Frontline, Dublin's Urgent Appeal on Sharmila
Dublin, Ireland *
Dear Editors/Correspondents
Please find the attached Urgent Appeal on Sharmila from Frontline, Dublin.
I am glad to mention that this appeal is carried out under the initiative of Human Rights Initiative(HRI).
It is sent to the Indian Government, the United Nations OHCHR, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and European institutions. This
appeal is also posted on the Front Line website at
www.frontlinedefenders.org
In solidarity
Sanasam Satyabati
Administrator
Human Rights Initiative
12 March 2010
Re: India – Re-arrest of human rights defender Ms Irom Chanu Sharmila
Human rights defender Ms Irom Chanu Sharmila was re-arrested on 10 March 2010 and charged
with attempting to commit suicide. Irom Chanu Sharmila had just been released from the security
ward of Jawaharlal Nehru (JN) Hospital two days previously, 8 March 2010.
She has been on
hunger strike since 2 November 2000 in protest against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of
1958 (AFSPA) which gives power to officers of the Indian Armed Forces to shoot anyone
suspected of being an insurgent in so-called “disturbed areas”. The Act also stipulates that the
central government must give its permission to prosecute any officer of the armed forces, which in
effect grants them almost complete impunity.
Irom Chanu Sharmila began her hunger strike on the
same day that the Indian Armed Force known as the Assam Rifles killed ten innocent people in
Malom, Manipur. At the time the army refused to initiate an inquiry into the massacre claiming that
the officers had acted with the authority given to them under AFSPA.
On 10 March 2010, at approximately 4.20 pm, Irom Chanu Sharmila was re-arrested by a team of
Porompat Police at the shed of Sharmila Kanba Lup, a voluntary body based in Porompat which
forms part of the Save Sharmila Campaign. Irom Chanu Sharmila was continuing her hunger strike
at the time of her arrest.
She has been charged with “attempting to commit suicide” under Section
309 of the Indian Penal Code which carries a sentence of “simple imprisonment for a term which
may extend to one year” and/or a fine. On the evening of 10 March 2010, she appeared before the
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Imphal and was remanded in custody until 24 March 2010.
The authorities have released Irom Chanu Sharmila every year since 2000 only to arrest her
shortly afterwards again on the same charge.
Over the decade long period during which Irom Chanu Sharmila has been on hunger strike she
has been detained in the security ward of JN Hospital under the judicial custody of Sajiwa Central
Jail. The authorities have conducted enforced nasal feeding in order to keep her alive.
Front Line believes that the repeated arrest and detention of Irom Chanu Sharmila are directly
related to her human rights activities, in particular her peaceful protest against the Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act of 1958. Front Line fears for the physical and psychological integrity of Irom
Chanu Sharmila.
Front Line urges the authorities in India to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally release Irom Chanu Sharmila and drop all charges against
her, as Front Line believes that she is being held solely as a result of her legitimate and
peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Ensure that the treatment of Irom Chanu Sharmila, while in detention, adheres to all those
conditions set out in the ‘Basic Principles for Treatment of Prisoners', adopted by General
Assembly resolution 45/111 of 14 December 1990;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in India are able to carry out
their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions
including judicial harassment.
Front Line respectfully reminds you that the United Nations Declaration on the Right and
Responsibility of Individuals, Groups and Organs of Society to Promote and Protect Universally
Recognized Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, adopted by consensus by the UN
General Assembly on 9 December 1998, recognises the legitimacy of the activities of human rights
defenders, their right to freedom of association and to carry out their activities without fear of
reprisals.
We would particularly draw your attention to Article 1: “Everyone has the right,
individually and in association with others, to promote and to strive for the protection and
realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international levels”, and
to Article12 (1): “(1) Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others, to
participate in peaceful activities against violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms”.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Lawlor
Director
Read the entire appeal here (PDF - 212 KB)
* This information was sent to e-pao.net by Sanasam Satyabati (HRI). The sender can be contacted at hrimanipur(at)gmail(dot)com
This article was webcasted on March 27th 2010.
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