I don’t want to end my life [like a dew drop] without a purpose.’
Irom Sharmila
4-Nov-00 is significant as Irom Sharmila, a 28 year old decided that emulating the Mahatma, by going on an indefinite fast, was the best way to put pressure on the government to withdraw the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Manipur.
What triggered it was the Malom Massacre; The Assam Rifles convoy was attacked near Malom, Manipur by insurgents. AR shoots at civilians at a nearby bus-stop. 10 civilian’s dead, including a 65 year old woman and an 18-year old former National Child Bravery Award winner. What followed was a brutal combing operation – more deaths, rape, plunder – the usual.
The AFSPA has been applied since 1958 in Manipur – they are headed to celebrate the platinum jubilee now that they are done with the golden jubilee.
Once this law comes into force, it allows anyone in the Indian army (or paramilitary) to shoot, arrest or search without any warrant, destroy a dwelling, and even shoot to kill – on suspicion alone. Further, the AFSPA snatches away an aggrieved citizen’s right to seek redress in courts, as no military personnel can be prosecuted without the written consent of the government.
Manmohan Singh appointed the Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy Committee in Nov 2004 which recommended either amending the act or replacing it with a more humane legislation.
Irom Sharmila has been under a ritual of release and arrest every year because under IPC section 309, a person who "attempt to commit suicide" is punishable "with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year [or with fine, or with both]". Irom is force fed nasally every day by a process called Nasogastric intubation.
The current government has promised to look into it and as a first move sent amendments to the AFSPA for the Cabinet’s approval. We hope they will repeal it before Irom gets into her second decade of fasting.
Mark 4-Nov-2010 on your Calendar!
Kavita Joshi’s powerful nine minute movie on Irom Sharmila, My Body My Weapon can be viewed at YouTube @
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xw5vSrRkjE
Details of AFSPA can be found here
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/ASA20/025/2005/en/41fc59d2-d4e1-11dd-8a23-d58a49c0d652/asa200252005en.html
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