Sanayaima in Hong Kong (Reuters)

Hong Kong, Sept. 13 (Reuters): The leader of a rebel group challenged the world?s biggest democracy to live up to its name and let the people of Manipur choose for themselves if they want independence.

Sanayaima, chairman of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), said there was no room for peace talks with New Delhi without UN mediation, nor any middle ground short of a plebiscite on the restoration of Manipur?s ?sovereignty?.

?Whether we remain with India or whether we become a sovereign, independent nation, let the people decide,? Sanayaima said during his first-ever interview with foreign media. ?Considering India is the largest democracy in the world, I think they should accept the challenge.?

The underground leader was speaking during a secret trip to Hong Kong. ?If necessary, we will continue our struggle for another hundred years because it is the very fundamental right that we are fighting for, the national right that we are fighting for; we cannot afford to tire.?

Sanayaima, said he decided to speak out ?to reach out to the outside world, so that this Indian occupation is put to an end?. India?s home ministry spokesman was not immediately available to comment on Sanayaima's remarks.

The rebel leader said his force was prepared to lay down arms if Delhi agreed to a UN-monitored plebiscite in Manipur, withdrew armed forces and allowed U.N. peacekeepers into the state. ?For us, without the involvement of any third party, particularly the United Nations, the peace process cannot be trustworth.?

Sanayaima insisted that the UNLF, which he said had nearly 2,000 armed cadres, was not on the run despite the major offensive launched late last year by the Army. ?We are not fighting pitched battles against the invading Indian forces, but that doesn?t mean we are running away. If at all we are running away then they should be able to come to our base headquarters. So far they haven?t done that,? he said.

He said New Delhi had yet to respond to his proposal for a plebiscite, first made in January. Nor has the UNLF responded to the government?s overtures for talks, he said.

?The Indian government sent some feelers for talks. So far we have not responded,? he said. ?The peace talks that the government of India has had with other groups in the region have not produced any satisfactory resolution of the conflicts.?