Support grows
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: November 07 2011 -

Campaign to support Irom Sharmila's 11 year long Hunger-strike at New Delhi on 5th November 2011

Irom Sharmila's fast which began as a protest against the Malom incident of November 2, 2000 crossed the 11 years marks on November 5. Holding the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 responsible for such unimaginable excesses of violations of the most basic of human rights - the right to life, she decided to go on fast till the Act is repealed.

Eleven years on, her fast continues as she is yet to achieve her mission of getting the Act repealed.

Even after the passage of 11 years, the state is as unresponsive as ever, choosing to ignore her struggle altogether. This, despite the fact that a commission appointed by it - the Jeevan Reddy Commission, had clearly recommended the desirability of repealing the Act altogether.

But the heartening thing is that as she completed her 11 years, there has been a surge support and solidarity for her movement across the country.

There were reports of day-long fasts, dharnas, recitation of poetry, screening of documentary on her struggle from North America, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chenai, Allahabad, Kolkatta, Baroda, Tripura, Kerala, various parts of Assam, Tripura, Bhubaneshwar and many other places on Nov 5, the day she began her fast. Some eminent persons like Kuldip Nayar, Medha Patkar, Prof Nandini Sundar, HoD, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, Uma Chakraborty, Harsh Mander, Anand Patwardhan, the documentary film maker have also come out in support of her struggle and repeal of this Act.

As the national media went overboard in their coverage of Anna Hazare's 12 day fast, the spot light, inevitably also fell on Sharmila's fast. Many in the country who were unaware of her struggle were struck with incredulity at her conviction, her sacrifice towards her mission of getting the AFSPA 1958 repealed.

And also inevitably, more and people from across the country are becoming aware of the AFSPA 1958, as an act which is draconian, to say the least, and which is not compatible with the essence of a democratic polity like India.

Though late in the day, Sharmila's fast and the movement for the repeal of the Act is gathering support from various quarters especially from the the youth and students of the country. There is every likelihood that this groundswell of support will only grow as more and more people come to know of about her struggle and about the undesirability of the Act.

Irom Sharmila, when she embarked on this journey - she did it all alone, there was no fanfare, no campaign, no media covering her fast 24X7. Contrast this with the splash created by the Anna Hazare's fast demanding the enactment of the Jan Lokpal bill.

The media coverage it received helped expand the support base of the movement to such an extent that, initially, the government of India appeared all at sea as to how to deal with it.

Now a few months down the line, the Anna's movement has received some severe jolts with the conduct of some of its core members coming into questions. Then their open campaign against the congress in the Haryana bye election led to resignation of core committee members Rajendra Singh and PV Rajagopa, protesting against this political turn.

All these have taken a lot of sheen out of the movement and distracted from the real issue of fighting corruption in the country.

On the other hand, though it has taken 11 long years, Sharmila's struggle seems to be striking a chord with a sizable section of the people across the country.

There has been no dilution in her commitment, her resolve to carry on her struggle till the goal of repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 is achieved.

This unwavering fight against this unjust act will continue to find resonance among many more individuals in the country who believe in democratic ideals, in justice and in respecting human rights of every citizen of this country.