12.11.2006
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Hunger strike for six years in the land of Gandhi
_ ByNava Thakuria
Is it possible for any one to pursue fasting for six long years? Moreover, is it ever believable that a young lady has adopted the hunger strike as a mean of agitation for a social cause? From the medical pint of view, it is impossible to fast for such long period, because our human body needs nutrition regularly. But if some one is committed for the cause and determined to continue the exercise, even though nasal feed by the doctors that is possible.
Meet Irom Chanu Sharmila, a 30-crossed Meitei girl from Manipur, a Northeastern province of India. Burning the fire of non-violence in the land of insurgents, Sharmila has made the extraordinary protest against a black law. She started 'fast unto death' six years back, demanding repeal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 (AFSPA). The Guinness Book of World Records has already recognized Sharmila as the longest surviving fasting individual in the world. According to the Guinness Book, it is the longest protest on a social cause by a single individual anywhere in the world. Sharmila was also one of the '1000 Peace Women', who were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, 2005.
In fact, the curly-haired, fair complexioned Sharmila has changed the face of protest in the insurgency torn Manipur. Located nearly 2400 km away from the national capital, the Myanmar ( Burma) bordering state is home to 30 ethnic groups. Moreover Manipur nurtures near about 25 armed outfits, who are fighting New Delhi with demands ranging from sovereignty to self-determination. Sharmila completes six years of her non-violent protest on November 2. She started hunger strike immediately after the Malom massacre of November 2, 2000 in which the security personnel (of Assam Rifles) killed 10 innocent people.
Today, Sharmila is admitted at All India Institute of Medical Science in New Delhi. A frail Sharmila sneaked to New Delhi on October 3 after a local court in Imphal released her. The lady with endless commitment continued her fast in the national capital. Earlier Sharmila went to Rajghat, the memorial to India's Father of the Nation to pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, who's live inspired her to take the non-violent way of agitation. But soon the Delhi police picked up Sharmila from Jantar Mantar, where she resumed her agitation on October 4.
Later she was admitted in AIIMS to feed forcefully. Sharmila is understood to be arrested by the police under Sec. 309 of the Indian Penal Code on the charge of attempting suicide. Following forced feeding with a nasal tube for the long period, Sharmila has developed severe health complications. Her conditions have deteriorated in the recent months. But she is determined not to give up her fast.
During her fasting days in Manipur, Sharmila was kept in a well-guarded ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in the capital city Imphal. The state police with charges of attempts to commit suicide arrested Sharmila on the third day of her fast-unto-death and she was taken under judicial custody.
On November 20, 2004, Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh assured Sharmila that the government would review the controversial law to fight insurgents in the region. Later, a review committee was constituted by the central government to review the imposition of AFPSA. However, Sharmila remained unmoved. "I will continue my non-violent agitation until my demand is fulfilled," she told government representatives.
In August 2004, Chief Minister of Manipur, Okram Ibobi Singh, tried to persuade her to give up her fast as the state government had lifted the 'Disturbed Area Act' (this act is preliminary essential to impose AFSPA some where) from the Imphal municipal areas. But she refused to entertain the request of the chief minister, as the decision of the cabinet was 'not up to her expectations' (read completely lifting AFSPA from Manipur).
It may be mentioned that, AFSPA that is applied only in Kashmir and Northeast empowers the security forces to arrest people without warrant, and to use excessive force (including shooting or killing, even if the lives of the members of the security force are not at imminent risk). The Act facilitates impunity because no person can initiate legal action against any member of the armed forces for anything done under the Act, without permission of the central government.
AFSPA was first applied to Assam (now renamed Asom) and Manipur and later amended in 1972 to extend to all Northeastern states (of the country), including Nagaland, Tripura, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram. Insurgency-torn Manipur was completely placed under AFSPA in 1980. Manipur has witnessed innumerable killings ever since. The state chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh himself admits, "Over 12,000 security personnel and insurgents, and 8000 innocent people have lost their lives till date."
In the last decade, the armed forces have often been accused of committing brutalities under AFSPA. The brutal July 11 (2004) slaying of weaver Manorama Thangjam, 32, by the men of Assam Rifles sparked off a public outcry. When this failed to elicit any response from the authorities, grief-stricken angry women stripped naked and rattled the gates of Kangla Fort (headquarters of the Assam Rifles), demanding justice.
In 2002, Chief Minister Singh told Sharmila that as the government would not be able to repeal the act, keeping in view the law and order situation of the state, she should withdraw her agitation. Sharmila said in reply, "I love peace very much, but first of all, we must have the right to justice." Later in the year, a frustrated Singh told the Manipur State Assembly that the state government had to spend around Rs 147,000 in two years to keep Sharmila 'alive'.
Sharmila has been supported by a number of human rights workers and social activists in the Northeast India and abroad. From the Imphal based the Human Rights' Alert to Naga Women Union of Manipur and the Hong Kong based Asian Human Rights Commission to Bangkok based Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development share solidarity with her. Support has been poured from Kathmandu based South Asia Forum for Human Rights to London based Institute of Race Relations and Transnational Institute of the Netherlands.The list of supporters is now elongated with the entry of North East Network, Peace Women Across the Globe, Human Rights Law Network, Aman Trust, PEACE, INSAF, SANGAT, ANHAD, KRITI etc.
Born in 1972 to Irom Nanda and Irom Shakhi, Sharmila is the youngest of the 9 children and showed braveness since her childhood. Moreover, despite the struggles, Sharmila keeps alive her creative efforts. She has completed two poetry books in Manipuri language 'Imadi Khongdai Setlaroi' and 'Khunai Kanba Numit' consisting of around 100 poems. She also writes articles in Manipuri language dailies. Her elder brother, Irom Shinghajit, while reiterating that they would not go against her wishes, however, apprehends that Sharmila is already 'half dead'.
Taking queue from all the developments (where the government is still reluctant to address the issue even after her long protest), one might unfortunately observe that New Delhi keeps aside the time and space to respond only violent protests. The legitimate question that may be raised here, that how can India , which prides itself as the largest democracy in the world, ignore the spirit of non-violent movement that was initiated by none other than Mahatma Gandhi?
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