As Irom Shamrila's Hunger Strike Completes 15th Year Total Revocation Of AFSPA Demanded

Press Release

05 November, 2015
Countercurrents.org

The indefinite hunger-strike of Irom Sharmila against the AFSPA will complete its 15th year soon. The state impunity on violence against our own people continues till date

Irom Sharmila, since she was a teenager has been demanding removal of armed forces from India’s North-East for last 15 years. The country and in fact the whole world has recognized her struggle and sympathized with her demand. But neither central government nor state government ever tried to have an open dialogue with her regarding this issue. In the past, we have seen government talking to the armed insurgents but they never have a dialect with Irom Sharmila as they do not have answers to her simple questions.

15 years back, Irom Sharmila has started her fast in Manipur on 4th November after a heinous act of violence. The government has never bothered to address the issue Irom sharmila has been raising. Instead of that, she has been forcefully fed through her nose all these years just to keep her alive.

In these 15 years, she hasn’t eaten anything from her mouth. She stays in a secluded room inside the hospital where nobody can meet her without govt. permission. She has several cases against her in Delhi for which she has to travel to the capital occasionally.
Irom Sharmila has her morals high despite the extreme physical pain and torture. She stands strong with her questions, posing a huge challenge before the state. Her every passing moment is a protest.

Her struggle is to protect the human rights of the common people and uphold the democratic values. It is our duty to take her struggle to its culmination. In this respect, some organizations like:- Khudai Khidmatgar, National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM), Delhi Solidarity Group (DSG), Socialist Party(India), Punjab Sanjhewal, PUCL, SSSC, CNDP, have tried to express their solidarity with Irom sharmilaji and also with this concerned issue.

Vimal Bhanot, Sundaram, Kamla Yadav, Anjum, Faisal and Khudayi Khidmadgar's activists from Delhi & Tamilnadu did a day long fast.

Activists like Dr. Uma Chakraborty, Madhu Prasad, Advocate and woman rights activist Khadijaji, Nadeem from Delhi Solidarity Group, Sanjeev Kumar from Delhi Forum, Dr. Sunilam from Samajwadi Samagam, had visited the Samta Sthal and expressed their solidarity with the Iron lady and also tried to salute her constant and unbroken resistance.

NAPM Conveners said that “the people or activists, who are sitting here in solidarity are the people, who has been supporting Irom Sharmilaji and her cause, should try to spread her message of abolishing or nullifying the AFSPA. And after, Mahatma Gandhi, Irom is the only person who has been fasting for the longest time and she is the best example of using Gandhian ways against the states atrocity”. In the same respect, Sundarumji from CNDP, had tried to condemned the atrocity of state by adding Justice Verma Committee’s repelling point which emphasizes that army men shouldn’t be allowed to take cover under AFSPA in the cases of sexual offences.”

As it’s a need of hour to stand together and express our solidarity against all the state atrocities. We all condemn these types of atrocities and also demand a total revocation of AFSPA from the entire North-East and Kashmir at the earliest!

In Solidarity

Khudai Khidmatgar, National Alliance of People’s Movements, Delhi Solidarity Group, Socialist Party(India), Punjab Sanjhewal, PUCL, SSSC, CNDP

Contact: Qamar Intekhab: 9990505438 | Gargi: 9643062207 | Vimal Bhai: 9718479517 | Shabnam: 9643349452