The Irony of the situation
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: October 04, 2012 -

Paintings on Spirit of Irom Sharmila (with the Mahatma in the background) :: Neogene Artists

Yet another birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi has passed away with every sundry public leader extolling the philosophy of the 'Father of the Nation" and its relevance in present society, while a true Gandhian is languishing in judicial custody on alleged charge of 'attempt to suicide' for almost 12 years now.

Carried away in their high spirited speeches, these so-called public leaders may have failed to see or simply put blinkers over their eyes, but the irony of the situation was not lost to the common people.

Non-violence resistance or Satyagraha had always been the founding principle of Mahatma Gandhi's spirituality and the bedrock of his political philosophy, which he had used as an effective tool in fighting against the hegemony of the British during India's freedom struggle.

Protesting against the divide and rule policy of the British that led to a deadlock between the British Viceroy and Indian leaders, Mahatma Gandhi undertook the longest fast of 21 days in 1943 bringing every one down on their knees.

On the other hand, we have Irom Chanu Sharmila, a frail but gutsy 'Iron Lady', who has been fasting for almost 12 years now demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, a 'dated and colonial-era law that breach contemporary International human rights standards', to borrow the words of UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navnetham Pillay.

Could there be any greater irony than this?

Irom Chanu Sharmila is not a political leader or a relative of any of the victim who got killed by security personnel with impunity guaranteed under Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

She is just a human rights activist who could no longer remain silent over the suffering of innocent people under an outdated draconian law thrush upon them in the name of counter militancy.

Sharmila, then only 28 years old, finally decided to go on a fast unto death demanding repeal of the Act after security personnel gunned down 10 innocent civilians at a bus waiting shed at Malom on November 2, 2000 in what has been described as an act of revenge over bombing by an insurgent group on an Army column the previous day.

Over the last 11 years, Sharmila's 'unparalleled' struggle has caught the attention of the world and even echoed in the United Nations.

But the Act is yet to be repealed and Sharmila's fight continues despite that fact that Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission, which was instituted by the Government of India itself, had earlier recommended repeal of the draconian Act.

Here, what we would like to point out is that India is not the only country in the world fighting militancy.

But nowhere such draconian Act has been evoked to fight against its own people.

Armed Forces Special Powers Act is not just an archaic law but also a symbol of oppression and instrument of high-handedness by those who are supposed to protect the life, liberty and dignity of the people.

Is there anyone out there, who thinks India has the moral right to press for UN Permanent Security Seat while closing its ears to the voice of Irom Chanu Sharmila?