10 years Irom Chanu Sharmila fasting than Anna Hazare - Pls support for this IRONWOMEN

Irom Chanu Sharmila, a Manipuri poet, moved by the plight of her people and after the Indian Army massacred 10 civilians in Malom, Manipur, went on a hunger strike on 2 November, 2000 to force the government to repeal the AFSPA. She was arrested on 6th November and has been fed by a plastic tube forcefully inserted through her nose from 21st Nov 2000.

Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare hog the public limelight and the Center's attention but a woman who has been on a fast in Manipur against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act has been ignored for ten years now.

The high profile fasts of activists in Delhi and the silent 10-year long fast of Irom Sharmila - Hazare and Ramdev are followed by TV cameras, their voice heard all over the country but Irom Sharmila fasts unnoticed by the national media, alone and ignored. 

‘The Fast' of course doesn't mean Irom Sharmila's fast that has lasted for more than ten years (she's being force fed now) against the AFSPA, which allows soldiers in Manipur to kill merely on suspicion. It does not mean the relay hunger fast that is going on right now. ‘The People' does not mean the Manipuris who support Irom Sharmila's fast.  

The Just Peace Foundation (JPF), in collaboration with the civil society in Manipur, is celebrating Sharmila’s indomitable spirit, her audacity to hope in the midst of adversities, her unwavering stand for justice and her deep yearning for peace. Her unprecedented and incredible marathon hunger strike completes a decade this November. A series of cultural programs, literary and artistic activities, public meetings, public rallies, and poster campaigns marked the Festival of Hope, Justice and Peace from 2 to 6 November 2010.

JPF humbly request people to take whatever action possible to collectively muse over the age old concepts of Justice and Peace and to reach out to the ongoing struggles of all the oppressed peoples across the world.

HUMANISTS’ ASSOCIATION campaigning for withdrawal of AFSPA from Manipur and other states in India for the past five years is with Ms. Sharmila and demand withdrawal of this barbaric Act without further delay.

 

The reason for this protest is the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) which is enforced in the state of Manipur. Under this, any person in the army or paramilitary forces, even a non-commissioned officer. This draconian law can be introduced in any part of India declared by the Union as ‘disturbed’ and be enforced upon its citizens. The Act gives tremendous and arbitrary powers to the army without any safeguard for citizens’ rights. Also no legal proceeding can be carried out against the army’s abuse of power without the permission of the Central  government.

1. Arrest citizens and enter their property without warrant
2. Shoot and kill anyone on mere ‘suspicion’.