Disempowering of the Campaign for the Repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958
- CORE (Centre for Organisation Research & Education) -

Imphal, 5 September 2011

CORE Centre for Organisation Research & Education
Indigenous Peoples' Centre for Policy and Human Rights in India's Eastern Himalayan Territories
NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations

The Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE) is deeply distressed with the reported news that concerns the personal life of Ms Irom Sharmila who has been on a fast since the Malom massacre of 2000 and has been in repeated, and regularly extended, simple imprisonment under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code.

In the reported interview with this campaigner from Manipur carried by the Telegraph daily, disconnected information has been published about the personal lives of Sharmila and others with a gratuitous association to the about three decades long campaign for the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

The Telegraph report of 5th September 2011 also quotes the campaigner as saying that, "….the man I love is waiting for me impatiently. He came here to meet me but my supporters refused that idea," making an insinuation that her "supporters appear to be finding it hard to come to terms with the sudden and unexpected romance."

CORE would like to make a categorical clarification regarding an unfortunate misperception that has developed regarding the campaign for the repeal of AFSPA. Our organisation along with many others across Manipur, the North Eastern region, India and the world has been constituents of this campaign, which found wide support among many individuals as well. This widely supported campaign began earnestly in the 80s and continued throughout the 90s till the end of the millennium until this day.

Ms Irom Sharmila began her fast in the first week of November 2000 in support of this campaign to repeal the AFSPA. She, like many, is a supporter of the campaign. Somewhere along the way, a notion gained coinage that she is the campaign and all the others are her supporters. Nothing could be further from the truth.

CORE is not directly associated with the fast undertaken by Ms Irom Sharmila; but it has been a staunch supporter and working organisation for the campaign to demand the repeal of AFSPA since the early 90s. CORE fully supports and has no difficulties with Ms Irom Sharmila's right to make personal decisions regarding her life and personal affairs, but does not support any attempt to sensationalise her or anyone else's personal decisions or private life as the topic of cheap journalism, and, in one fell sweep, to discredit her supporters and those who support the campaign for the repeal of AFSPA.

The Telegraph report with a byline credited to a certain Mr. Nishit Dholabhai is in bad taste as far as journalism is concerned, bordering on what is known as "yellow journalism" sensationalizing on the deeply private and personal lives of celebrities and individuals. It has a total contempt and disrespect for its targeted individuals or the family members of the concerned. It is a blatant and willful invasion of the right to privacy enjoyed by Sharmila, her mother, her brothers and other family members.

In view of recent experiences in India with fasting and fasts unto death as a method of peaceful democratic protest, Anna Hazare's 12 day fast for the adoption of the Jan Lokpal Bill has empowered him and the national campaign against corruption, while Irom Sharmila's over 12 years' fast in support for the repeal of the AFSPA has left her in the shame of a life of indignity and possible disrepute.

CORE condemns the Telegraph national daily report as the perfect expression of journalism that has not only gone wrong but also disempowers the people of Manipur's long struggle against AFSPA. Mr. Nishit Dholabhai is requested to offer an apology to Ms Irom Sharmila, her mother and family members, and to the people of Manipur and supporters to the campaign to repeal the AFSPA for trivializing her and her family's private life, and the people's campaign that has seen fatalities, grievous injury and much suffering

Dr Debabrata Roy Laifungbam
Convenor
Loisanglen:
Post Box No. 99
1st Floor, Ibotombi Building, Babupara
Imphal 795001, MANIPUR
Tel/Fax: +91 385 244 13 19
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.coremanipur.org