NORTHEAST INDIAN INSURGENTS BOYCOTT INDEPENDENCE DAY

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000227 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM PINR IN BG SUBJECT: NORTHEAST INDIAN INSURGENTS BOYCOTT INDEPENDENCE DAY REF: 07 KOLKATA 242 ¶1. (U) On August 10, the United Liberation Front of Asom [Assam](ULFA) and three other insurgent outfits of Northeast India called for a boycott of the August 15 Independence Day celebrations and a "general strike" on the day. The ULFA, the North-Bengal based Kamtapur Liberation Organization (KLO), Manipur People`s Liberation Front (MPLF) and Tripura People`s Democratic Front (TPDF) jointly announced in an email to the media that the strike would be effective from 1 a.m. to 6 p.m. on August 15. The organizations have been boycotting Independence Day regularly as an expression of solidarity in opposing "Indian rule." ¶2. (SBU) On August 9, the Indian Army recovered and defused two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by suspected ULFA militants in Dhubri, Assam. On August 11, a grenade exploded in the office premises of the Superintendent of Police in Bongaigaon, Assam. Although no one was hurt, the blast created panic. The state governments of the region have issued a red alert, cancelled night trains and are conducting search operations on vital installations and parade grounds. Assam's Police Inspector General (Law and Order)R. Chandranathan (please protect) told PolFSN that ULFA and its "satellite" groups are expected to create only minor disturbances at the moment due to the split in the ULFA and the surrender of the A and C companies of the 28th battalion in June. Assam police also report that several arrests of suspected ULFA activists on August 9 and 10 revealed that although ULFA intends to disrupt the August 15 programs, its capabilities are not high. They expect bigger strikes from September after the ULFA has time to regroup. PAYNE