Imphal, Aug 10: Underground organisations of the North East region Kamatapur Liberation Organisation, Manipur Peoples' Liberation Front, National Liberation Front of Twipra, Tripura Peoples Democratic Front and United Liberation Front of Asom have boycotted the forthcoming Independence Day celebration in the entire region.

Consequently, the UG groups have imposed a general strike with effect from 1 am till 5.30 pm of August 15.Ever since the region came under the Indian occupation, the regional expansionist power has been trying to undermine the basic unity of 'our region so as to prolong their colonial hold on the region', said a joint statement released today.

Alleging that India has been using 'democracy' as a convenient tool in creating antagonistic ethnic divisions, the statement derided the conduct of 'local collaborators' who have been accused of exploiting the ethnic divides of the region for selfish electoral gains in the Indian system of elections.

Maintaining that the region's revolutionary parties/organisations are committed in waging awar against adversary forces and firmly believe in documented history of patriotic revolutionary forces unmistakably triumphing over colonial and counter-revolutionary forces, the statement pointed out that primary objective of the Government of India is to suppress the national liberation movement of the region.

"To this end India has been giving emphasis on the military option while at the same time trying to rope in the liberation forces one by one to the 'dialogue process for a political solution' so that the relieved occupation forces could be redeployed in areas where armed struggle has become very active," it observed.

The double-edged agenda having failed to produce the desired result, the Indian Government is nevertheless concentrating on intensifying the militarisation process in the region, charged the UGs.

It also cited GoI's new tactics of offering 'discussion on core issue' as an outcome of compelling circumstances and cautioned that the exercise is a bait as aspiration for sovereignty and independence find no mention in the Government's dialogue process.

Reminding that people of the region that partaking in the Independence Day celebration would tantamount to selling out 'our very existence as distinct peoples and nations which would be irreconcilable, the five organisations pledged to continue the armed struggles till sovereignty and independence is restored and urged the people to be prepared for the hard struggle ahead.

"However, reaffirming our stand to continue armed struggle does not necessarily mean that we do not desire peaceful resolution of the conflicts vis-a-vis India.

We want to end the armed conflicts at the earliest so that suffering of out entire people could be mitigated," expressed the organisations while hastening to add that 'this is not possible so long as India refuses to respect out legitimate rights to sovereign independence'.

This is the reality of conflicts, it added.

Fervently urging the people of the entire region to forge unity at all levels rather than play up emotional ethnic issues that only create negative divisions among the people which would only act as fodder for the Indian security force to prolong its ruthless grip over the populace, the statement pointed asserted that future of the people could be considered as secured only when the colonial occupation is overthrown.

The organisations also appealed to the people of the region to cast aside internal differences and forge solidarity against the common enemy by making the boycott and general strike a complete success.

They conveyed to all other patriotic revolutionary organisations to support the boycott call and the general strike in the larger interests of 'our common goal'.

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