SUPPORT IROM SHARMILA
SUPPORT THE PEOPLE OF MANIPUR AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE AFSPA
On 9th October 2006, Irom Sharmila refused all medical attention. Sitting in her tiny hospital room in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS, Delhi), she resolutely withdrew the force-feed tube from her nose against all medical advice.
Sharmila Irom has been on a fast-to-death for over six years now. Six years without food, without even a drop of water touching her lips. Six years without meeting her mother, and rarely being allowed access to her family. Six years of being held under arrest repeatedly on charges of “attempted suicide” by the government.
Sharmila’s demand is simple – repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958. But this is a demand the Indian government is simply not prepared to listen to. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act is a particularly black piece of legislation that gives the authority to India’s armed forces, to arrest, search or destroy property without warrant; to shoot – and even kill – on suspicion alone. What is more, it gives the armed forces near-total immunity against any judicial action. Sharmila’s home state of Manipur has been reeling under this act for decades now. So have large parts of North-Eastern India.
On 4th October this year, Sharmila arrived from Manipur to Delhi to continue her epic fast on the streets of Delhi. For days and nights, she camped and slept on the footpaths of Delhi, at Jantar Mantar. Thereafter, in a characteristic midnight swoop, a large force of over a 100 police personnel picked up Sharmila and detained her at AIIMS on the night of Friday the 6th. Once again, her "crime" – attempted suicide!
Sharmila is currently under arrest in Delhi, at AIIMS.
READ MORE ON THIS SUBJECT
READ KAVITA JOSHI’S INTERVIEW OF IROM SHARMILA IN TEHELKA
Young, stoic and dogged, Irom Sharmila has been on a fast-unto-death since November 2000. She wants the repressive Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act repealed. The Act gives draconian powers to the security forces http://www.tehelka.com/story_main17.asp?filename=Cr032506_Iroms_iron.asp
READ SHOMA CHAUDHURY's SEARING PORTRAIT: THE UNLIKELY OUTLAW
“How shall I explain? It is not a punishment, but my bounden duty…” A haunting phrase in a haunting voice, made slow with pain yet magnetic in its moral force...
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main23.asp?filename=Ne120906The_unlikely_CS.asp&id=1#
and page 2
http://www.tehelka.com/story_main23.asp?filename=Ne120906The_unlikely_CS.asp&id=2
READ HARSH DOBHAL IN COMBAT LAW
New private ward. All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi. As you enter the building, about a dozen policemen...
http://combatlaw.org/information.php?article_id=835&issue_id=31
READ NANDINI SUNDAR’S ARTICLE ON SHARMILA IN TOI
When we first heard of Irom Sharmila in 2004, she had already been fasting for four years in protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). In July that year, a young woman…
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2132074.cms
READ KARTYK VENKATARAMAN ON IROM SHARMILA’S ARRIVAL IN DELHI; INDIAN EXPRESS
Manipur's most famous protestor, Sharmila Chanu, poses a tough dilemma for the national government
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/14153.html
READ SIDDHARTH VARADARAJAN ON THE AFSPA; IN THE HINDU
The question of repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act needs to be debated publicly in the light of the Justice B.P. Jeevan ReddyCommittee's report.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/10/stories/2006101002661100.htm
READ THE: BARE ACT OF THE AFSPA 1958
please follow this link
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA200252005
A pdf will open. Go to Appendix I, page 25. Or, go to:
http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/2006/10/afspa-1958-read-bare-act.html
JEEVAN REDDY COMMISSION REPORT IS NOW ONLINE
http://www.hindu.com/nic/afa/
FACTSHEET ON AFSPA: SAHELI AND PUDR
http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/2006/10/armed-forces-special-powers-act-1958.html
READ MORE ON: MANIPUR CAMPAIGN WEBSITE
http://manipurfreedom.org/
PRESS COVERAGE OF IROM SHARMILA's PROTEST IN DELHI
http://manipurfreedom.org/press/
PHOTO GALLERY OF IROM SHARMILA's DELHI FAST
please see the link on the blogroll
