Dignified 10 Years Of Fasting Demanding Revocation Of AFSPA
Sharmila : Role model for all oppressed people
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 02 2010: Even as a large number of artistes led by eminent film maker Aribam Syam Sharma staged a day-long fast at Khoyathong here today in support of Irom Sharmila Chanu's ongoing campaign against AFSPA, a five day-long observation to mark completion of her ten years of struggle has started.

Talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, Syam Sharma said, '"We are showing our solidarity to Sharmila's never ending struggle against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Now her campaign is due to complete ten years and this is a rare event in the history of mankind".

Harsh Mander cuts the ribbon to mark the start of the festival and a local artiste performing

A recipient of the prestigious Grand Prix award for his film 'Imagi Ningthem' (My son, my precious), Sharma said that the people should encourage Sharmila's indomitable spirit and unitedly stand by her to save her life.

Sharma, who bagged the Dr V Shantaram lifetime achievement award in Mumbai International Film Festival (Miff) in 2008, also appealed to all to pray for Sharmila's campaign and fast for a day within the five day long observation that ends on Saturday.

Participating in the demonstration, noted cinematographer Anjali Sukla from Lucknow quipped "We express our solidarity to Sharmila's unrelenting struggle" .

Film maker Bani Prakash Das, who bagged the National award for his film "Distant Rumblings", categorically stated that the Army Act has no place in the civilized world and hence it should be scrapped.

The Government should honor and fulfill Sharmila's demand, he demanded.

Besides film personalities, a horde of eminent singers , actors and technicians also joined the demonstration organized under the aegis of Thangmeiband United Art and Culture Organization, of which Sharma is the president.

Meanwhile various civil bodies led by the Just Peace Foundation (JPF) kicked off the fiveday-long observation christened "The Festival of Hope, Justice and Peace" at JNMDA.