Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, August 26
[dropcap]A[/dropcap]s a mark of showing support to the movement launched by Irom Chanu Sharmila demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSP) and also showing solidarity to her on the hardship due to the harsh treatment of the police personnel after she was released on August 19, a public rally cum meeting was held today here in Imphal. Under the banner “Torture and Inhuman treatment on Irom Chanu Sharmila”, the rally was participated by large number of people from various places of the state.
The rally was flagged off by social activist, Rose Mangshi from Bamon Leikai, near basketball ground and later the crowd assembled at Wangkhei Multipurpose community hall where a meeting was also held.Jointly organised by different civil organizations and human rights activists, various slogans such as “Let us jointly move the mountains and save Sharmila”, “Let us grant Sharmila her desire to eat by moving jointly”, ”Sharmila is not a criminal, don’t criminalize her again”, “Do or morally resign..No hard faces please” were used by the rallyists.
Speaking at the occasion, president of All Manipur Bar Assoiciation, advocate Khaidem Mani stated that the government is solely responsible for safeguarding and protecting the life of Sharmila who has been fasting for 14 long years demanding the removal of the AFSPA 1958. “Arresting and forcibly nose feeding her to sustain her life will not safe Sharmila’s life but it is a policy adopted by the government to slowly put her to death”, Khaidem Mani alleged.
The noted advocate then said that if the government really cares to save Sharmila’s life, then it should help her by removing the draconian act AFSPA 1958 from the state and completely uproot the Act from the law book. This will save Sharmila and help her to live as a normal person, he stated. The senior advocate further lamented that the 60 MLAs sitting in the Manipur Legislative Assembly have a big responsibility to safeguard Sharmila’s life and end her long years of fast by initiating the repeal of AFSPA from Manipur. He then advised that instead of extending the issue of the Disturb Area Status every six months, the government should take up concrete steps to initiate the removal of the same from all the disturb areas existing in the state.
Meanwhile, M. Sobita, secretary, Women Action Developmennt (WAD) alleged that the government of India treats Sharmila as a second class citizen. “Even if Sharmila has been fasting for fourteen years now, the government of India has not moved an inch in considering her demand. Sharmila’s long years of struggle for repeal of AFSPA from the state is nothing compared to social activist like Anna Hazare’s protests in the form of fasts to which the government of India paid immediate attention”, added Sobita.
The meeting was also attended by Prof. L. Sadananda, former Principal, Manipur college and general secretary, Senior Citizens Society Manipur, senior journalist, Irengbam Arun, president, Rongmei Women Association, Panti Golmei, Ima Nganbi Tourembam, Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System, convenor, women wing, Sitara Begum, president, All Manipur Muslim Women Association and K. Loyalakpa, editor, The Naharolgi Thoudang as presidium members.
