Meet calls for AFSPA repeal to save Irom Sharmila
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, August 28 2014:
Under the banner of 'Save Sharmila & Repeal AFSPA, a mass rally cum public meeting was organised by Kshetri Chandam Leikai Women Development Association in collaboration with NALWWA , TAL, KWLWW, YWC, WCWA, NLNE and K.CLUB today.
Flagging off by woman activist Sitara Begum from Naharup Thongkhong, the rally culminated at Thambalkhong Sanglen where a public meeting was held.
During the rally, the participants were seen holding placards inscribed with slogans like 'Sharmila is not a criminal', 'We want democracy', 'Released Sharmila', 'Respect court judgment on Sharmila', 'Save sister, save Sharmila' etc, and shouting slogans like 'Repeal AFSPA from Manipur', 'Long Live Sharmila', etc.
The followed up public meeting at Thambalkhong Sanglen proceeded with I.Pratap, Senior Artist of Leimayol Art Centre Manipur; Kh.
Norendro, Member of North East Dialogue Forum; Md.Farug, Pradhan of Kshetrigao Gram Panchayat; Koijam Olen, Member of Thambalkhong Gram Panchayat and Sobita Mangsatabam, Secy of Women Action for Development sharing the dais as presidium members.
Among those who spoke at the meeting, I Pratap stated that the people of Manipur have considered the issue of AFSPA 1958 as not an issue for an individual, but for all the people living in the north east region, and exhorted that it is the right time for all the AFSPA-affected people in the region to unite and fight together for repealing AFSPA 1958 .
Norendro expressed his desire to save Sharmila and let her life with us.
Sobita Mangsatabam strongly condemned the inhuman treatment meted out to Irom chanu Shamila, who has been fasting for nearly 14 years now for the repeal AFSPA 1958, by the government.
One Adam, who also spoke on the occasion, asserted that AFSPA is a colonial, racist and out-dated security legislation.
It has no place in democracy.
Therefore, the Act must be repealed and save Sharmila.