This is the fourteenth year since Irom Chanu Sharmila began
her hunger strike demanding the repeal of AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers
Act), but with no result. On 2 November 2001, ten persons who were waiting at a
bus stop snear Imphal valley were shot dead by the paramilitary forces apparently
for no reason. The blood-curdling incident angered the citizens of Manipur, one
of the North-East States. Irom Chanu Sharmila, shocked and angered on hearing
the incident went on a fast unto death demanding the government at the centre
to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which was given a blank
cheque entrusting them to roam around the entire North Eastern States and
ensure that peace prevailed across the entire North East and Jammu &
Kashmir in the North. And in order to silence any sign of protest the Army
without seeking permission of the government suppressed the trouble makers
either male or female citizens who braved the Army were ruthlessly shot and
raped them mercilessly until the disintegration of rebellion.
No governments either led by Indian National Congress led
alliance or BJP led National Democratic Alliance kept mum on listening to the
incidents in the North-East.
Now Irom Chanu Sharmila in her 14th year of fast
has determined to continue her fast until AFSPA is repealed. The Government forseeing
a burning Manipur or in other words a
towering inferno in case Irom Sharmila is dead, forcefully fed her liquid food
through her nostrils right from the day her health was deteriorated.
She is often arrested and released since the court’s order
prevailed.
AFSPA was slapped in the North-East by the rulers in 1958. Even
after such a long period they stick on with the AFSPA in order to have at least
a graveyard silence.
Human Rights Activists after visiting Irom Sharmila wanted
the immediate withdrawal of the draconian act but to no avail. Even Sharmila herself
wrote to the former Prime Minister Dr.ManMohan Singh to repeal AFSPA. He didn’t
have the courtesy to respond to her demand.
As to one reason why the successive govts keep away from
repealing the Act is the protests of the Army.
The then Honourable Supreme Court Judge Jeevan Reddy
Commission after the successful completion of enquiry came to the conclusion
that AFSPA need to be repeated. On going thru the contents those at the helm of
affairs kept the enquiry report in safe custody. Govt virtually did nothing and
we often wonder why the ruling mandarins invited the honorable Judge to conduct
an enquiry.
Now that BJP alone has won at the hustings in the 2015-16
General Elections and NDA Alliance led by BJP has cared two hoots to the
demands of the activists for repealing AFSPA – the draconian act.
It is a conclusion foretold that no govts in the ensuing
years are supposed to repeal AFSPA. And it would be better if Irom Sharmila
ended her fast and saved her life. No solution seems to be in sight to repeal
the act.
1 comment:
Dear Sir,
Your points are well considered, but, I think we have to realize that our dearest Sharmila's use of the Fast, is as deepest Prayer, not protest. She cannot reason or protest with an unthinking, unfeeling, brutality such as she has had to experience. Her Fast is in the spirit of Gandhi's, as a prayer to Almighty God, who is the Lord of All his Creatures, who lives in their innermost heart, to hear her anguish and pain, at the senseless actions of those around her.
While it would perhaps, bring both you and I, a sense of relief if she were to eat, her work is with conscience. This is something so subtle, and yet, so powerful, so all pervasive, that thousands upon thousands of people all over the planet are aware of Irom Sharmila, aware of the brutal situation in Manipur. All are watching with silent grimness, Including myself, presently here in Sweden, peace-groups in Denmark, etc.
Her use of the Fast has raised the standard of what being a human being means world wide. What our potentials are; we are not the body, but rather our activator within, whose majesty we can catch a glimpse of through pure intention, as Sharmila has shown and continues to show us.
I too, long for her suffering to end in happiness, in a festival of joy, as we all see her eat, cut her nails, take a bath, and enter into 'normal human life'. She has said she wants to marry, and why should she not have the same opportunities as others?
She has denied them to herself in pursuit of something much greater for all of us; so many eat lunch while outside the door is starvation, while innocents are bombed and raped a few feet away. Sharmila stands as a reminder to us that we are human, meant to be humane to each other, meant to care deeply about each other, meant to stand up for each other, meant to take actions for each other, as befits real brothers as sisters under one Creator.
Its uncomfortable to see and bear, it hurts terribly, for as Gandhi's did, her Fast scorches our jaded consciences. Pray give her your respect and support for her chosen direction, and consider too, the value of human liberty used as she has chosen to.
With humble regards,
PK Willey, Ph.D.
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