Support the cause of Irom Sharmila Chanu

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Dilip Bangthai

The cause of the Iron Lady, Irom Sharmila Chanu, who has been on a hunger strike for more than a decade - protesting to repeal AFSPA, needs to be supported by all sections of the society as this law has become totally exposed today.

IROM SHARMILA Chanu, who has been on a hunger strike since 2nd November, 2000 - demanding for scrapping of ‘Draconian’ Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) from Manipur as well as Northeastern states of India. She has been refusing any kind of solid food and water for more than ten years. Her protest has been called the world’s longest hunger strike. A civil activist, poet, Sharmila was 28 years od while she began to fast to protest against the killing of ten civilians of Imphal Valley of Manipur by Armed Forces and the incident is later known as “Malom Massacre”, and this daughter of peace is now known as “Iron Lady of Manipur.”

AFSPA provides special powers to arrest, detain and even kill civilians on suspicion. The power to search and destroy properties on mere suspicion is granted to the armed forces in the 'disturbed areas' of the northeastern part of India (and subsequently in Kashmir). In 1958, when the Union Home Minster introduced the law in the Parliament, he assured that the Act will be in operation for only 6 months, but it has dragged on for more than 52 years now.

The fact is that the ills of AFSPA stand totally exposed today. On the other hand, Sharmila, who has become the icon of protest against this ‘Draconian Law’ is treated as a petty criminal, charged for attempting to commit suicide. Even though the May 18 Foundation of Korea has awarded her the prestigious Gwangju Prize for Human Rights in 2007, the Government of India continues her detention in isolation as a high security prisoner for a decade. Her struggle lies not only in defending the most basic and fundamental human rights of her people, but also in questioning the very foundations of Indian democracy which venerates Mahatma Gandhi and his principles of ahimsa or non-violence.

The people of Manipur have done whatever is humanely possible to register their protest against AFSPA such as naked protest by mothers, self immolation by student leader, mass demonstration, petition to the Supreme Court, and complaints to the United Nations, etc. Same is the case with other people of the North East and Jammu and Kashmir. Many well-meaning civil society groups and political parties within India as well as human rights groups from abroad have consistently supported this demand.

The government of India's own Committee to Review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (set up by the Union Home Ministry and headed by Justice Jeevan Reddy, former Judge of the Supreme Court), the Administrative Reforms Commission, headed by Law Minister Shri V. Moily and the Working Group on Confidence-Building Measures in Jammu and Kashmir led by the present Vice President, Hamid Ansari, have all recommended repeal of AFSPA. Even the Indian Army Chief has publicly stated on 19th of July 2010 that he has no objection to the repeal of AFSPA.

North East Students’ Organization (NESO), an umbrella organization of student bodies of Northeastern states, is coming forward to raise Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) issue at the national level. Sharmila has received strong support even from Anna Hazare. Keeping in mind the similarity of protests initiated by Anna Hazare against corruption and Irom Sharmila Chanu, the recent NESO bid to nationalize the latter’s cause is sure to trigger mass protest in the entire northeastern region, which could reverberate even in Delhi. Therefore, it is high time for us to support the cause of the Iron Lady.