Sharmila's intact spirit comes to the fore, on fast again after release
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 10 2011: Even though the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East has ordered release of anti-AFSPA campaigner Irom Chanu Sharmila, the human rights advocate continued to persist with her demand for total scrapping of the draconian Armed forces' Special Power Act 1959 from the entire State.

After being produced before the Court yesterday, Sharmila was formally released this afternoon from the security ward of JNIMS hospital, where she had been on a fast unto death agitation for over a decade.

Judicial custody for a one year period ended yesterday and as such Sharmila was ordered to leave the security ward.

Her release also set off a mild altercation between activists of Sharmila Kanba Lup and jail officials as the latter insisted that one of the Lup member sign document that she is in the custody of the Lup.

After an understanding was reportedly arrived at between the parties, Lup members brought out Sharmila, who went directly to the porompat PDA Complex office of the Lup to resume her agitation against prolonged imposition of the controversial Act.

Sharmila being released and ready to resume her fast

Speaking to newspersons, Sharmila asserted that there is no question of retracting from her present stance and unless the Act has been completely lifted from Manipur.

Regarding arrival of the President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil to Manipur today, she observed that visit of the President is meaningless to the people of Manipur for there is no end to violation of human rights by the security forces.

Sharmila also desired that as head of the state the president should employ her constitutional obligation to enable the people of Manipur live without any fear or feeling of insecurity, especially from the security forces.

Expressing remorse that her detention in judicial custody on the charge of attempt to suicide, Sharmila stated that her campaign is to fight against injustices and to uphold human rights.

Meanwhile, co-convenor of Sharmila Kanba Lup AK Janaki has claimed that at the instruction of the Government of India to dilute Sharmila's demand for justice a non resident Indian has arrived in the State to meet Sharmila.

Dubbing the NRI identified as one Desmond Anthony as an agent of Indian intelligence, Janaki stated that every move of the individual is being closely monitored.

Despite claiming of being a British citizen hailing from Kerala, Anthony's identity could not be authenticated, she maintained.

Mention may be made that Sharmila launched her agitation since November 2000 in the aftermath of the Assam Rifles gunning down 10 civilians at Malom area in retaliation against an attack by insurgents.