Irom Sharmila refuses to plead guilty; charges framed
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Agencies

Imphal / New Delhi, March 04 2013: With Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on fast for more than 12 years now to demand repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), refusing to plead guilty of attempting suicide, Patiala Court, Delhi, where she was produced today in connection with a case under IPC 309 (attempt to commit suicide) for fasting at Jantar Mantar in 2006, has framed charges against her and fixed May 22 as the next hearing of the case.

The social activist and human rights defender had been flown from Imphal yesterday to appear in the court following a summon order.

When asked if she tried to commit suicide, Sharmila replied "No" and told the court that she "loves life and does not want to take her life" .

She said: "I only want justice�If I wanted to commit suicide I might have died.

Mine is only a non-violent protest.

It is my demand to live as a human being," she added.

The magistrate, however, told her that she has been accused of attempting to commit suicide and prima facie the charge is there against her.

Irom Sharmila refuses to plead guilty

"I respect you but the law of the land does not permit you to take your life," the judge said, asking her counsel to make her understand the process.

Even after discussions with her counsel, Sharmila said, "If AFSPA will be repealed by the government then only I will take food and will throw the food pipe" through which she is fed.

The court, then told her, "This is a political process.

Here I am concerned with this case only" .

On being asked by the court again, "Do you plead guilty?", Sharmila said an emphatic 'no' and claimed trial.

Accordingly, Metropolitan Magistrate Akash Jain framed charges against her for attempt to commit suicide and issued show cause notice to Sharmila after she refused to plead guilty.

Earlier, the court told her counsel to explain to Sharmila that maximum punishment in the case was a few months to a year and that she has been in custody for more than 6 years, so if she pleads guilty, the case would be settled Monday.

The court has set May 22 as the next hearing date in the case.

Speaking to mediapersons outside the court room at Patiala House Complex, Sharmila said she is following Mahatma Gandhi's principle of non-violence and should not be "discriminated" against. Sharmila observed that she and other residents of states affected by Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) need "peace" and "not violence" and the democratic leaders should hear her "non-violent protest" .

She expressed her desire "to live a normal life" and asked why the government was "scared of giving her fundamental rights of a human being" .

"I am just a simple woman who wants to follow the non-violent principle of Gandhiji, the father of the nation.

Just treat us also like him and do not discriminate.

As a leadership, don't be biased against a human being," the 40-year-old Manipuri activist, whose counsel had sought court's permission to talk to media, said.

She told reporters that she has been protesting for more than 12 years now for the society and is demanding the rights of a democratic citizen.

"I am doing this for the society and other AFSPA affected states but we are the citizens of a democratic country and so my demand is for rights of a democratic citizen who needs justice.

We need peace, not violence.

Our democratic leaders should hear my non-violent protest," she said.

Chanu, who is in judicial custody and is being fed through a tube, added that Justice (retd) BP Jeevan Reddy Committee, set up to review the AFSPA, has also recommended repealing of this "draconian law" .

She also accused the government and the Army of "colluding for cheating" people.

Chanu had launched her fast unto death in 2000 after 10 civilians were killed by Assam Rifles personnel at Malom area near Imphal airport.

Asked if she was satisfied with the developments on the issue of extra judicial killings in Manipur on which Justice Santosh Hegde is conducting hearing even as the apex court has formed a probe committee, she said the government is not behaving "as a leadership which should work for society's betterment" .

"The government will remain adamant for the time being because they are not realising.

They are not behaving as a leadership which should work for the betterment of the people and the society," she said.

On being asked whether she wished to continue her protest "because the government does not seem to be listening", she said "revolution will take time and it depends on the will of people.

"I am also a human being who wants peace and justice.

I am against the government which uses violence as a means to govern," she said, adding that she will also remind them of their "real responsibilities as leadership" .

Expressing her desire to live a normal life, Chanu said, she is also a social being and claimed the government was "scared of giving her fundamental rights of a human being.

"What I just want from them (government) is to see me as an innocent woman who loves civilisation and is a rational being...," she added.

Meanwhile, demanding revocation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, over 30 supporters of Manipur's "Iron Lady" Irom Sharmila Chanu gathered outside Patiala House Court Monday morning and raised slogans in support of her campaign.

Her supporters were protesting outside gate no.2 of Patiala House Court, which has been closed by police.

Raising slogans "we want justice" Bhavan Meitei, a journalist from Manipur said: "We demand the repeal of the draconian AFSPA which violates the human rights of people in the name of curbing the insurgency.

We are with her (Irom Sharmila) the 'Iron Lady' of Manipur" .

"The army often misuses the power given to it by the government.

The demand to revoke AFSPA is not the demand by the people or by few activists, but even the committee appointed by the central government has recommended it," Meitei said.

Another protester Djorgi, a student from northeast said that Irom Sharmila is not just an activist fighting for a cause in the northeast, but a symbol of "women power" .

"She is not a terrorist.

Nobody has been allowed to meet her and she is not allowed to meet anybody.

The way she is being confined for such a long time is violation of human rights," Alok Singh, from Krantikari Yuva Sanghatan, said.