UNLF refutes KYKL, calls for open debate

Imphal, December 01: Refuting the statement issued by the KYKL on November 8 after 18 KYKL joined the UNLF, the assistant secretary of Department of Publicity, UNLF today said that the KYKL statement contains some "basic views and policies of the KYKL that betrays their true colour. UNLF feels that an open debate should be initiated so as to determine the correctness or otherwise of the respective stands of the UNLF and KYKL in this and other related issues. We invite the sensible public to participate in this debate?. In a statement issued to the press today, the UNLF said that anybody willing to join the UNLF with a firm conviction will be enrolled in the MPA after completing necessary formalities. Anybody desirous of retiring before enrolment will be allowed to do so as per their wish, it said. Reacting to the KYKL stand that it will award death punishment to the deserters, UNLF said that if the threat is carried out against any of the 18 who are formally enrolled in the MPA, the act will be deemed as an act against the UNLF and that would compel the UNLF to take up commensurate measures. The statement further said that though the arms brought by the 18 men are mostly old and unserviceable, they will not be returned to the KYKL. This is not because UNLF has shortage of arms but because of KYKL's close working relationship with the NSCN (IM) and its open support to IM's anti-Manipur policies. UNLF also made it clear that it will not be the first to precipitate anything that may break the current cease fire with the KYKL. Anticipating the possible scenario, UNLF asked the public to ponder over some questions such as, "If KYKL begins to carry out their death sentence against those defected from KYKL, but still working for the liberation struggle of our motherland, would it not be an act against the national liberation struggle ?" UNLF further asked, "Is not this also a policy of starting ?blood brother killings? as it will certainly compel the UNLF to take retaliatory measures ?" To the meira paibis, UNLF asked, "What stand would our meira paibi Imas take in such a scenario ?" The statement further said that of the 18 men who defected from the KYKL, one Leihaothabam Anand Sharma (22) alias Oman alias Palemngakpa of Pallel Bamon Leikai was mercilessly killed by the KYKL. Giving details, UNLF said that the deceased along with one MPA cadre were returning to Karang after visiting his parents when they were ambushed by the KYKL. Anand Sharma was taken away by the KYKL cadres, said the statement. The UNLF local commander asked the KYKL commander to release Anand Sharma but the KYKL men wanted some time to discuss the matter. As there was no response for a long time they were given 30 minutes to return the captured man, said UNLF. As this restraint was again ignored, another two minutes was given but to no avail. Ultimately UNLF was forced to open fire not to kill any KYKL men but to rescue Anand Sharma, said the statement. UNLF does not regard all the members of KYKL as enemies but is merely opposed to the policies of its leaders. Refuting the statement issued by KYKL on November 8, the statement said that UNLF has nothing to say about the claim that the deserters were all new recruits as UNLF does not KYKL's record books. What the UNLF announced was the actual number of KYKL men who defected over, the number of arms they brought and the information they gave. The sergeant who led the second batch of 10 men is one Thoudam Ibotomba alias Joy alias Kesho (24) of Wangoi Wahengbam Leikai, said the statement and added that he joined the KYKL in 1997 and took training the same year in the first batch having 27 trainees at a place called Monshal Pontha somewhere in Chandel district. He was recruited by one Chirom Ranjit of KYKL. On the reality of Kangleipak, UNLF said that it is known fact that Chandel district and other ?Naga inhabited hill areas? in Manipur, which the KYKL claims to be their ?Kangleipak? are areas which the NSCN (IM) also claims to be parts of ?Nagalim.? As such if other groups intend to set up camps in places within these hill areas where the NSCN (IM) has operational bases, one has two options, sad UNLF and listed them as "either one has enter into some kind of agreement with the NSCN (IM), thereby implying recognition of ?Nagalim? or doing so by virtue of their own strength?. KYKL's statement that the hill areas are within Kangleipak is contradictory, for the very reason that the NSCN (IM) has time and again shouted that these areas should be integrated with ?Nagalim?. This is the crux of the problem, said the statement adding that KYKL has not made any clear cut statement on this core issue. In this context, what the UNLF meant by NSCN area should be read as areas where the NSCN (IM) has operational bases. This is also the reality, said the outfit and added that it is obviously the compulsion of this reality that the KYKL had to concede these areas as part of ?Nagalim? so as to get some base facilities in Chandel, Khoupum and other places. "Should the people of Manipur endorse this stand," asked UNLF. The UNLF has never compromised on this principle of fundamental importance and even though relationships with the NNC was established in 1975, the UNLF never conducted themselves as subsidiary of the NSCN nor begged for arms and ammunition and never took military training from them as many others did in the past. It is because of this principled stand that the UNLF is today able to oppose the anti-Manipur policies of the NSCN (IM), said the statement and added that if the KYKL is a true revolutionary organization it should have the courage to change track and join the mainstream struggle for of Manipur and the region. Despite the past blood shed, UNLF would have been happy to work with KYKL if they could take such a bold decision. On the KYKL stand that it has taken its decision on the basis of "geo-political situation of Manipur and the region," UNLF asked, "Is it a correct national stand that KYKL is taking help from the NSCN (IM) thereby compromising on Manipur's integrity ?" The outfit further asked how far NSCN (IM) has endorsed KYKL's view which said, "..we constantly appeal to every insurgent organisations we work together with that to forget about the region while giving emphasis on our respective nationalities and States is a wrong strategy and that only through a united struggle can we get our objectives?. On its relationship with the NSCN (K), UNLF said that though the NSCN (K) has a general outlook for the Naga nation as such, it has declared their opposition to any idea of disintegrating the present State of Manipur to create a Greater Nagaland or a Nagalim within the Indian Union. NSCN (K) has a long term vision beyond the independence of the States in region. Though the NSCN (K) has entered into a cease fire with the Indian Government it has not started a peace talk like the NSCN (IM), said the statement and added that UNLF will take its stand according to the reality. There is no question of forcible enrolment in the UNLF, said the statement and added that KYKL should graciously accept the fact that the 18 men deserted the KYKL because of its policies. On the KYKL's statement, "the relationship between NSCN (IM) and KYKL is based on the political responsibility that Meiteis and Nagas should take together and only those people who does not understand Manipur' geo-political reality would discontinue this relationship", UNLF said that this observation is nothing but distortion of the reality to justify their relationship with the NSCN (IM) which is against the aspirations of the people. The KYKL stand tantamount to reducing the collective identity of Manipur to that of Meiteis in the valley only thereby limiting their vision to Meitei politics. KYKL has forgotten that the collective identity of Manipur has evolved through centuries long before the creation of ?Naga? identity, said UNLF. KYKL has also failed to differentiate between the Naga people and NSCN (IM) and there are many Nagas who do not subscribe to the ideology and politics of NSCN (IM), added the statement. It is therefore not surprising to see the KYKL interpreting the conflict between the NSCN (IM) and the UNLF as a conflict between the UNLF and the Nagas. To the UNLF the political responsibilities that the Meiteis should take together is not with the Nagas alone but with all other national groups in Manipur upholding and respecting each other's distinct identities, said the statement. On the present conflict between the NSCN (IM) and the UNLF, the statement clarified that the main reason is the anti-Manipur policies adopted by the NSCN (IM). The NSCN (IM) started the physical confrontation when they killed a cadre of the MPA, Sanayaima in 1991. The anti-Manipur policies adopted by the NSCN (IM) include the Naga-Kuki clash in 1993 as part of the ethnic cleansing drive launched by the NSCN (IM), said the statement. Now they are trying to pitch the Kukis against the Meiteis. With regard to defectors, UNLF said there is no mutual agreement not to encourage or accept defectors when the cease fire between the UNLF and KYKL was announced. ON previous instances 7/8 KYKL men deserted their Khoupum camps and came to join the UNLF. However they were turned back as their mental make up was not strong enough. Stating that UNLF does not believe in internecine killings, the statement appealed to all ?genuine revolutionary organizations" to unite.