The NSCN/GPRN (YA) and ULFA-I has announced in a joint statement on January 22, that it will be boycotting the Indian Republic day celebration on January 26 within the Wesea region (Western Southeast Asia/Northeast India).

The joint statement asserted that the imposed Republic day celebration in the occupied region remains not only a practice of hypocrisy, but also a disgraceful endeavour to propagate Indian nationalism. This endeavour, according the the groups, is another failed attempt to mislead the world regarding the actual situation in Wesea.

“The fact is that the Weseans never joined the Indian Union of their own free will, it was a forced annexation at gunpoint. For the Weseans are coerced to live under corrupt Indian political system and economic dependency policies, for us the 26th January is a hallow mockery and mere deception. To honor this day is to honor the symbol of Indian supremacy, and justify India’s merciless military campaigns in the region. In fact the 26th January is a celebration of imperialism and genocide by a state who claimed to be the world’s largest democracy. Presently India’s minorities lives in a widespread climate of fear and India’s civil-liberties ranking has eroded over the years, in this sense, India is not a democracy but an authoritarian regime,” expressed the NSCN/GPRN (YA) and ULFA-I.

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It added, “To Weseans everywhere: your sacrifice, dedication and patriotism is what has brought us to where we are today. Every Weseans has a role in this struggle. This is our collective journey and our collective destiny.”

It further called upon Weseans to exercise their sovereign birth-right by supporting the boycott call by refraining from the imposed-celebration.

The groups informed that the joint-boycott will be effective in the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Manipur.