Imphal, December 11: In support of Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, members of Manipuri community in UK staged a demonstration at Trafalgar Square, London yesterday even as BBC correspondent of South East Asia Mynt Thu met Sharmila at New Delhi today to record her comments on her more than six years old struggle.

Though no detailed report on the matter could be culled, a letter e-mailed to Babloo Loitongbam, Executive Director of Human Rights Alert by Manipuri community in UK informed that a demonstration was staged at the landmark Trafalgar Square of London to mark the International Human Rights Day yesterday.

A leaflet on Irom Chanu Sharmila and her more than six-year long struggle was also attached in the same mail, said Loitongbam.

As requested by the letter, Loitongbam distributed the leaflet titled "Save Sharmila Chanu" and subtitled on the iconic figure's photograph "Six years of hunger strike"to all civil society organizations and human rights groups which are opposed to oppressive military Acts and fighting for the cause of Sharmila who has been on fast for more than six years now demanding scrapping of the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.Besides giving a background of Manipur's 2000 years old civilization during which it enjoyed the status of a democratic Nation till it was merged into the Indian Union, the leaflet also presented a chronology of the events of rampant human rights by the security forces under the shadow of the repressive Army Act which prompted Sharmila to take up the fight.

37-year old Chanu of Kongpal Kongkham Leikai in Imphal East began her fast unto death agitation one day after the Assam Rifles personnel massacred 10 innocent people at Malom in Greater Imphal area on November 2, 2000.Since October 4 this year she shifted base to New Delhi where she is being nose fed under Delhi police custody at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) after she was arrested from Jantar Mantar while continuing her protest.

The letter said on the pretext of suppressing the liberation movement in the North East region including Manipur, the Indian Government has heavily relied on the controversial AFSPA, which empowers the security personnel including even an NCO, to arrest and enter premises of civilians without warrant, to shoot and to arrest and even kill at the mere hint of suspicion.

The Amnesty International has also stated that imposition of AFSPA was undeclared use of de facto emergency powers by India for an unlimited period of time for an unspecified reason, the letter pointed out.

It said further said, Sharmila who was recently nominated for consideration for the Nobel peace prize has become frail and weak but her protest for humane governance continues.

She was recently met by Nobel laureate, Shirin Ebadi at New Delhi.

Ebadi had also spoken out against the Act.

Meanwhile Irom Shinghajit Singh, elder brother of Chanu who along with a battery of human rights defenders are currently camping at the New Delhi told The Sangai Express that he was also intimated of the London demonstration but not officially.

BBC Correspondent of South East Asia Mynt Thu also called on Sharmila today and recorded her comments on her more than six years old struggle in the light of India Government's stand on the demand to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958.Sharmila told the BBC that she was not at all satisfy with the response of the India Government but has strong faith that the India Government would relent one day.

Sharmila said her struggle is more precious than her own life and she is not worried about the condition of her deteriorating health.

From the side of the Apunba Lup which has been spearheading the public movement for removal of the controversial Act, Sapamcha Kangleipal made it clear that imposition of AFSPA is not the solution to the problem of insurgency in the North East region including Manipur as the intervention of a third party like United Nations is required for solving the present conflict between India and Manipur.

The Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee had advised the repeal of the Act.

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