From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The anti-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) on Monday led 10 other militant groups based in the Northeast to call for boycott of Republic Day celebrations in the region and a general strike from 1.00 A.M. to 5-30 PM to protest ‘India’s unrelenting colonial occupation of the region with the sole objective of exploiting its rich natural resources.”
On behalf of these outfits, the anti-talks faction of the ULFA issued a statement calling for boycott of R-Day celebrations. The other outfits that joined the ‘protest’ include National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB, anti-talks), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), Tripura People’s Democratic Front (TPDF) and Coordination Committee of seven militant groups in Manipur. That makes the number of total militant groups giving Republic Day boycott call eleven.
These outfits have accused the Government of India forces of resorting to ‘human rights violation in the region through use of brutal force under the provisions of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.’
The militant groups have stated that all trade and commerce activities, all forms of public entertainment and all kinds of public and private transportation must not operate in the region during the general strike on January 26.
However, emergency measures, essential services, media and religious activities are exempted from the purview of the strike.