Manipur Iron Lady Resumes Fast Demanding Repeal of AFSPA

Manipur Iron Lady Resumes Fast Demanding Repeal of AFSPA

Irom Sharmila, iron lady of Manipur is on hunger strike for nearly 15 years started from November 2000. Her primary demand to the government is the repeal of AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Acts) which was passed to the Seven Sister States from 1958.

Due to this AFSPA thousands of people were killed in these states includes Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. Multiple armed forces are operating in these Indian states. Also there is an intra-tribal warfare including terrorism and violence. Almost 5500 people were killed in 10 years from 2005 to 2015.

According to this act the militants can search the private properties or arrest the people without warrants. Similarly this act was enforced in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990.

Irom Sharmila is an activist who fights against human rights abuse in Manipur. She started her hunger strike on her home town Malom in Imphal on 2nd November 2000. She refused to take food, water and comb her hair until she achieves her goal.

She was arrested within 3 days of the start of the strike. Being arrested and released many time she did not leave his aim and continued hunger strike till now. She was known as the world's longest hunger striker. She was honored with several awards.

Gwangju Prize for Human Rights (2007), Mayillama Award of the Mayilamma Foundation for achievement of her nonviolent struggle in Manipur (2009), lifetime achievement award from the Asian Human Rights Commission (2010), Amnesty International declared her a Prisoner of conscience (2013).

Sharmila on arrest saving her life the doctors will force her by the nasogastric intubation. Sharmila was released by the judicial custody on Monday resumed her hunger strike with her supporters at Sahid Minar demanding the repeal of the act. She said to the media she will continue her non-violent protest and has confident on attaining her goal.

Manipur Iron Lady Resumes Fast Demanding Repeal of AFSPA