Stand against AFSPA continues : Ending 16 years fast
- The Sangai Express Editorial :: August 10 2016 -
Ending the fast. But stand against the
Armed Forces Special Powers Act continues (AFSPA) and will continue.
This is the
stand of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who ended
her historic 16 years fast with a taste of
honey on August 9.
While some have
welcomed her decision to call off the fast,
others have questioned it.
A reflection
that down the years, Sharmila had become synonymous with the movement
against the continued imposition of AFSPA
in the State and the North East region.
The same Act is also imposed in Jammu
and Kashmir. The question is whether the
movement against AFSPA will get diluted
now, for the fact stands that for 16 long
years, Sharmila was the rallying point
against the Army Act and this was primarily due to her fast, which was a protest
against the said Act. Enough has been
written about how she started her fast
and the question is whether she can
continue to rally the people around her
cause by joining electoral politics.
Early
days yet but in changing tact, Sharmila is
sounding the message that since her
marathonesque fast has refused to move
the Government, the time has come to
see if something more concrete can be
done from within. This may be a long shot,
but again this should awaken the people
to the reality that when they vote, they
do need to vote with a clear mind.
The
question is whether Sharmila will be able
to make the Army Act the main issue
when the State goes for the Assembly
election next year.
From fasting to the ballot box or rather
the EVM. This is the track that Sharmila
has chosen to take and yes while there
are many who may feel let down by her
decision, all need to keep in mind that
Sharmila is also an individual, a living individual with her own mind and likes and
dislikes. This is where the stand of Just
Peace Foundation needs to be noted.
Sharmila may have ended her fast, but
she still has not given up her stand against
the continued imposition of AFSPA and
this is a point which should be acknowledged.
Much before Sharmila began her
fast in 2000, the people have been
staunchly against the said Act and there
is no reason why the stand of the people
should get diluted now. This is the best
way to acknowledge the 16 years long
fast of Sharmila.
Let efforts be made to
draw more and more international focus on
AFSPA and let it also become the focal
point of every election in the State. As
stated earlier, it will be wrong to say that
Sharmila has thrown in the towel, for she
has already delivered a powerful point. It
is this which should not be lost on anyone.
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