Source: Nagaland Post
Several North East insurgent groups have called for a total shutdown in the region on August 15 while announcing their decision to boycott the Independence Day celebration.
A joint statement of the United National Liberation Front of WESEA (UNLFW), Coordination Committee (CorCom), Manipur; Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) appealed to the people of the region to boycott the Indian Independence Day.
The insurgent groups also announced for a total shutdown on August 15 from 1 a.m. till 6 p.m. They further asked all public and private transportation to stop their services, shops and markets to down their shutters and educational institutions to remain closed.
“Essential and humanitarian services will be exempted from the total shutdown”, the statement added. The insurgent groups said “some citizens of India will witness the fun fare of the celebration but the reality was that people of the region are always suppressed”.
“The continuous racist attacks on our WESEA people in mainland India, the latest being the humiliating incidence of Monika Khangembam of Manipur proves the vulnerability of the people of our region in spite of carrying the stamp of genuine citizenship and passport”, the joint statement said.
“Our target is the Indian occupational forces, not a single civilian. But, the occupation forces use civilians as shields and even trick the innocents to walk on to danger and threat to life”, the rebels alleged.
The groups also appealed the people to avoid public gatherings and students to stay at home to boycott the Indian National celebrations.
Meanwhile, Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP)-Military Council has called for a 12-hour “public curfew” on August 15. KCP said that the curfew would be effective from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., while media persons and other emergency services have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.
