Irom Sharmila, Manipur's 'Iron Lady', on Monday completed 12 years of
protest demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act
(AFSPA). On an indefinite fast, Sharmila, who is force-fed through the
nose to keep her alive began her fast till death after ten persons,
including a boy who received the national bravery award, were shot dead
in an alleged encounter with Assam Rifles personnel at Malom near Imphal
airport on November 2, 2000.
A newspaper columnist and social worker then, Sharmila, went on
fast on November 5 that year demanding repeal of AFSPA. She was arrested
a day later and charged with attempt to commit suicide.
She is force fed at a government hospital at Porompat where the ward, she is in, has been converted into a jail. Sharmila has received several global awards and several prominent personalities from different parts of the country have visited her in support of her demands.
The demands of Sharmila is not only a genuine cause but also the whole grievances of north east people especially those from areas declared as disturbed.
According to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), in an area that is proclaimed as "disturbed", an officer of the armed forces has powers to:
* Fire upon or use other kinds of force even if it causes death, against the person who is acting against law and order in the disturbed area for the maintenance of public order, after giving such due warning
* To arrest without a warrant anyone who has committed cognizable offences or is reasonably suspected of having done so and may use force if needed for the arrest.
Depending on Jeevan Reddy commission govt promised to amend the act and ensure 'humane' nature of act, but the promises became an eye wash measures and the act is still being enforced in the following states:
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland , Tripura and Jammu & kashmir.
She is force fed at a government hospital at Porompat where the ward, she is in, has been converted into a jail. Sharmila has received several global awards and several prominent personalities from different parts of the country have visited her in support of her demands.
The demands of Sharmila is not only a genuine cause but also the whole grievances of north east people especially those from areas declared as disturbed.
According to the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), in an area that is proclaimed as "disturbed", an officer of the armed forces has powers to:
* Fire upon or use other kinds of force even if it causes death, against the person who is acting against law and order in the disturbed area for the maintenance of public order, after giving such due warning
* To arrest without a warrant anyone who has committed cognizable offences or is reasonably suspected of having done so and may use force if needed for the arrest.
Depending on Jeevan Reddy commission govt promised to amend the act and ensure 'humane' nature of act, but the promises became an eye wash measures and the act is still being enforced in the following states:
Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland , Tripura and Jammu & kashmir.
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