Imphal: Manipuri political
activist Irom Sharmila will break her 16-year long hunger strike against the
Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act on Tuesday.
Sharmila has been
campaigning against AFSPA — which provides special powers to handle insurgents
in the North East and Jammu and Kashmir also.
The 42-year-old activist,
also known as Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’ had announced on July 26 to end her hunger
strike on August 9, the next date of her court hearing.
She made the announcement
in the court of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal west, L. Tonsing.
Sharmila also announced
that she will marry and contest the Manipur assembly elections next year as an
independent candidate.
She was termed a ‘Prisoner
of conscience’ by Amnesty International and recipient of various prizes.
Sharmila has declined food or drink for the last 16 years, seeking repeal of
the controversial AFSPA. She is on forcible nose feeding.
Sharmila began a hunger
strike in November 2000, following the killing of 10 civilians by security
forces. She was arrested by the Manipur government in 2000 under section 309 of
the Indian Penal Code, which prohibits an attempt to commit suicide. In 2004, 30
women protested naked in support of Sharmila in front of the Assam Rifles
headquarters. They held a banner saying "Indian Army rape us" and all
of them were imprisoned for three months.
When she takes her first
sips of juice today, her 84-year-old mother Shakhi Devi will not be there,
which was interpreted by some as a sign that she is not completely on board
with the big step.
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