The Socialist Revolutionary Party (SOREPA) has called for a 24-hour general strike in Kangleipak/Manipur from 5 am of August 15 to 5 am of August 16 to express their protest against the celebration of Independence Day in India.
M.C. Yaiphabi, Secretary of SOREPA, Publicity and Organisation, declared that the party will support the boycott of the general strike declared by revolutionary outfits in WESEA region and appeal to the citizens to jointly boycott Independence Day programmes.
SOREPA stated that the people of Kangleipak have a distinct historical identity and the region was forcibly incorporated into the Indian union through the signing of the Manipur Merger Agreement in 1949. The Anglo-Manipuri war of 1891, Burmese occupation for seven years and anti-foreign movements have been cited to show that Kangleipak people have a history of opposing loss of independence.
On the violence that began on May 3, 2023, SOREPA alleged that the conflict was part of a deliberate effort involving India and narco-terrorist groups to destroy the unity of the indigenous communities. It further alleged that poppy cultivation and drug trafficking had contributed to the present crisis.
Calling for an end to violence and displacement, the outfit urged the different communities to unite and work towards a peaceful and self-sustaining society. It also called for replacing poppy cultivation with food crops and strengthening food security.