Irom Sharmila speaks on 'AFSPA and People's Movement'
Delhi; September 30, 2016
Irom Sharmila speaks on 'AFSPA and People's Movement' at New Delhi
IROM SHARMILA SPEAKS ON ‘AFSPA AND PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT’ AT NEFIS SEMINAR!
NEFIS CELEBRATES IRABOT’S 120TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY WITH A PLEDGE TO MAKE ANTI-AFSPA STRUGGLE A MASS-BASED PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT!
North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) organized a seminar on ‘AFSPA and People’s Movement’ today at Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi University. It was attended by Human Rights Activist, Irom Chanu Sharmila as the main speaker.
The seminar was organized to commemorate the 120th Birth Anniversary of Revolutionary leader, Hijam Irabot. Chinglen Khumukcham, Convenor, NEFIS during his welcome address said that it was essential to note the truth about Irabot’s intensive work towards building a truly democratic, progressive people’s movement in the region, and that the seminar had been organized to further broaden the horizon of anti-AFSPA People’s Movement.
It should be known that this is the first time Irom Sharmila is speaking after breaking her fast, outside Manipur. In her speech, she stressed the necessity to lay groundwork for a mass-based people’s movement.
Irom Sharmila speaks on 'AFSPA and People's Movement' at New Delhi
She explained that her recent decision to break her 16-year long fast and enter electoral politics was an attempt at moving from individual-centric struggle to making the anti-AFSPA struggle a mass-based movement.
Noted Women Rights activist, Dr. Maya John in her address laid emphasis on the need for different people’s movement to unite and provide solidarity to each other’s struggles. Professor Nandini Sundar, who was one of the speakers at the seminar welcomed the event and said that unity of people’s struggles will ensure that the movements’ horizons remain open and they do not end up being narrow, sectarian struggles.
The seminar was attended by a large number of students not only from Manipur, but those coming from different areas of North-East too, who were very eager to meet the Iron Lady, Irom Sharmila. Their enthusiasm pointed towards a strong mass movement that the struggle against AFSPA will be becoming in the coming days.
Irom Sharmila speaks on 'AFSPA and People's Movement' at New Delhi
Chinglen Khumukcham concluded the seminar by proposing a vote of thanks to the main speakers at the seminar, and extending it to the enthusiastic attendees as well. He used the occasion to emphasize the legacy of Hijam Irabot and called the occasion a meeting point of the past struggles with the present-day people’s movement.
At this crucial juncture, it is our duty, he said, to highlight Irabot’s vision to build democratic people’s movements that expose all forms of exploitation, oppression and subjugation faced by the toiling masses of the North-East.
* This Press Release was sent to e-pao.net by North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) who can be contacted at nefis(DOT)delhi(AT)gmail(DOT)com
This Press Release was posted on October 01 2016
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