Altogether 12 insurgent groups from the Northeast including the coordination committee comprising seven militant outfits groups in Manipur have called for a general shut-down on January 26 to bar people of the region from taking part in Republic Day celebrations.
In a joint statement issued by the coordination committee of seven insurgent groups of Manipur, outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam, Hynnewtrap A'chik Liberation Council of Meghalaya, Kamatapur Liberation Organistion, National Liberation Front of Twipra, Tripura People's Democratic Front have stated that boycott of Republic Day and the general strike was called as a mark of resistance against "Indian Occupation' in the region.
The outfit while calling upon the people of the region to observe a general shut-down from 1.00 hour to 17:30 hours on January 26 imposed ban on all sorts of trade and commercial activities, public entertainment, plying of private and public transport in the region during the period.
The outfits stated, "Celebration of Republic Day serves to legitimise a veiled form of colonial oppression that we are determined to reject from our region and since the people of our region are not Indian, there is no reason to take part in this celebration."
"We have every right and reason to fight against and overthrow Indian colonial regime to regain our lost sovereignty and independence," the joint statement of insurgent groups said.
