Irom Sharmila solidarity campaign gets underway
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 02 2013 :
Even as some State, national and inter-national human rights organi- sations have launched cam-paign to both convey solidarity to rights advocate Irom Chanu Sharmila as well as demand her release to commemorate her 14th year of hunger strike a number of events would be organised by various other NGOs in the next few days.
On November 5, Sharmila will complete 14 years of hunger strike, which she launched in the aftermath of paramilitary force personnel mowing down 10 civilians at Malom area near the Imphal Airport in alleged retaliatory firing after an attack by unknown armed persons.
Sharmila, referred to as the iron Lady of Manipur, is demanding total repealing of the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the region.
She is currently being force-fed through her nose at the security ward of the Ja-waharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (Jnims), which is close to her Kongpal Kongkham Leikai residence in Imphal East.
Starting today different programmes would be held across the country to show solidarity to her cause.
While Amnesty International India launched a cam- paign to release Sharmila, the Kashala Sanskritic Manch of the Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, War- dha (Maharashtra) would organising 'Sharmila solidarity programme' on November 4 .
Just Peace Foundation (JPF), a trust formed by social activists in support of Sharmila's unrelenting campaign against the military act is reportedly linking all civil society organisations of India for the four-day long solidarity programme.
A founding trustee of JPF and Sharmila's elder brother, Irom Singhajit left today for Maharashtra to join the programme, according to another JPF trustee Kshetrimayum Onil.
During the Maharastra campaign, the activists will visit Sevagram where Mahatma Gandhi formulated his non violent movement against the then British rulers after returning from South Africa.
Confiding that Civil Rights and Social Justice Society (CRSJS) is planning a mammoth public meeting in Kerala, the home state of Union defence minister AK Antony, Onil also informed that in West Bengal, civil society activists are planning to handover a memorandum to the Governor on Sharmila's campaign against black laws.
As part of the solidarity campaign, a one day mass fasting would be organised by Sharmila Kanba Lup at Porompat near Jnims Hospital on November 5 followed by lighting of candle observance at dusk in the area.
The campaign was symbolically kick-started today with a large number of people, including social activists and JPF trustees offering floral tribute to the Malom massacre victims at the memorial site.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), while taking suo motu cognizance of the arbitrary restrictions imposed on access to Sharmila, has already recommended that the state government lift the prohibition.
NHRC delegates who visited JNIMS security ward to meet Sharmila during its three-day visit last week, said that restrictions to meet Sharmila breach India's obligations under international human rights standards and principles, and a grave violation of human rights.
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