Ban on meeting Irom Sharmila: NHRC grills Home
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 23 2013: The officials of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) who arrived here yesterday for holding Camp Sitting to hear complaints of human rights violation in the State met Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on an indefinite fast demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, today.

Of the visiting NHRC officials, a team comprising Members Justice Cyriac Joseph, Satyabrata Pal, Director General (Investigation) Ms.Kanwaljeet Deol met Sharmila at the Security Ward of JNIMS at around 10 am today.

Another team reported visited Churachandpur Hospital today.

First of all, the visiting NHRC officials enquired about the treatment regimen prescribed for Sharmila.

When asked how visitors can meet Sharmila, the attending doctors apprised the NHRC officials that only those who have been given security clearance are allowed to meet Sharmila.

Ban on meeting Irom Sharmila: NHRC grills Home

To that the visiting NHRC team demanded to know who is the security in-charge, and accordingly, Joint Secretary (Home) Rupachandra was called in.

When the NHRC officials inquired to whom an ordinary person has to apply for permission to meet Sharmila, Rupachandra disclosed that only the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister could grant such permission.

After the permission is granted, the approval of Jail Authority is required and then the information is to be relayed to the security personnel deployed for the protection of Sharmila at JNIMS Hospital.

On hearing this, the visiting NHRC team demanded to know why the Government is imposing restriction on meeting Sharmila when there has been no court order or injunction in this regard.

NHRC officials pointed out that a Special Rapportuer of the Commission was denied permission to meet Sharmila sometime earlier despite the fact that NHRC representatives have the right to meet any person in police custody.

The main duty of the Special Rapportuers is to collect reports for submission to the Commission.

On top of this, they are sometimes assigned on special duty to gather information on specific incidents or events.

In such a situation, why it is being said that permission for meeting Sharmila could be given by no other authorities other than the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister? .

The NHRC team also questioned authority of the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister in this regard, leaving the Joint Secretary (Home) speechless.

To the visiting NHRC team, Sharmila disclosed that sometime she does not receive any visitor throughout the year.

Even if she wants to meet people while being taken to the court for appearance, she has to seek prior permission.

There again, she was given permission to meet people only for 20 to 30 minutes.

"Even though convicts in the jail are given permission for meeting visitors at least twice a week, the Government is denying permission to meet my friends and well-wishers,", Sharmila complained.

Sharmila went on to point out that she is a citizen of India and her fast against prolonged imposition Armed Forces Special Powers Act is no different from the fast unto death stir launched by various political leaders against the formation of Telangana State or any other issues from time to time elsewhere in the country.

But she has been charged with attempt to commit suicide.

Sharmila said that she believes that there can be peace in the region only when Armed Forces Special Powers Act is removed.

So, she would not give up her fast until withdrawal of the draconian Act.

From among the visiting NHRC officials, Satyabrata Pal asked Sharmila whether she would withdraw her hunger strike if amendment is made in the controversial Act.

Sharmila replied in the negative and said she wants complete removal of the Act.

Asked if the Chief Minister had ever visited her and appealed to call off the strike, Sharmila said that Chief Minister O Ibobi has visited her three times so far and repeatedly urged her to call off her fast.

During the hour-long meeting of the NHRC officials with Sharmila, there was no interpreter.

As a consequent, there were instances where the two parties could not understand each other's view points.

Talking to mediapersons after meeting Sharmila, NHRC officials informed that the Commission has been making efforts to understand the human rights scenario in different parts of the country and they have come to Manipur in this regard.

Even though Manipur Human Rights Commission has not functioned for more than 2 years now, Manipur still comes under the jurisdiction of National Human Rights Commission.

The reports collected on the human rights scenario in Manipur would be submittted o the Commission and necessary recommendations would be sent to the State Government and the Central Government.

It is said that during the course of their Camp Sitting at Imphal, the visiting NHRC team would hear the complaints of the people and the NGOs.