IT News
Imphal, Aug 11:
The Coordination Committee (CorCom), a conglomerate of insurgent groups in Manipur, has issued a statement urging the people of Manipur to boycott India’s Independence Day celebrations on August 15, 2024. CorCom has also called for a total shutdown across the state from 1:00 AM to 6:30 PM on the same day.
In the detailed press release, CorCom outlined a range of historical and contemporary grievances that form the basis for their call to boycott India’s Independence Day. Central to their argument is the claim that Manipur’s political and cultural identity has been systematically undermined since the Anglo-Manipur War of 1891, which they describe as the point when Manipur was forcibly turned into a British Protectorate. CorCom argues that this status was imposed without the consent of the Manipuri people, and they assert that the subsequent merger with India in 1949 was similarly illegitimate.
The group states that Manipur’s merger with India occurred under duress, pointing to the controversial signing of the Merger Agreement on September 21, 1949, in Shillong. According to CorCom, Maharaja Budhachandra, who represented Manipur, was coerced into signing the agreement, which they argue led to the illegal annexation of Manipur into the Indian Union on October 15, 1949. This act, according to the group, violated the Indian Independence Act of 1947, as well as international laws such as the United Nations Charter and the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
CorCom’s statement goes beyond historical events to critique what they describe as the ongoing “recolonization” of Manipur by India. They allege that the Indian government has maintained a “cryptocracy” in the state, characterized by the suppression of local voices, the manipulation of the economy, and the perpetuation of social ills like drug addiction. The group accuses the Indian state of using these tactics to weaken the social and economic fabric of Manipur, thereby maintaining its control over the region.
The statement also addresses the broader socio-economic conditions in Manipur, claiming that the state’s economy has been deliberately kept underdeveloped and dependent on the central government. CorCom criticizes the lack of genuine development initiatives and accuses the Indian government of exploiting Manipur’s natural resources for its own benefit. They argue that the people of Manipur have been reduced to mere pawns in a larger geopolitical game, with their aspirations and rights systematically ignored.
The shutdown will affect all services except for essential ones, including medical services, electricity, water supply, fire services, and the press.
This call for boycott and strike comes amid ongoing tensions in Manipur, with CorCom emphasizing that the Independence Day celebrations do not reflect the aspirations of the people of Manipur. The group urges the public to observe the shutdown as a form of protest against what it perceives as India’s continued domination over the state.
