IMPHAL, Feb 21: The chairman of the proscribed UNLF, RK Meghen has stated that the armed separatist movement prevalent in Manipur has evolved out of the oppression of innocent people carried out by the Indian forces.
RK Meghen stated this to media-persons today while he was produced before the special NIA Court at Guwahati along with other top leaders of UNLF including M. Joy, S. Rakesh, M. Ibohal, M. Landhoni and Maniton.
He further maintained that the Government of India does not have any policy for having negotiations with unarmed organizations, but it has been negotiating with various armed organizations.
The UNLF wants solution through democratic means and this has been supported by United Nations. The people have to play vital roles in bringing solution through democratic means, Meghen enjoined.
He also appealed to the people of Manipur to stand united and form a unified force regardless of caste or community to crush all external influences.
The leaders of UNLF were produced before the special NIA court today after the NIA has submitted the charge-sheet against 19 leaders of the outfit.
Only six of them were produced today while the rest of 13 members of the UNLF will be produced before the NIA court on March 7.
On the other hand, the bail application for M. Landhoni will be heard on February 28.
Meanwhile, a large number of people from Manipur, Assam and Mizoram numbering about 200 held a demonstration today near the complex of NIA court at Guwahati. They shouted slogans such as `We want plebiscite`, `UNLF not waging war against India`, `Chairman Sanayaima and other members of UNLF are not criminals`, `They are defenders of the right to self-determination of Manipuri people`, `NIA should transfer Sanayaima and other cases to Government of Manipur`, `We want permanent peace in Manipur` etc.
A release of People for Self-determination of Manipur also said that the UNLF is not a terrorist organization. It is just fighting for the right to self-determination of the people of Manipur which has been deprived by the Indian government by forcing the then Maharaja of Manipur Budhachandra to sign the merger agreement in 1949.
The organization also demanded plebiscite through which the lost freedom of Manipur can be restored.
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