Manipur representatives announce separation from India

LONDON: Representatives of Manipur’s king, Minister of External Affairs and Defence of Manipur state, Narengbam Samarjit and Chief Minister of Manipur State Council, Yamben Biren announced separation from India on behalf of the Manipur King, Leishemba Sanajaoba.

According to sources, the representatives were speaking at an international press conference. On this occasion, the representatives announced the decision that the exiled government, “the Manipur State Council” to be based in London after the formal launch of the state.

The representatives also added that they have applied to seek asylum in the UK in the following year. The decision was taken to escape arrest and torture by Indian forces.

“The three million Manipuri people want recognition as one of the precious native nations. Our attempts to engage with the Indian government were met with hate and hostilities, it was not possible for us to declare the independence of Manipur while in India because we, the Ministers of the Manipur State Council, would have faced arrest, torture and extra-judicial killings at the hands of the Indian forces”, said the ministers.

The Manipur King’s representatives also showed the document to the media in which the King to the state had gave them the authority to solve the state issues.

The ministers said, “We believe that now is the right time to form the Independent Government of Manipur before the international community to announce our independent status and to seek recognition. We call on the members of the United Nations for their recognition of the exile Government of the Manipur.”

The representative also maintained that the Modi-led government is intolerant. The cases of abuse towards minorities have been increased significantly. Hence, it is not safe to operate from India.

“There are more than 1,528 cases of the extra-judicial killing which are pending in the Supreme Court of India. The victim were killed without trial of law. Indian army forces kill the people of Manipur with impunity. The Manipuri human rights activist Irom Charu Sharmila, known as the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur’, started protest fasting for 16 years against the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act and human rights abuses. The brave women of Manipur staged nude protests in front of the Indian Army centres to condemn inhuman torture and killing of innocent people of Manipur”, they revealed.

They also said that Manipur State aims to seek objectives in a peaceful manner. The representatives mentioned to present a resolution to Queen Elizabeth II.