Irom Sharmila: the role of Manipuris towards her

Th. Ranjit *

It got me hard when I thought that there is a lady who put herself into hunger for 10 years for all of us, the people of Manipur, to revoke the Act, that haunt us for more than 50 years.

In return what do we give back to her?
Why one of our sisters has to remain hungry for so long?
Why India is not moving?
Why every democratic protest was rejected?
Why all the recommendation dumped into the dustbin of Delhi?

We should bring out some innovative ideas to end this so that she will be able to have her first meal. Society doesn't change when good man remain silent. If we show collective strength and Collective Campaign, atleast something will come out.

When her lonely struggle of hunger passes 10 years, it badly hurts us. It hurt more when New Delhi is silent on the matter related to her that concerns the people of the region most. Our strategies to remove AFSPA cannot remain confine within India constitution. Experience is the greatest teacher to mankind.

We know that some Central-sponsored Commission brings nothing, as demonstrated by the fact that Jeevan Reddy Commission was not even brought up for discussion. In short, India Constitution is all about what happen in Bihar or UP. What happen in the North East never find as an agenda, even if it means gross human right violation. Delhi plays Enquire, Delay and Forgot tactics to one of the most important cause.

Withdrawal of AFSPA should not be the only target now. This human right crisis would have never happen if Army would have not been deployed in the region. Malom incident and many similar incidents were the direct product of the presence of army. Thus, answer lies not only in withdrawing AFSPA, but the Army itself.

Question can be raise about the security concern of the region, however, in the first place, presence of army have never been able to solve the insurgency. Moreover, we can ask why army are not deployed in the place which they are required most, the Maoist controlled area of the heartland India.

This is an interesting fact to bring to the notice of everyone. It was heard that the primary reason why army was not deployed in Maoist affected area may be because, Army don't want to use AFSPA there. Why army doesn't want to use AFSPA even if it means high frequency of deadly attack by Maoist to security forces, we don't know.

Infact, it may be because it is Mainland India who are Indian in true sense. If anybody wants to cross-question here, I say even after more than 50 years with India, we are still called chinkis in the street of Delhi, a word synonymous to people of China.

Indian, both common man and the high profile people, hate Chinese more than anything else and, their hate for China seems to indicate that they never liked Chinese looking guys like us. That is demonstrated by the very fact that AFSPA is here for more than 50 years, despite people protest and despite Sharmila fast for 10 years.

We can't keep waiting for the Centre to revoke it which itself contradicts between Defense Minister and Home Minister and who likes discussing more and act less. Many scholars and experts may be having many ideas on this matter.

I however, suggest that it's the time to pool those ideas together and act on it to the best level as we can. It's too long that she suffers for us, and it's un-acceptable. I would suggest one more thing.

I say again Lessons are learnt from the past experience. Our past experience suggests that 'Stop believing Delhi'. There should be complete internationalized approach bringing International bodies and countries that are friendly to us as widely as possible because it seems that it is the only door opening for us.