ASUK asks Sharmila to re-think entering electoral politics
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 03 2016: The Alliance for Socialist Unity, Kangleipak (ASUK) has called upon Irom Sharmila to re-think her decision to join electoral politics and marry a non-local man.

A statement jointly signed by ASUK Chairman N Oken and Vice-Chairman Ksh Laba Meitei pointed out that some former revolutionary leaders were assassinated as they turned against the revolutionary movement soon after they got elected as people's representatives.

After popular mass leader Lamyanba Irabot, Iche Sharmila is the only living icon of mass struggle against draconian laws.

"We are using the salutation Iche not on the basis of seniority but out of respect for her iconic status", it said.

Sharmila speaking to media

All those people who joined electoral politics chose the same path knowing well that it was a cul-de-sac.

ASUK then appealed to Sharmila not to degrade her status by joining electoral politics.

It further remarked that Sharmila's decision to marry a non-local man cannot be called correct.

Even though the man is an NRI, he is still an Indian in the eyes of the people of Kangleipak.

The ongoing mass movement for protection of indigenous people can be attributed to the growing incidences of inter-marriage between Indian people and people of Kangleipak and incessant influx from India.

Although most people are not happy with her decision to marry an Indian, people are making no comments because it is a very personal matter.

ASUK then appealed to Sharmila to respect the people's identity politics.

There was no guarantee that the Indian man with whom Sharmila purportedly plans to marry was not an intelligence agent of the Government of India.

It was also possible that the Government of India used the particular agent to win the heart and mind of Sharmila.

As such, the particular man needs to be observed for sometime.

It is crucial to ascertain if he has any vested interest.

If Sharmila was thinking that she would lobby against AFSPA at the UNO with the help of the Indian man, it sounds absurd, added ASUK.

Sharmila's marriage to the Indian man would certainly imply the loss of a bright star from the political horizon of Kangleipak.

"When there is no people's movement against AFSPA in Manipur and WESEA, neither the UNO nor any other country would do anything for our people", ASUK said.

At the moment, the international community and the UNO have been acting in favour of India.

It was the UN Security Council which resolved that a referendum should be held in Kashmir but the same resolution has been swept under the carpet.

The UNO may intervene if the people's movements in WESEA reach a certain trajectory.

It would be more prudent to work collectively so as to raise the people's movement to the particular trajectory, it asserted.

As for Sharmila's decision to break her unprecedented fast, the ASUK asserted that it could not be assumed as failure or defeat.

There were no strikes, social movements or reformist agitation which achieved 100 per cent of their demands/objectives.

If viewed from this perspective, Sharmila's crusade could be assumed as a spectacular success.

"Iche's campaign as a champion of human rights has exposed the hypocrisy of the Indian State.

The UN and many other international bodies have lambasted AFSPA.

At the same time, many international organisations have already honoured Iche.

Many international figures including a Nobel Peace Prize winner have opposed AFSPA", it added.