UG groups boycott R-Day, General strike called on Jan 26
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, January 21 2014 :
Even though the respective State administration in the northeast have beefed up security measures to ensure smooth conduct of the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, underground organisations fighting for right to self-determination have once again jointly announced boycott of the Republic Day and called a general strike on 26 January from 1 am to 5 in the entire region.
In a joint statement, Co-ordination Committee (CorCom), Hynnewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), Kamatapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), National Liberation Front of Twipra (NLFT) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) said, "India's Republic Day which is celebrated on 26 January every year is the day Indian constitution is imposed on the Peoples of Western South East Asia (WSEA) so as to legalize their colonial occupation of the region.
The Indian colonial regime which trying to suppress the legitimate right of our people, the right to national self-determination, has degraded the lives of our people by trampling even the basic human right-the right to life, under the boots of Indian security forces.
And for the past 64 years since its imposition, it has cunningly plotted to undermine the basic unity of the Region by fragmenting the region on the ethnic lines as part of their colonial policy of "Divide and Rule" so that the Indian Colonial rule could not be uprooted from our Region" .
The joint statement went on to assert that Indian military campaign to suppress legitimate liberation struggles can never succeed and they will fight to the last to regain their legitimate sovereignty and independence.
"Therefore all these years, the peoples of our region, struggling for freedom and independence, have been boycotting India's Republic Day with the observing the General Strike every year on 26 January as a symbolic rejection of India's Constitution.
This year also the boycott is being observed in the entire region.
The general strike on 26 January 2014 begins from 01:00 am and ends at 05.00pm.The general Strike shall cover all forms of transportation, movement of all kinds of vehicles, all forms of entertainment including cinema and theatre shows and all activities of trade and commerce.
However, the media, medical services and religious ceremonies shall be kept outside the purview of the General Strike.
We call upon all the freedom loving peoples as well as patriotic organizations of the region to support and observe the general strike,", the joint statement added.
The joint statement also called upon the people of the region not to forget that under the Indian rule the future of the people is doomed.
"We have to fight Indian colonial Rule to regain our sovereignty and independence so that we can survive and exist with dignity as a distinct people.
This fight against India is the only means for our survival", the joint statement exhorted.