77th Independence Day: ULFA (I) Sticks to Boycott Call, Appeal for 18-Hour Shutdown

GUWAHATI: The preparations afoot by the government to celebrate the 77th Independence Day are being marred by the boycott call by United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) and the NSCN/GPRN.

Security arrangements have been put in place to foil any ulterior designs by the outlawed organizations to cause any kind of law and order issues. The authorities asked people to be vigilant and report any suspicious incident or persons.

On Saturday, ULFA-I and the NSCN/GPRN issued a statement calling on people to boycott the 77th Independence Day celebrations.

Moreover, the outlawed militant outfits have called for an 18-hour "bandh" (total shutdown) from 12:01 am to 6 pm on August 15.

The statement, issued in the name of Captain Rumel Axom from the ULFA-I’s Publicity Department, denounced the Independence day celebrations and advocated for a united stand in western Southeast Asia (WeSEA) to address the so-called colonial exploitation.

According the contents of the letter, although India's colonial rulers relinquished power on August 15, 1947, the legacy of colonial oppression has continued, resulting in issues persisting within the nations of western South-East Asia, an area that encompasses Assam and Nagaland.

The statement also laid emphasis on the need for genuine autonomy- both economic and political, as well as the right to safeguard linguistic, cultural, and national identities, a right that the outfits say remains compromised under the existing framework.

According to the statement, the facade of this celebrated ‘Independence Day’ has failed to protect the sovereignty of the historically independent nations of western Southeast Asia, which remain marginalised and influenced by the colonial ruling class.

Moreover, the outlawed faction, in its statement, also slammed the portrayal of regional political conflicts as just "law and order problems," thus, laying emphasis on the importance of challenging such ideas. The remark highlights the difference between Tholgiri (indigenous) people's goals and decisions enforced by the Hindi heartland, in a way that expresses a disdain for the region's particular character and wishes.

The statement went on to say that meaningful progress cannot be made unless ‘colonial’ India's overwhelming dominance is dissolved. ULFA-I took the opportunity to urge Assam, Nagaland, and the Western South-East Asia area [WeSEA] to unite, while emphasising the importance of self-defense and collective efforts.

Expressing these thoughts, ULFA-I sought to reaffirm the appeal to boycott colonial India's 'Independence Day' celebrations, through its declaration. It further called on all political and non-political institutions, as well as citizens of Assam, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh, to desist from participation in any official state-mandated programmes.

The statement to boycott the celebrations, while calling for a complete shutdown from 12:01 am until 18:00 pm scheduled for August 15, however, stresses that it will not affect emergency services, media operations, or religious activities during that period.

Also Read: Guwahati Decked Up For Celebration Of Independence Day, Sunday’s Parade

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