuki-Chins who are more conversant in Myanmar
language. The logical action, therefore, is to punish the perpetrators of these crimes and expel
those new infiltrators of Kuki-Chins from Manipur to the last person. In order to remove any
doubt on the matter from a historical perspective, the UNLF Central Committee call upon the
entire people of Manipur to reaffirm the Historical Foundation of our country now known as
‘Manipur’. - Historical Foundation of Manipur: In view of the aggression by new infiltrators of Kuki-
Chins with the declared objective of breaking up Manipur by creating a separate administration,
the UNLF Central Committee considers it to be of imperative necessity to recall the historical
process of how our country now known as ‘Manipur’ was built. Because it is very clear that
the intent and purpose of the aggression of the Kuki-Chin infiltrators is to destroy the very
historical foundation of Manipur. Our country is the home of several indigenes who had faced
very hard times to overcome together the torrents of history. In the process of building this
nation of ours, there were compelling circumstances to engage in wars frequently with hostile
neighbours. Thus our sovereign and independent nation was consolidated in a historical situation
that demanded continuous preparedness for war. Though the brunt of this historical
responsibility was shouldered by the Meiteis, all other indigenes made equal contributions in
building our Ereipak (country). Our Ereipak is a country not separated nor seceded from a
bigger one, nor was it formed by uniting a few countries. Our Ereipak is the product of a long
historical process conditioned by its natural formation of being a highland bonded together by its
inseparable features of hills and plains. This means, Manipur State is a historically evolved
state. And, the State being a Legal Person is an entity which cannot disappear OR which cannot
be dissolved. This is a fact established by iternationatinal law. The political structure of the State
of Manipur, which also evolved along with the State, was marked by a common bond ensured
by internal autonomy of all the indigenous communities down to the village level as per their
customary laws. This is the indisputable Historical Foundation of Manipur. And the historical
foundation is the most important core value of our country. Therefore, realising that once the
core value is destroyed our Ereipak will not survive, all the indigenous peoples of Manipur
should take collective responsibility to protect and defend the core value which is the historical
necessity for survival of all the indigenous communities of Manipur. In this regard, the Meiteis
should endeavour hard with the spirit of sacrifice to shoulder the Historical Responsibility,
which they did all along, but could not do so for some periods in history. - A New Chapter in Manipur History: Today, Manipur, built on the historical foundation as
stated above, is confronting the unprecedented challenge from the Kuki-Chin infiltrators from
Myanmar (not the earlier generations) to create a ‘union territory’ within India by breaking up
Manipur. However, the Kuki-Chins and their mentors did not even think that the fierce attack
from all directions against the Meiteis will serve as a boon in disguise to arouse the latent
strength and courage of the Meiteis to the maximum level. They thought, rather naively, that the
Meiteis have lost their national character and that the revolutionary organisations are at their
lowest ebb. Today, tens of thousands of patriotic volunteers have joined the forces fighting
against Kuki-Chin aggressors with the vow to protect the integrity of Manipur and save the
indigenous Meiteis. Many volunteers have made the supreme sacrifice and many more have
been wounded in the battle field, the exemplary service being rendered by innumerable Meira
Paibee Emas in protecting the volunteer fighters in the entire valley and also in providing
logistics to supply essential items to the battle fronts, and significant monetary contributions
from the rich, are all unmistakable manifestations of Meitei resurgence for a united Manipur.
This is the first ever forceful resurgence of the Meiteis ever since the Seven Years’ Devastation
of 1819-1926. This will be the beginning of a new period in our history defined as Laangol-
Langdai (transitional period) in our age old Puya. However, the historical force being released
will need to be channelized towards uniting the indigenous people of Manipur and all other
tribes/communities for a lasting coexistence. This is a historical task to be shouldered together
by the revolutionary organisations, CSOs, Meira Lups, the Apex Bodies of every communities
and patriotic intellectuals. - “Divide & Destroy”: The aggression of Kuki-Chin tribes against the Meiteis, the
consequent sufferings and casualties on both sides, the massive deployment of Indian Army,
para military, and other security forces totalling about 1.20 lakh, on the pretext of “controlling
the conflict between Kuki-Chins and Meiteis” are tangibles of the situation. So, we need to dig
out the intangibles, such as, the designers, the policy, the strategy and above all the objectives of
creating the ‘conflict’. In this regard, the UNLF Central Committee has something to share with
our compatriots.
The ability of Kuki-Chin tribes to launch widespread attack on the Meiteis, and the
capacity to smuggle huge quantity of sophisticated arms and ammunition is something which
cannot be taken lightly. Because the security of Myanmar-Manipur border is entrusted with the
para military Assam Rifles of India. And it is an open secret, supported by video footages,
photographs and 81mm shells, that Assam Rifles are helping the Kuki-Chins to the extent of
joining battles against Meitei volunteers. Thus it is irrefutably clear that the smuggling of huge
quantity of arms and ammunition by Kuki-Chins and subsequent aggression against Meiteis, and
Assam Rifles helping Kuki-Chins, are all designed and planned by the Home Ministry of India
govt to achieve a policy objective. This is a part of the general strategy of ‘divide & destroy’ to
suppress our national liberation struggle. The question then is, what is the specific objective of
creating this ‘conflict situation’?
The fact is, India’s instigations to create antagonistic ethnic contradictions as part of
‘divide & destroy’ by exploiting traditional rivalries began long ago, but detonating it only
today. The specific objective of this plan is to overshadow the national contradiction between
Manipur and India (that is Manipur-India Conflict), by intensifying antagonistic ethnic
contradictions into conflicts. The current Kuki-Chin vs Meitei conflict is such an India-created
conflict. This is a policy to hijack our national aspirations by patronising ethno-exclusive
aspirations. Therefore, it is distinctly clear that creating the Kuki-Chin vs Meitei conflict
situation is part of India’s general strategy to suppress the national liberation struggle of
Manipur. The specific objective of this specific strategy is to transform the relationship
(contradiction) between the Meiteis and Kuki-Chins into a fiercely antagonistic contradiction of
‘armed conflict’, in order to take the air out of the irreconcilable national contradiction between
Manipur and India that emerged in 1949 when India forcibly annexed Manipur. Putting it in
simple words, it is a ploy to overshadow the Manipur-India Conflict by the India-created conflict
between Kuki-Chins and Meiteis. It is not presumptuous, therefore, to conclude that it is a
strategy to delete the aspirations for sovereignty and independence from the minds of our people
by sharpening the secondary internal contradiction and suppress the principal contradiction
(national contradiction). The second objective is to capture or kill the innumerable volunteers
and ‘underground cadres’ in intensive/extensive ‘combing operations’, because the Indian
strategists calculated that by creating the ‘conflict situation’ large numbers of cadres of all
revolutionary organisations will come out to join forces with the patriotic volunteers. This is
actually a grand strategy to break the backbone of the Meiteis. However, the hidden and more
deeper agenda of India govt is to strengthen the People’s Democratic Force (PDF) mostly Kuki-
Chins, by sending in personnel (with mongoloid features who can speak Myanmar language) of
Para Special Forces, so as to enable the PDF capture adjoining areas in Kabaw Valley (this has
undercurrent ramifications of geopolitics as well in the context of the present conflict in
Myanmar). In short, India govt’s primary objective is to ‘destroy the inner strength of Manipur’s
liberation struggle’. But then India govt missed lessons from colonial history of the world,
including their own freedom struggle, that the struggle for liberation of a people/nation from
colonial occupation grows stronger and stronger as much as the brutal repression of the colonial
power increases. The defeat of France (1954) and the US (1975) in Vietnam, also the
humiliating defeat of the two super powers, Soviet Union and the US, in Afghanistan are glaring
examples of the invincibility of a people’s yearning for freedom and independence. Therefore, in
both the physical and mental aspects of our national liberation struggle, we are called upon to
fight all out with unrelenting courage and sacrifice against the repressive Indian colonial rule. - Aspects of Our Struggle: Our national liberation struggle has two aspects, one is easily
tangible, the other is not. The easily tangibles are fighting against the Indian Occupation Forces
(IOF), preparation for battles, and chalking out strategy. The intangible aspect is the most
important means used to suppress the national liberation struggle, that is, to destroy the
collective life and national character of our people. The objective of this policy is to puncture
our national pride built on the foundation of our age old civilisation and independent existence.
This is the policy, first introduced by the British, to undermine our national feeling and pride,
our national unity and civilisation. This is exactly the situation our national liberation struggle is
confronting today. As India itself was a British colony for a long period of time, and was created
by the British, India’s national unity is very fragile even after 75 years of independence. The
parochial and divisive mentality of the Indian people still dominates Indian politics. So the
majority Indians still think and act on the divided lines of region, language, religion, custom,
caste and colour. Even the Indian constitution, though considered to be based on the principles
of equality and justice, yet there are features that create divisions on ethnicity, language, caste,
colour and religion which discourage the people to unite. This only serves the interest of the
ruling class to maintain their control over state power and the economy. It is, therefore, only
natural that this divisive mentality and its practice is imported to Manipur also by its political
middle class. Besides, India govt is using the ‘divide and colonise’ policy even more smartly
than the British from whom they learnt. The refrain of Indian leaders that ‘Without Manipur,
India cannot prosper’ is very misleadingly true, not in the sense our people are made to
believe. We should not allow ourselves to be mesmerised by the sugar-coated words of Indian
leaders. The real interest of India in Manipur is the strategic minerals, such as, uranium,
platinum, chromite, oil and natural gas, precious stones, etc. which they need desperately for
developing India to join the global competition. So the real meaning of ‘Without Manipur, India
cannot prosper’ is ‘without the land, not the people, India cannot prosper’. India ‘needs’ to
exploit the invaluable natural wealth of Manipur, to them the indigenous people of the land are
dispensable. They will not have any moral compunction, if necessary, to annihilate the
indigenous people in order to sustain their colonial hold over Manpur. This is exactly what they
have been doing in Manipur since 1960s. Remember, the recent remark of an officer of Indian
RAF, “Hamara jaati nahin hai, kucch bhi karo!” The UNLF Central Committee, therefore, call
upon all our indigenous people to understand together the stark reality of Indian colonial
repression and exploitation.
Ever since the annexation of Manipur by India in 1949 and the emergence of national
liberation movement thereafter, the Govt of India has all along used repressive measures, such
as, massive military force, legal measures like AFSPA, UAPA giving legal sanction to the
military to arrest or shoot to kill on mere suspicion. These are measures to suppress our national
liberation struggle by military legal means. But then, so long as colonial rule is there, the
condition for national liberation struggle will sustain and it will flare up again at an opportune
time howsoever weakened it may be. This has been proved by the history of national liberation
struggles of the world. And ours is no exception. In the course of our national liberation struggle
also, we have experienced a number of ups and downs. We had overcome serious situations
caused by internal crises, also there have been stages we could move forward because of
favourable external factors and internal conditions. Also there have been times when the very
survival of our struggle was at stake. Many cadres have made the supreme sacrifice while many
more have spent several years in enemy prisons. But our national liberation struggle has
continued, and will continue. One day victory will be ours and our sovereignty and
independence shall be restored, if we are relentless in our liberation struggle. This is our
historical destiny. Time and again, our struggle confronted extreme hardships and dangerous
situations, and every time UNLF emerged even stronger to carry forward the banner of National
People’s Democratic Revolution. Keeping firm belief in the historical destiny of our national
struggle, and rectifying our mistakes and shortcomings, UNLF has been making unrelenting
effort to move forward. We also firmly believe that our effort will bear fruit with the united
strength of our people.
Compatriots! UNLF has all along firmly believed that Manipur will be victorious
ultimately in the battles of fighting physically and also in the battle of mental strength in
maintaining national unity. These battles are trials of our strength, also an opportunity, to display
the civilisational strength of our nation. - Talks with India: Talks with India will depend on certain basic conditions. In this regard,
UNLF Central Committee would like to reiterate the consistent stand the UNLF has taken all
along. First of all, before any discussion on the subject of talks with India begins, we need to
seriously introspect why we embarked on the struggle for national liberation, because it involves
the core question of thousands of precious lives who have sacrificed for the liberation struggle
and many more who have become wounded handicapped. Second, the agenda of the talks should
be the core issue, only the core issue, of the Manipur-India Conflict, that is the restoration of
Manipur’s sovereignty and independence. Third, the talks should involve a third party as
witness. These are the minimum stand that cannot be done without, otherwise the talks will face
the danger of sliding down to ‘negotiation’ for ‘an honourable solution’, the euphemism for
compromise. Ultimately, our sovereignty and independence will be compelled to sell out as the
price for a ‘development package’. On the other hand, UNLF knows well that India govt will
never accept the last two points as India has all along taken the position that Manipur is an
‘integral part’ of India. It is pertinent here, how India govt not only abrogated Article 370 of the
Indian constitution that governs Kashmir’s special relationship with India, but also relegated the
status of Kashmir to a Union territory after separating and upgrading Ladakh as a Union
Territory. This should serve as an eye opener to the advocates of ‘ceasefire and talks’ with India
govt. Therefore, the core issue of the Manipur-India Conflict, that is the national contradiction
between Manipur and India, is to bring about a satisfactory resolution of the conflict. In this
regard, the irreconcilable position of the UNLF is the restoration of Manipur’s sovereignty and
independence, and that of India’s is complete assimilation of Manipur within India. Thus it is
distinctly clear that restoration of Manipur’s sovereignty and independence by overthrowing
Indian colonial rule is the only path for survival of the indigenous peoples of Manipur. Knowing
well the impossibility of regaining our sovereignty and independence through ‘talks’ with India
govt, UNLF Central Committee announced on 30 January 2005 the 4-Point Proposal for
Plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations so as to resolve the Manipur-India
Conflict once and for all. The proposal was also intended to empower our people to decide
their own future by themselves, and particularly to test the commitment of India, the largest
democracy in the world, to democracy and democratic principles. However, the proposal did not
include any proposal for ‘ceasefire with India’. The operative principle was for the UN to
supervise the withdrawal of Indian Occupation Forces (IOF) from Manipur to India, and the
UNLF to deposit its arms and ammunition to UN Authorities. India govt’s irritated response
against plebiscite exposed India’s hypocrisy to the world community that India did not have
faith in democratic solutions despite itself being a democracy. Now the big question is, India is
refusing to accept the proposal to resolve the Manipur-India Conflict even by democratic means,
any talks with India without compromising the objective of restoring sovereignty and
independence sounds like the proverbial putting the cart before the horse.
Despite knowing India’s position, the resolution ‘to request India govt to enter into
ceasefire and initiate talks with insurgents’ adopted at the ‘Public Convention’ organised
recently by a new CSO, purportedly to save Manipur from the evil designs of divisive forces,
can only be construed as not only undermining the principled stand of our revolutionary
organisations but also misleading our people. This move will certainly create situations for the
adversary to take advantage of in their effort to suppress our national liberation struggle. UNLF
Central Committee call upon our conscious people to conduct a critical analysis so as to identify
who-is-who. Therefore, in regard to talks with India, our people and revolutionary organisations
are urged to understand together that no conducive conditions for talks with India do not exist as
of now. - Conclusion: The immediate step to be taken now is to build unity of all the indigenous
people of Manipur on the basis of ‘Coexistence and Codevelopment’ and push for the logical
solution to the ‘Conflict’ crafted by India govt using the Kuki-Chin infiltrators. In view of the
unprecedented conflict situation, the UNLF Central Committee call upon to all concerned to
refrain from doing anything that will undermine the unity of Manipur and create divisions
among the Meiteis. But most important of all is to keep on track the continuity of our national
liberation struggle. Therefore, in order to defeat India govt’s strategy to divert our national
struggle by using armed Kuki-Chins, it is imperative to channelize the resurgent outburst of
Meitei strength against the aggressor Kuki-Chins to the direction of Manipur’s national
liberation struggle. We know – Manipur is one, Manipuri people is one. Enemy may be many
from outside and inside, but the people to fight them is one. - Revolutionary Greetings:
Today on the occasion of 59th Anniversary of the UNLF, our Central Committee extends
revolutionary greetings to all Party Cadres, Local Members, Officers and Men of our armed
wing, to all Compatriots taking part in today’s Anniversary Celebrations of our Party in various
places, and to all the Manipuri diaspora settled in many countries of the world;
UNLF Central Committee also extend revolutionary greetings to the Party Cadres, Officers and
liberation fighters of Armed Wing languishing in enemy prisons, and those compatriots who
have become handicapped due to inhuman torture by IOF.
On today’s occasion, UNLF Central Committee extends revolutionary greetings to the Member-
Parties of CorCom, KYKL and KCP fighting together against Indian colonial rule, and also to
all the fraternal organisations of Western South East Asia (WESIA) fighting for national
liberation.
UNLF Central Committee would like to make a special mention of all the frontline Civil Society
Organisations (CSOs), Meira Paibee Emas and patriotic student organisations for their relentless
participation in various movements for the welfare of Manipur and our people. Our
revolutionary greetings to them all !
Last but not the least, UNLF Central Committee recalls today our departed founding leaders,
Party Cadres, Manipur’s liberation fighters who have laid down their lives in the battlefields,
and those compatriots who have lost their lives in India’s repressive actions. We offer our
highest respect and revolutionary salute to them all. Guided by their legacy, UNLF will continue
our national liberation struggle even more relentlessly until final victory is achieved.
“Victory, to Our People!”
“Long Live, UNLF!”
Kangla, Central Committee
24 November 2023 United National Liberation Front: Manipur
