IMPHAL, Nov 5 – Several social organisations today staged sit-in demonstrations in Manipur supporting human rights defender Irom Chanu Sharmila’s struggle to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958.
Demanding repeal of AFSPA, ‘Iron lady of Manipur’ Sharmila launched her fast in protest against the killing of ten persons at Malom on November 2, 2000. Three days later, she was arrested by police and charged with “attempt to commit suicide” and transferred to judicial custody.
The sit-in at Palace Gate here was organised by Asian Solidarity and Manipur People’s Struggle for Democracy. Maira paibis, students, activists and well-wishers along with Binayak Sen, Vice President of People’s Union for Civil Liberties and noted activist Lenin Raghuvanshi also attended the sit-in.
Raghuvanshi, who won Gwangju human rights award along with Sharmila in 2007, said “Peace and development will come once the AFSPA is removed as imposition of the Act helps in increasing number of armed groups.”
AFSPA gives security forces sweeping powers to search, enter property and shoot-at-sight and is seen by critics as cover for human rights abuses.
Hundreds of people in India's streets for the 'Iron Lady of Manipur' who is in her 15th year of hunger strike
Irom Sharmila has been fasting against martial law in the State of Manipur, which gives special powers (including full legal immunity) to members of the armed forces. This has led to human rights violations. Force-fed with a tube, the activist remains under arrest for "attempted suicide".
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Imphal (AsiaNews/Agencies) - Hundreds of people from across India and around the world yesterday joined peaceful demonstrations in support of Irom Chanu Sharmila, 42, who began her 15th year of hunger strike against martial law in Manipur.
Throughout the northeastern state, human rights activists, students and representatives of civil society groups fasted and took part in sit-in protests and demonstration to express their solidarity with the activist's fight.
Dubbed the "Iron Lady of Manipur", Irom Sharmila has been fasting since 5 November 2000, after ten civilians were killed by the paramilitary Assam Rifles as they waited for the bus at Malom on 2 November.
As a child, she would fast every Thursday. After the incident, she went on a hunger strike as a form of peaceful and non-violent protest, demanding the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which has been in force in Manipur since 1958.
The Act grants the armed forces special powers in so-called "disturbed areas". In fact, the law makes it possible to question and arrest anyone suspected of being a "terrorist" or a criminal. It also gives the military full legal immunity, whatever their action. As a result, many have criticised the law for leading to
human rights violations wherever it is in force.
Three days after she went on a hunger strike, Manipur Police arrested her for attempted suicide, which is illegal under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code.
The latter provides for "simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year", but Irom Sharmila has spent most of the past 14 years behind bars, subject to nasogastric intubation to force-feed her.
A court offered her to plead guilty to close the case, but the activist remains adamant, explaining that hers is not a suicide attempt, but an act of non-violent resistance, like that of Mahatma Gandhi.
The 'Iron Lady' won the
Gwangju Prize for Human Rights in 2007 along with Lenin Raghuvanshi, Dalit activist and director of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), who yesterday attended the demonstrations in favour of Irom.
Protesters also called for AFSPA's repeal in other northeastern states as well as Jammu and Kashmir.
