From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Even as the insurgency-affected States of Northeastern India are preparing to celebrate country’s Independence Day under tight security, 11 insurgent outfits in the region (referred as Western Southeast Asia by them) have called for boycott of the celebration and a general strike from 1.00 am. to 5.30 pm on August 15.
The outfits which have given the call included Coordination Committee of Manipur’s six insurgent outfits, United Liberation Front of Assam (Independent), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), Hynnewtrap National Liberation Council (HNLC) and National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT).
There is nothing unusual about the boycott call, but what is significant is the reduction in the number of militant groups calling for the boycott this year given that a large number of insurgent groups in the region are either in ceasefire mode with the Government of India or talking peace with the government to fin solution to the problem.
Security sources here termed the call given by insurgents as reflection of their frustration fast dwindling base among the masses in the region, who are yearning for peace and an end to the blood spilling
A senior police official in Assam said that the ULFA (I) through the boycott call aims at preventing the fearful coon citizens from coming out of their homes to join the celebration of the I-Day as it would go against its interest of ‘so-called mass revolution’ against Indian State.
Meanwhile, security measures have been beefed up in all the insurgency-affected states of the region in the run up to the Independence Day. Alert has been sounded throughout Assam to mount vigil against attempt by the ULFA(I) to create disturbance.
In a joint statement issued to the media here, the insurgent groups have called for the boycott of I-Day celebrations and general strike in the region as a mark of solidarity against ‘Indian colonial occupation and military repression.’
The statement said, “As the Indian Independence Day approaches, we would like to remind that the people of Western Southeast Asia cannot tolerate national humiliation and insult as a result of promoting jubilation by the enemy in our land.
“The Indian Independence from the British rule in 1947 was merely a transfer of colonial power into the hands of Indian rulers who are connected to and work in collusion with the oppressive feudal lords, princes and global finance institutions.
“The subjugated and oppressed people of the region cannot have fraternal relation with the exploitative Indian colonialist.
“This celebration by the India State with pomp at a huge cost is going to be repeated again in our region like previous years to create an illusion that the region is an integral part of the Indian Republic, in an attempt to gloss over the colonial rule.
To prevent disruption in displaying this grand show, the occupational forces are being ordered to intensify flag marches, widespread stop and searches to prevent activists taking retaliatory actions and people expressing dissent democratically which is their human rights.