New Delhi, May 02: In recognition of their efforts to improve human rights in India, the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Selection Committee, has selected Lenin Raghuvanshi and Irom Sharmila as corecipients of the award.

In a statement the committee said that the military powers of India have become the focus of international attention.

This concerns the Armed Forces Special Powers Act(AFSPA) enacted in 1958, which is operative at the time of a 'suspected' riot(s) in order to 'maintain public order.' As this law allows killing by shooting, entering and search of property, and arbitrary detention, etc., its abuse is currently spawning grave human rights violations in some parts of India.

Still, the practical near-impossibility of indicting the abusive military person(s) concerned is a more serious problem. The statement said that since the November 2, 2000 incident where Indian military opened fire on its own citizens in the state of Manipur, Irom Sharmila, a resident of the tragic state, has refused to eat and drink anything in resistance to indiscriminate use of the AFSPA against civilians.

The response of the Indian government to her resistance has been repetitively evasive: the government has arrested her on a charge of 'attempted suicide', force-fed her and then freed her under applicable law, but, up until now, has failed to provide any fundamental alternative to the law in question.

In October 2006, Sharmila left Manipur for New Delhi, the capital of India, at the peril of her own life, to facilitate the accomplishment of the goal of her 6-year-long struggle, i.e.the abolishment of the AFSPA.

However, her daring mission was brought to an abrupt halt when she was arrested by the New Delhi police on her second day in the city.

It said that Lenin Raghuvanshi and the People's Vigilance Committee On Human Rights, PVCHR) led by him, have put up vehement resistance against the caste system through various social activities, including the supporting of torture victims in 5 northern states with 50,000 members participating, and the operation of education centers in 45 provinces for the numerous number of local children.

This organization has developed into a nationwide and worldwide network composed of legal experts, journalists, human rights advocacy groups, etc.

Also, its leader has brought hope back to the minds of more than 3,500 bonded child laborers and those suffering human rights infringements prompted by the caste system, especially to the untouchables.

In its message, the statement said the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights will provide boost in their further struggles.

It can make the two awardees and their struggles known to a wider audience while offering them the strength and courage required to complete their journey towards their goals and believe that there lies the principal objective of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.

The committee for this year prize comprises of Committee Chairman: Lee, Hong-Gil, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the May 18 Memorial Foundation Committee Members: Kim, Chil-Jun, Secretary General of the National Human Rights Commission, Jeong, Ui-Yong, Korean National Assemblyman, Moon, Guk-Joo, Executive Director of the Korea Democracy Foundation, Cha, Sung-Hwan, Director of the Pusan Democratic Movement Memorial Association Bijo Francis.

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