Irom Sharmila solidarity
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 14 2013: Coinciding with the 41st birth anniversary of Irom chanu Sharmila, who had been campaigning against unrestrained power to the military, a solidarity cum awareness campaign along with a sit-in-demonstration was staged at Kwakeithel Bazar today.

The campaign was jointly organised by Kwakeithel Thokchom Leikai Yumburenbi Mama Lup and Kwakeithel Akham Leikai Youth Club to make the common people aware of the impact and undiluted spirit of Sharmila, who was also recently honoured with the 'Eche' title, meaning elder sister, by human rights groups.

According to Mama Lup member Khundrakpam Indira today's protest demonstration was to not only highlight Sharmila's effort and contribution in redressing issues related to human rights violations but to garner more public support for the multiple awards winner achieve her goal of protecting rights of the citizens.

Pointing out that Sharmila's endeavours had already gained recognition from international as well as national human rights organisations, indira opined that Sharmila needs unstinted public support to sustain her campaign.

Speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, FREINDS general secretary Joy chingakham lamented that since imposition of AFSPA 1958 in Manipur from 1960 onward a number of civilians have lost their lives due to excesses committed by security forces.

Even though the pro-military Act was actually enforced to tackle insurgency in the State misuse of the same by security forces have claimed several innocent citizens with the massacres of Heirangoithong in 1984, Tera bazar (1983), RIMS campus (1985) and Malom (2000) meriting complete repealing of the Act, said the general secretary who also mentioned numerous other instances of security force high-handedness.

maintaining that human rights groups have highlighted 1528 instances of rights violation cases in between january 2009 to May 2012 in the State to the United Nations, Joy said that the record is itself a testimony that people of Manipur continue to bear the consequences of unbridled power bestowed to security forces.

Expressing optimism that the global fraternity would definitely act against rampant violation of human rights in Manipur for human rights abuse cases in the State had been figuring at international meets on a regular basis, he stated that deployment of over 50,000 Indian para-military forces in a tiny State like Manipur is a clear illustration about the intention of the Central Government.

A number of NGO functionaries and rights activists also joined in the campaign.

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