CorCom boycotts I-Day, calls shutdown on Aug 15
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, August 11 2025: Coordination Committee (CorCom), the conglomerate of revolutionary organisations operating in Manipur and WESEA region, announced boycott of India's Independence Day celebration in Manipur and imposed total shutdown as part of the boycott on August 15 .

The total shutdown will be effective from lam to 6.30pm of August 15 but it will not cover movement relating to emergency services, medical, electricity, water supply, fire service, media and religious ceremonies, a CorCom statement informed public.

According to the CorCom statement issued by its publicity committee, Manipur (Kangleipak) existed as a powerful nation state with more than 2,000 years of written history.

Except the invasion by the Awa (Burma/Myanmar) for seven years from 1819 and the British occupation after the Anglo-Manipuri war in 1891, Manipur (Kangleipak) had never been under any foreign rule.

Even during the British occupation, Queen Victoria honoured the political status of Manipur (Kangleipak) and never made part of British India.

The Anglo-Manipuri Friendship Treaty 1762 signed between Chittagong chief Verelst and envoy of king Jai Singh (Bhagyachandra) Hari Das Gosain was the first ever diplomatic agreement/treaty signed with another sovereign power.

Sovereign status and power of Manipur (Kangleipak) were clearly mentioned in many historical works including in DGE Hall's 'A history of South East Asia' published in 1908 and 'South East Asia' by John F Cady.

Despite invasion by the Awa, the boundary of Manipur (Kangleipak) was unaffected in the political map of Burma (now Myanmar) drawn by Henry Yule in the 18th century.

Apart from this, the Treaty of Yandabo signed between the British and Burma on February 26, 1826 recognised Gambhir Singh as king of Manipur (Kangleipak) by the then Burmese king.

These facts clearly reveal restoration of the sovereign status of Manipur (Kangleipak) after the departure of the British in 1947 .

Accordingly, the first general election was held in 1948 and formed a national assembly with the then king Maharaja Bodhchachandra as constitutional head of the territory of Manipur (Kangleipak) spanning over 8,650 square miles.

In the inaugural national assembly/national parliament speech made on October 18,1948 before the annexation by India, king Bodhchandra lauded harmonious co-existence of hills and valley people in the vast territory of Manipur (Kangleipak).

King Bodhchandra's address in the first national assembly also described the territory of Manipur (Kangleipak) till Sibsagar on the north, bank of Ningthi (Chinwin) river to the south, till Ningthi river on the east and till Chandrapur (Cachar) on the west.

King Bodhchandra also declared the end of 56 years of British rule in Manipur (Kangleipak) beginning from 1891 to 1947 and called upon people of both hills and valley to join hands for the welfare and development of the nation.

Bodhchandra's address in the first national assembly clearly revealed the status of Manipur (Kangleipak) during the time, the CorCom said adding that hills and valley enjoyed unity during the time and king Bodhchandra even described hills and valley as 'one body, one soul'.

The CorCom statement continued that Manipur (Kangleipak) had democratic government with council of ministers after holding universal adult franchise in June and July, 1948.However, treacherous India called the then constitutional head king Bodhchandra to Shillong and forced to sign on the freedom snatching document on September 21, 1949.The signed document came into effect from October 15, 1949, CorCom said adding that India's forcible occupation of Manipur (Kangleipak) was an act of open aggression and the national parliament session held on September 28, 1949 did not ratify the Shillong incident and termed it 'null and void'.

While asserting that the Indian Independence Act, 1947 put the sovereign status of Manipur (Kangleipak) at par with India, the CorCom said India's forcible occupation of Manipur (Kangleipak) violated international laws and provisions of the United Nations Charter, Indian Independence Act (IIA), 1947, Manipur (Kangleipak) State Constitution Act (MSCA) 1947 and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), 1969.From the purview of international laws and related angles, sovereignty of Manipur (Kangleipak) should be considered intact till date, the CorCom claimed.

After India's annexation, political autonomy and identity of Manipur (Kangleipak) began to erode gradually as it was put under Part-C status in 1950 and then reduced to Union Territory in 1956.In the year 1958, India imposed the globally condemned Armed Forces' Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and took up various policies to dilute unity and integrity of Manipur (Kangleipak).

Policies like the Manipur (Kangleipak) Land Revenue & Land Reforms Act, 1960 were enacted by the Indian Parliament to have separate laws in the hills and valley thereby triggering and heightening movement on ethnic lines.

In the name granting statehood in 1972, India further divided Manipur (Kangleipak) and the seed of hatred sowed by India has grown and matured now as there is division and clash among the Naga-Kuki-Meetei communities without any limit.

Regarding the current unstable situation in Manipur (Kangleipak), the CorCom alleged that the present crisis is a long planned proxy war waged by India to suppress the prolonged movement for restoration of the sovereignty of Manipur (Kangleipak) using proxy forces from Myanmar in the name of Suspension of Operation.

The crisis is also a part of India's geo-politics while taking advantage of unstability in Myanmar and also to permanently put Manipur (Kangleipak) in their firm hands.

To cover up their involvement in the crisis, Indian leaders continue to change their statements on the crisis, CorCom said adding that the present tension, hatred and mistrust among ethnic communities of Manipur (Kangleipak) are result of India's suppressive policies adopted after annexation.

The CorCom then called upon people of both hills and valley to strive for collective survival under sovereign Manipur (Kangleipak) by standing against India's Independence Day celebration on August 15 brought into the land by the merger agreement of 1949, which had been declared 'null and void' in the past by national assembly/national parliament.

Concluding the statement, the CorCom said the present unrest in Manipur (Kangleipak) is being intentionally lengthened to suppress sovereignty movement with the sinister design to create mistrust between communities and weaken historical unity.

The long planned unrest is exactly 'killing two birds with one stone' of English proverb, the CorCom said adding that Meetei-Kuki conflict is being orchestrated intentionally as part of the steps to dilute sovereignty thoughts among indigenous people and history of the land.

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