November 5: Why not a day of Global Fasting for Human Rights ?

Seram Neken *

Homage paid to Malom massacre victims on 02 Nov 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Today is a historic day. The legendary hunger striker Irom Chanu Sharmila began her fast-unto-death demanding revocation of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 on this day in the year 2000 AD. The unique and longest ever hunger strike in the history of mankind started following the infamous Malom Massacre in which ten innocent people were killed by security personnel at Malom in Imphal west district of Manipur in the name of countering an armed attack.

It was on November 2 in the year 2000 that Assam Rifles killed ten civilians who were waiting bus for their days work at a bus stop at Malom. The victims included an 18-year old Sinam Chandramani, a 1988 National Child Bravery Award winner. Irom Sharmila, who was 28 years of age at the time began to fast in protest against the killing, taking neither food nor water.

Although Malom Massacre provoked the determined lady to start her valorous fight, a number of such massacres had happened in Manipur during the last 5-6 decades. Numerous innocents had been put to death in the name of countering insurgency. A number of women had been made widows, while a similar number of children became orphans for no fault of theirs. Under such draconian regime, Irom Sharmila could no longer tolerate the onslaught on human rights of her own race. Thus came the onset of her fast-unto-death 14 years ago.

In the long course of 14 years, her struggle has gone beyond AFSPA and beyond Manipur. It is for the preservation of human rights of the whole mankind on earth that she has spared her life and struggled without any limit. Her undaunted will calls for an end not only to AFSPA, but also to all forms of violations of human rights across the globe.

She has been on fast for the last fourteen years not only for the Manipuris, but also for the whole human race. It is in everybody's knowledge that human rights violations have been rampant in various nook and corner of the globe. The mankind gets exploited in one form or the other, under one or the other oppressive regime. In spirit, Irom Chanu Sharmila has probably determined to end all forms of human rights violations among the human race. We may presume her long fight in the global perspective and she may be made a harbinger of peace across the globe. It is high time we brought Sharmila's extraordinary struggle to the global arena and it should go beyond AFSPA and beyond Manipur.

Spearheading the commemoration of this historic day, the Sharmila Kanba Lup (SAKAL) has appealed to all people particularly students, youths and women groups to observe a day-long fasting to mark the day on which Sharmila commenced her fast-unto-death fourteen years ago. The whole Manipur society should extend its regrets when the members of SAKAL abstained from the greatest traditional festival 'Ningol Chakouba' to show its solidarity to Sharmila's struggle.

It was indeed a bold step towards the cudgel for human rights and dignity. Sharmila's fight is unique all over the world. The global community must respect her for the determination she has demonstrated on behalf of the human race. On this Day, November 5 every year, the whole human race must observe a fasting for its own rights and dignity. The human race can at least abstain one day from eating anything in solidarity to the struggle of a lady who has not eaten anything for 14 years for our cause.

AFSPA & ELECTION

Elections come, politicians of Manipur always attach AFSPA as the top priority in their agenda for public speech. Page number one of Manifestoes of political parties lists repeal of AFSPA as an inevitable part of their demonstration of respect for the human rights of their subjects. Elections go, AFSPA is sidelined for another five years only to come over for the next election campaign. The issue would ever remain on the political agenda, as long as democratic elections come and go in its routine journey.

Manipur has given birth to a lady, who has determined to bring peace among the mankind. The world must be proud of such a harbinger of peace in this world of oppressions and exploitations. The theory of 'Might is right' still goes on even under democracies. 'Right is might' is seldom respected in this world.

Even after 14 years of fasting for the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958, Sharmila has not been respected by the subsequent governments as a harbinger of peace, and as a human rights activist. Her struggle is still regarded by the Indian regime as a mere attempt to suicide.

From every angle, be it the legal, political or humanitarian view, no one speaks in favour of AFSPA. We have heard retired Army Officers denouncing the very act as draconian. Even the committees constituted under the Supreme Court disdained the AFSPA as violating human dignity.

ARMED FORCES (SPECIAL POWERS) ORDINANCE 1942, from which the present AFSPA was derived and enforced in Manipur and other north east states later on, has recently been recommended for abolition by the Supreme Court as it is obsolete in this modern world. Political leaders, political parties of all stature often speak of the need to revoke the Act as it has not stood the test of time.

Then, a pertinent question strikes every living human being on earth 'Why the AFSPA still remains in the statute book ? Why it is not revoked amidst all hues and cries from all angles ?'

Very recently, a few dominant political parties expressed their assurances to urge the parliament for repeal of the AFSPA, which is totally against the human race. Unfortunately, the politicians of Manipur and India as well have the habit of ignoring what they have sworn during pre-election campaigns.

During Sharmila's 14 years of hunger strike, no politician of Manipur (or India) dared to urge for the revocation of AFSPA at the right platform. It is only the civil organizations of Manipur and other states of India that supported and inspired the struggle. No political party has willingly come out to fight against AFSPA in its own capacity. It is a shame on the part of our political leaders to see Irom Chanu Sharmila fasting for a 14-year duration for the cause of the people.