R 121031Z AUG 08
FM AMCONSUL KOLKATA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 2088
INFO ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
CIA WASHDC
DIA WASHINGTON DC
USPACOM HONOLULU HI
NCTC WASHINGTON DC
AMEMBASSY RANGOON
AMCONSUL CHENGDU
AMEMBASSY BEIJING
AMCONSUL KOLKATA
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