Nation-wide oppose to government's refusal to a peaceful fast in support of Irom Sharmila
- Save Sharmila Campaign -

New Delhi, 10th December, 2011 *

Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign organized a press meet at Press Club Lawn today. Renowned activists Medha Patkar, NAC member Aruna Roy, Shabnam Hashmi, Prof Nandini Sunder spoke to press about the initiatives taken by campaign.

After getting denied for permission to observe a day long fast at Rajghat, campaign members organized a peace prayer inside Rajghat and call for a Nation wide fast to register the protest.

"For some months now, Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) has been spreading the word about Irom Sharmila and her cause across the nation and beyond. Started only by few organizations, campaign has now received support over more than 80 organizations and movements and thousands of supporters. Campaign has reached in almost every state of India and even outside.

Campaign has organized various programs including its famous Nationwide Signature Campaign, Sri Nagar- Imphal Save Sharmila Jan Karwan and Ahemdabad- Srinagar Jattha. With its signature campaign which was launched on 2nd October, the Campaign has tried to spread the movement and awareness in public and gathered support in the form of signatures." Briefed about the campaign by Manisha Kaushik, a volunteer associated with campaign.

On 10th December which is also the International Human Rights Day, the signature campaign was to be culminated with a day-long hunger strike by social activists, majorly the women activists and students and submission of the signatures (in the form of memorandum) to the President of India. However, the Delhi Police had denied permission for the fast on flimsy grounds of “law and order”. This is unacceptable in a democratic state.

It is clear that the Government fears the growing public support for Irom Sharmila and her cause and is now intent on suppressing our voices. Therefore, the Campaign then decided to protest against this unconstitutional and authoritative attitude of the Government. It called for a nation-wide opposition to Government’s refusal to the peaceful fast. People across the country were asked to observe a day-long fast.In Delhi, a prayer meeting was organized at Rajghat, at 9 AM.

Medha Patkar remarked, “This refusal reveals the fear of the Government. This is a masked dictatorship rather than democracy. Laws like AFSPA are weakening the democracy and thus it must be repealed. However first there should be a debate and communication on the higher political level and sacrifice and non violent fast of Irom should not be ignored.”.

Shabnam Hashmi raised her concerns to save our right to freedom of speech and issue of Irom Sharmila.

Aruna Roy added, “First, they suppressed Irom Sharmila and now they are suppressing us. This is not a democracy. We will raise every voice to tell the government that it is violating the democratic values. I convey my wishes to campaign and I am always here to support save sharmila campaign to express my solidarity with Irom”.

Prof Nandini Sunder told that in the democracy, we have every right to express our concern and problems. If irom is fasting to repeal a law, it doesn't mean that government will treat Irom like a criminal.

“ After denying the permission for our proposed one day fast at Rajghat, we did all possible efforts to get the permission but even after contacting at various levels of administrations, they didn't allowed us” told Devika, a PG student in SAARC university.

Documentry maker Shaheen told “The Government has suppressed our call for saving human rights on the human rights day. What else is there to say? And we tied black ribbons on our arms to register our protest”

Ms. Anandi from JPF spoke to people in Manipuri which was later translated in English.

The Campaign plans to strengthen its mass support with more events in the public spaces in coming days.Members of the campaign expressed their concern on this issue and told that non violence should not be ignored. They demanded that jeevan reddy committee report, Moily report and recent kashmir interlocuters reports should be made public.

Campaign is demanding to start steps to resolve the issue of human rights violation through steps of talk. They demanded from the government to talk with Irom, to send all party representative committee including rights activists and to send members of NWC and NHRC to examine the cases of violation there. They agreed that such laws are making the country weak and there is no place for such laws in democracy.

Other people who attended the meeting were Nikhil Dey,Faisal Khan, Babloo and Ms. Anandi from Just Peace Foundation, Aditya Dubey, Ritika Chawla, Shekhar, Madhuresh, Shaktiman Ghosh, Mona Jha, Tanaya, Vimal Bhai, Jugal Kishor Shastree, MH Gandhi, Shahehnaz Malik and others. People from all walks of life participated in the campaign's today's program. All volunteers of campaign registered their protest through observing fast. Government can deny to give place for fast, but cannot stop the fast.

Campaign members conveyed their thanks to all including media.

Thanks & Regards
Devika Mittal/Shaheen
Volunteers of Save Sharmila Campaign