Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, November 26:
Nobel Peace prize winner Shirin Ebadi today said she would seek support at international fora like the UN for Manipuri woman Irom Sharmila Chanu's struggle against the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
Ebadi, who is in the capital, visited AIIMS today to meet Sharmila, who is on a fast against the anti-terror law, and extended support to her campaign.
Emerging from the meeting, Ebadi waved a poster that appealed to the government to revoke the law.
"I will report to the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights on how this country is violating human rights.
A woman who has been arrested by police two months back is not being produced in Court.
I will also talk to the Indian government about this," Ebadi told reporters.
During the hour-long meeting, Ebadi recorded her conversation with Sharmila and said this will be produced before the UN Human Rights Council as evidence.
"It is a matter of shame for the people and country.
Sharmila has said she will not consume anything until she is produced in Court.
She is very weak and every sentence came out with great difficulty from her mouth," she said.
Terming her meeting with Sharmila as one of the most painful experiences of her life, Ebadi said she had removed the food pipe used to force feed her for the past three days.
Sharmila began her fast to demand the withdrawal of the AFSPA six years ago after some civilians were gunned down by security forces at Malom.
Even as Sharmila was on her fast to demand the repeal of the Act, the State erupted in 2004 following the custodial killing of Th Manorama by Assam Rifles personnel.
Strongly protesting the custodial death, people came out on the streets to demand the repeal of AFSPA.
Manipur was crippled for months and the situation somewhat subsided after the Prime Minister visited the State and announced the formation of the Justice Reddy Committee.