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 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.

And 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.

Besides this, another spokesperson of the Lup also reportedly informed that the Lup would be organising a door to door campaign in order to aware the people of the state about the ill effects of AFSPA and thus call for a repeal of the draconian act.

And in a move that could perhaps be termed as a big boost for the Lup in their fight against the state government for the repeal of AFSPA and save Sharmila, the Manipur People's Party (MPP), a prominent political party of the state in the opposition visited the Lup on January 12 last and assured that a committee would be formed at the state government level for the repeal of AFSPA.

While assuring their stance, O.Joy Singh, member of Manipur Legislative Assembly (MLA) and a leader of the MPP affirmed that Sharmila's goal would be definitely achieved however, asserted that some of the political parties were being apathetic towards the repealing of the AFSPA.

Th.Chaoba, former Member of Parliament and leader of MPP also accused the state government for not taking any initiatives in repealing the AFSPA from the state, as per the reports.

What is worth noting here is the fact that the Lup had reported sent a petition to meet all the political parties on the issue of AFSPA and to save Sharmila.

But, as per reports, the MPP is the only political party to have met the Lup.

There has been no any reports of the state government having met the Lup thus drawing speculations once again that it is well ignoring the plight of Sharmila and the Lup.

Dr Sandeep Pandey, National co-ordinator of National Alliance for People's Movement while visiting the veteran lady at the JN hospital in Porompat, Imphal East asserted that one of the prior duties of the state government was to solve the problems of the people of the state and bring peace.

As per reports, Dr.Pandey also held that enforcing draconian law such as AFSPA in the state would only add to the problem of the state and opined that political dialogue could help solve the problem.

He also reportedly held it sad that the Indian and Manipur government were still silent on the draconian law of AFSPA in the state.

However, amidst all these calls for the repeal of AFSPA in the state and save Sharmila from her present status, there still remains uncertainity over the acts of the state government; eight years of Sharmila's struggle and over two months of the Lup's agitation but no respite from the side of the government.

It is certain that the agitations will continue till a solution is found.

But here again, it is a question of when the solution would be brought about.

Till then, the agitations will perhaps, continue.

Comment