Ill-treatment of Irom Sharmila denounced
Source: Hueiyen News Service / NNN

Imphal, August 26 2014: Showing support to Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been on a fast for nearly 14 years now demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and also condemnation of the harsh treatment meted out to her by the police after she was released on August 19 following a court order, a public rally cum meeting was held here today.

Jointly organised by different civil organizations and human rights activists, the public rally cum meeting held under the banner of "Torture and Inhuman treatment on Irom Chanu Sharmila" was participated by large number of people from different parts of the state.

The rally was flagged off by social activist, Rose Mangshi from Bamon Leikai, near basketball ground and later the crowd assembled at Wangkhei Multipurpose community hall where the meeting was held.

A public rally for Irom Sharmila

Among those who spoke on the occasion, president of All Manipur Bar Association, advocate Khaidem Mani stated that the government is solely responsible for safeguarding and protecting the life of Sharmila who has been fasting for nearly 14 long years now demanding removal of AFSPA 1958 .

But re-arresting her and then forcibly feeding her through nasal tube to sustain her life will not save Sharmila's life.

It is a policy adopted by the government to slowly put her to death", Khaidem Mani alleged.

The noted advocate went on to say that if the government really wants to save Sharmila's life, then it should help her by removing the draconian act from the state and completely uproot the Act from the law book.

This will save Sharmila and help her to live as a normal person, he stated.

Pointing out that 60 MLAs sitting in the Manipur Legislative Assembly have a big responsibility to safeguard Sharmila's life and end her long years of fast by initiating the repeal of AFSPA from Manipur, Khaidem Mani advised that instead of extending the issue of the Disturb Area Status every six months, the government should take up concrete steps to initiate the removal of the same from all the disturb areas existing in the state.

.MSobita, secretary of Women Action Developmennt (WAD) alleged that the government of India has been treating Sharmila like a second class citizen.

"Even though Sharmila has been fasting for fourteen years now, the Government of India has not moved an inch in considering her demand.

Sharmila's long years of struggle for repeal of AFSPA from the State is nothing compared to social activist like Anna Hazare's protest in the form of fast to which the Government of India paid immediate attention", added Sobita.

The meeting was also attended by Prof..LSadananda, former Principal, Manipur college and general secretary, Senior Citizens Society Manipur; senior journalist Irengbam Arun; president, Rongmei Women Association Panti Golmei; Ima Nganbi Tourembam, Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System, convenor, women wing; Sitara Begum, president of All Manipur Muslim Women Association and K.Loyalakpa, editor of Naharolgi Thoudang as presidium members.