IMPHAL, Aug 10: Several armed organisations of the region have joint called a `total shut down` of the region on August 15.
The Co-ordination Committee, a conglomeration of proscribed underground groups of Manipur has issued a joint statement of the United Liberation Front of WESEA, CorCom, Garo National Liberation Army and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council stating that a `Total Shut Down` of the region has been called from midnight to 6pm on August 15.
During these hours, essential services, emergency measures, media and religious activities are exempt from this shut down, it said.
The statement said `India`™s yearly independent day celebration by unfurling her tri-colour in our WESEA Region is nothing but reaffirmation of The Indian Colonial Occupation over our Region and people.`
It said `The Indian establishment is obstinate to keep their occupation symbol flying high for the world to see defying the democratic norms of the civilized countries of the world and is itself a provocation.`
`The revolutionary organizations of the region are determined to resist the Indian hegemonic occupation of our region, by all means necessary and we understand the hidden agenda of the so-called `Peace Talk` offered by the colonial regime within the Indian Constitution, which is akin to a sugar coated bullet,` it said.
`The only way to be free from the bondage of Indian occupation is to defeat the IOF and drive them out of our soil forever,` the statement claimed.
It further appealed to all the people in the region to avoid the celebration and any supportive activity in connection with it and to display our solidarity against India, the common enemy, by making the total shut down a complete success.