Irom Sharmila's fast completes 11 years, day-long fasts,
sit-in-protests held across the country in solidarity
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, November 05 2011: Deeply shocked and troubled by the Malom incident of November 2, 2000 in which AR troops gunned down 10 innocent persons including a 62 year old woman and 18 year old Chandramani, a 1988 National Bravery Award Winner, Irom Sharmila went on a hunger strike with the blessings of her mother on Nov 5.She was demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA )1958, which she felt had empowered the troops to snuff out the lives of innocent people in such manner.

Eleven years on, today, the AFSPA 1958 still stands and Sharmila's fast still continues.

To mark the completion of her 11-year old crusade and also in solidarity with her struggle, day-long fasts, sit-in protest demonstrations, rallies and public meetings were held in different parts of the country and various corners of the state today.

Act.

Reports have come in of students, common people and civil rights activists in Delhi, Mumbai.

Bangalore, Varanasi, Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Pune and Patna expressing solidarity with Sharmila through meetings, protest march, day long fast, poetry recital and screening of 'Tales from the Margin', a documentary by Kavita Joshi.

Fast and demonstrations were organized in North America, Allahabad Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Medinapur, Tripura, Nagaon, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Tejpur in Assam, Himachal Pradesh Alepy, Kerala, Varodha, Pune, and Bihar.

In the state, to commemorate this historic event, six student bodies joined hands together in demonstrating against prolonged imposition of the Act, which gives sweeping power to security forces, in front of Kangla as well as by taking out a protest rally here today.

Many civil organizations and schools came out in support to the cause.

Pitching their voice against the demand for repealing the draconian Army Act, members of All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU), Manipuri Students' Federation (MSF), Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM), Students' Welfare Association of Kangleipak (SWAK), Students' Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Kangleipak Students' Association (KSA) jointly demonstrated in front of Kangla, starting from 11 am today.

Students from various schools also participated in the demonstration displaying placards inscribed with slogans like 'Save Sharmila, Repeal AFSPA' .

At around noon, a team of Manipur police, who descended at the protest site, prevented the students from continuing their demonstration.

Later on, the student protestors took out a silent rally along Kanglapat line upto DM College campus.

Talking to mediapersons in connection with today's protest demonstration cum rally, General Secretary of DESAM Angamba pointed out that Armed Forces Special Powers Act is being imposed only in North East and Jammu & Kashmir and the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission has described it as inhumane.

President of AMSU Th Suresh observed that the discriminatory attitude of the government of India towards the 11-year old fast unto death stir of Irom Chanu Sharmila is unfortunate.

Vice President of MSF L Umakanta strongly condemned the conduct of a police constable who slapped him while participating in the today's silent protest rally.

One the other hand, similar protest demonstrations demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act were also organized by various civil organizations and schools in different parts today.

These civil organizations and schools include Konjeng Hazari Leikai Youth Development Club (at Konjeng Hazari Leikai); Master Sankey English School (at Irilbung Keirao); Laishram Mani English School (at Kongba Dhobi Lampak); Canchi Academy (at Kha-Naorem Leikai); Sharmila Kanba Lup (at Porompat); Nganuleima Women Welfare Association (at Uripok Khaidem Leikai); Uripok Tourangbam Leikai Women Welfare Association (at Uripok Tourangbam Leikai); Senior Citizens for Society, Manipur (at Nagamapal); Singjamei Keithel Nupi Lup (at Singjamei Thongkhong); students of Target English School, Leimaram Primary School and Leimaram High School (at Leimaram Shanti Bazar); members of Apunba Nupi Lup, Bishnupur district (at Bishnupur Bazar); Bishnupur Keithel Chaokhat Tourang Lup; Thaimei Guigangpao English School, Bishnupur; RKP English School; Bishnupur Public School; Bishnupur Network of Positive (BNP+); Care Foundation; Maruploi Foundation; Women Vendors of Kongba Bazar; Kongba Bazar Welfare Association Nupi Lup; Ancestral Composite Features of Manipur and Research Centre; Manipur People's Party (Behind Pologround); Malom Tulihal Development Committee (at the memorial complex of Malom massacre victims), Film Forum, Manipur (at Lamphel) .

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