Journalists appeal to militants to let Independence Day celebrations

Guwahati, Aug 12: The northeast militant outfits called for a shutdown on Independence Day this year and demanded that there will be a strike across the region.

An Assam-based journalists group appealed to people to defy the diktat. Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) wants every Indian to celebrate the Independence Day to pay tribute to the martyrs of the freedom struggle, a statement issue here said on Sunday.

[See: http://www.oneindia.in/independenceday-2013/]

Forum president Rupam Barua and secretary N. Thakuria asked people of the region to hoist the national flag at their houses and at other significant locations.

"The tricolor does not belong to the government machineries alone, rather it is a priceless property of the billions of Indians," the JFA said.

The JFA said many martyrs of Assam including Kanaklata, Kushal Konwar, Tilak Deka, Bhogeswari Phukanani, Nidhanu Rajbangshi, Kamala Miri, Lerela Boro, Madan-Rauta, Hemoram Patar and Gunabhi Bordoloi, among others, laid down their lives for the country.

The forum appealed to the city-based media persons to join the celebrations of India's 67th Independence Day at the Guwahati Press Club Aug 15.

Various militant groups from different parts of the Northeastern region have called for boycott of Independence Day celebrations. Instead, they have called for a general strike on the day in the region.

The solidarity statement said the groups "would like to remind you that people of Western Southeast Asia cannot tolerate national humiliation and insult as a result of promoting jubilation by the enemy (Indian government) in our land".

The groups include Ulfa (Independent), the anti-talk faction of Ulfa led by Paresh Barua; six militant outfits of Manipur; HNLC - a militant outfit active in Meghalaya, Kamatapur Liberation Organisation, National Liberation Force of Tripura and National Liberation Front of Boroland.

With inputs from IANS.

OneIndia News