Imphal, February 11 2009: Even as the relay hunger strike called by the "Sharmila Kanba Lup", (Save Sharmila Movement) completes two months, approximately 64 (sixtyfour) days, there seems to be no respite for the Lup.

Even the state government seems to have turned a deaf ear to their cries, for that is what it seems at the moment with no reports of the government looking for a solution "to save Irom Sharmila" nor to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, AFSPA, 1958 against which Sharmila has initiated her fast-unto-death and is supported by the Lup.

Irom Chanu Sharmila, also known as the Iron Lady initiated her fast unto death eight years ago in protest against the ill effects of the AFSPA in the state and a call for the repeal of the same.

However, the state government instead of trying to find a solution to the problem, reportedly arrested Sharmila under IPC 309 on charges of suicide attempt and had forcibly nose-fed her, thus drawing speculations that the government was actually ignoring the plight of Sharmila.

As per reports, she is being kept at the security ward of the Jawahar Lal Nehru (JN) hospital in Porompat of Imphal East and is forcely nose fed under high security.

Meanwhile, supporting her fight for the repeal of the so called draconian law, AFSPA, from the state an organisation known as the "Sharmila Kanba Lup" or Save Sharmila Organisation was formed on December 9, 2008 which resolved to indefinite relay hunger strike to save Sharmila from her present status.

However, with the Lup having completed 64 days of relay hunger strike at the Porompat PDA Complex in Imphal East amidst support from various NGOs and other civil society organisations with a call to 'Save Sharmila', the state government seems to have paid no heed to the cries of the Lup.

Though the Lup was formed on December 9, the relay hunger strike reportedly began on December 10, the day of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and resolved to continue with the agitation untill a solution was brought about by the government.

Since its initiation of the relay hunger strike, about a hundred civil society organisations and NGOs have participated in the agitation and called for a repeal of the AFSPA.

Some of the prominent organisations or bodies consisted of Manipur Tammi-Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup, Women's Association for Civic Action, Kangleipak, Monnu Erikkhombi Lup, United Women's Front, Nongchup Imphal Meira Paibi Apunba Lup, etc.

However, with no respite coming from the part of the state government, the Lup decided to intensify their fight for the repeal of the act and save Sharmila.

Thus, with aims to intensify their strike and draw awareness of a bigger section of the society including the hill districts, a spokesperson of the Lup asserted that the Lup would be organising a district wise hunger strike in order to aware the people of the State.

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