Nationwide fast against AFSPA on Nov 5
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 29 2011: In support of the 53 years old people's struggle against Armed Forces Special (Powers) Act, 1958 (AFSPA) and supporting the cause of Irom Chanu Sharmila in her 11 years old struggle, a nationwide fast campaign will be carried out on November 5, organized by the Save Democracy, Repeal AFSPA Group.

Addressing media persons, Seram Rojesh, Co-ordinator, Save Democracy, Repeal AFSPA Group, said that the All India One Day Fast and Demonstration against the removal of AFSPA, the black law, will be carried out in Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat and Bihar etc on November 5 .

Various CSOs, students' organizations, professional groups, women groups, theatre activists, academic community and individual groups will be taking part in the fast.

The nationwide one day fast will be organized by various organizations including Save Democracy, Repeal AFSPA Group, Manipur Students Association, Delhi, Just Peace Foundation, Yuv Bharat, National Alliance for People's movement, Saheli, Manipur Meetei Association, Bangalore, Tripura Manipuri Students Youth, Janta Prama Samiti, Kolkata, Rural Welfare Society, Assam, All India Students Federation, All India Students Association etc, he said.

Kh Anandi of Just Peace Foundation, a Manipur-based body promoting Sharmila's campaign, also shared similar sentiments during the press briefing in presence of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom(WILPF).

Sharmila, 38 who has been on a hunger strike will be completing 11 years of her struggle on November 5 "We believed that army cannot bring peace.

We'll be able to bring international opinion on this," newly appointed Vice President Ila Pathak of WILPF said.

For more than 10 years Irom Sharmila's protest has been ignored by government of India.

Her presence of the army indicates the enormity of the crimes committed in the name of maintenance of law and order in the state.

Ila's organisation has been demanding the centre to initiate a dialogue with Sharmila, sending an all party delegation to assess the situation in Manipur, referring the complaints of atrocities on people to National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Women for free and fair investigation and a special team of doctors to be deputed for medication and health recovery of Sharmila.

On Thursday, a 25 member activists team concluded their 4500 km nationwide march 'Jan Caravan' covering more than 10 states for mobilizing public opinion on revoking the AFSPA from Jammu and Kashmir and North-East India.

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