[Reader-list] [Announcements] CALL FOR ACTION: SHARMILA, MANIPUR & THE AFSPA

[Kavita Joshi [Impulse workshops]]

CALL FOR ACTION: MASS DEMONSTRATION AT ITO AGAINST AFSPA
SUPPORT IROM SHARMILA, THE PEOPLE OF MANIPUR AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE AFSPA

 


On 9th October 2006, Irom Sharmila refused all medical attention. Sitting in her hospital room in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), she resolutely withdrew the force-feed tube from her nose against all medical advice. 

 

Sharmila Irom has been on a fast-to-death for almost six years now. Six years without proper food, without a drop of water touching her lips. Six years without meeting her mother, and rarely being allowed access to her family. Six years of being held under arrest repeatedly on charges of "attempted suicide" by the government.

 

Sharmila's demand is simple - repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958. But this is a demand the Indian government is simply not prepared to listen to. The Armed Forces Special Powers Act is a particularly black piece of legislation that gives the authority to India's armed forces, to arrest, search or destroy property without warrant; to shoot - and even kill - on suspicion alone. What is more, it gives the armed forces near-total immunity against any judicial action. Sharmila's home state of Manipur has been reeling under this act for decades now. So have large parts of North-Eastern India. 

 

On 4th October this year, Sharmila arrived from Manipur to Delhi to continue her epic fast on the streets of Delhi. For days and nights, she camped and slept on the footpaths of Delhi, at Jantar Mantar. Thereafter, in a characteristic midnight swoop, a large force of over a 100 police personnel picked up Sharmila and detained her at AIIMS on the night of Friday the 6th. Once again, her crime was - attempted suicide! 

 

Sharmila is currently under arrest in Delhi, at AIIMS.  


 

URGENT CALL FOR ACTION: JOIN US:

Mass Demonstration against AFSPA 1958

Venue: ITO, Delhi   |  Date: 11 October 2006   |  Time: 11:00 AM

(Bring your protest banners)

 

Call for action issued by several civil society organisations. For more information, contact:

Mail: msad_manipur at yahoo.com | adissent at yahoo.co.in


Phone: 9899925345 (Malem), 9312314339 (Rojesh), 9811352626 (Banerjit).

 

 

READ MORE ON THIS SUBJECT


READ THE SAHELI AND PUDR FACTSHEET ON AFSPA
please follow this link:

http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/2006/10/armed-forces-special-powers-act-1958.html




READ THE:  BARE ACT OF THE AFSPA 1958 
please follow this link:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA200252005
A pdf will open. Go to Appendix I, page 25
or else, go to:
http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com/2006/10/afspa-bare-act.html

 

READ NANDINI SUNDAR'S ARTICLE ON SHARMILA IN TOI 

When we first heard of Irom Sharmila in 2004, she had already been fasting for four years in protest against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). In July that year, a young woman, Manorama, had been killed.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/2132074.cms



READ KAVITA JOSHI'S INTERVIEW OF IROM SHARMILA IN TEHELKA

Young, stoic and dogged, Irom Sharmila has been on a fast-unto-death since November, 2000. She wants the repressive Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act repealed. The Act gives draconian powers to the security forces 

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main17.asp?filename=Cr032506_Iroms_iron.asp


READ KARTYK VENKATARAMAN ON IROM SHARMILA'S ARRIVAL IN DELHI; INDIAN EXPRESS

Manipur's most famous protestor, Sharmila Chanu, poses a tough dilemma for
the national government
http://www.indianexpress.com/story/14153.html



READ SIDDHARTH VARADARAJAN ON THE AFSPA; IN THE HINDU

The question of repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act needs
to be debated publicly in the light of the Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy
Committee's report.
http://www.hindu.com/2006/10/10/stories/2006101002661100.htm

 


MORE PRESS COVERAGE LINKS ARE AT

http://manipurfreedom.org/press



***





with apologies for the cross posting...

----------------------------
Kavita Joshi
http://kavitajoshi.blogspot.com

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