Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike since 2000 demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA), completed 12 years of fast on Monday, November 5. Irom Sharmila began her hunger strike after the brutal kiling of ten civilians by Assam Rifles at Malom on November 2, 2000 following an ambush by armed militants. Nobody believed then that she would be so firm in her resolve for repeal of AFSPA, which had been responsible for a long spell of ‘undeclared emergency’ in Manipur and the Northeast region as a whole. Days into her self-imposed indefinite fast, the government resorted to forced feeding through her nasal cavity. She had at times flung away the nasal set feeding liquid foods into her system and had reverted to indefinite fast during brief spells of release from judicial custody at JNIMS hospital. The nasal set had indeed become a symbol of her struggle against the draconian act. Yet, the fact remains that she had not taken a morsel of solid food through her lips these last twelve years and is a feat unparalleled in history. Awards including the Gwangju Award besides several epithets continue to be heaped on the person of Irom Chanu Sharmila. And her iconic struggle had been celebrated throughout the world through books and events. Personalities and top politicians visiting the state of Manipur make it a point of visiting her in her hospital room designated as judicial custody. But, not all are welcome as visits are centrally controlled through the Chief Minister’s office and one has to go through bureaucratic maze before getting an appointment with Irom Sharmila. Yet, it is easy if one knows the right strings to pull. The question now is, what has her struggle achieved? Her demand for repeal for the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is still elusive. Despite recommendations by the government’s own Jeevan Reddy Committee and Administrative Reforms Commission besides the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s promise of a more humane law instead of AFSPA, the law is still there stuck in the corridors of Indian establishment. While the Defence and Home ministry measures its options on AFSPA, the killings and violation of human rights by both the armed forces empowered by the law and forces outside the purview of the law continue unabated in the state. As we said before, the law AFSPA is very infectious. Although the police forces are not specially empowered by the law, the air of impunity enjoyed by armed forces encourages police personnel to ape them and their illegal actions. In short, nothing towards repeal, withdrawal or amendment of the draconian law has been achieved through Irom Sharmila’s struggle. But, Sharmila’s unique struggle has been able to capture the attention of the nation and the world on the state of affairs in this remote corner of India. There has been a show of solidarity from all corners of the world and it is getting the attention of the Indian civil society. In commemoration of Sharmila completing 12th year of fast against the infamous Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) on November 5, volunteers and supporters of the Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) observed a day-long fast at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on November 5. Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign(SSSC) is a nation-wide struggle against the neglect and suppression of Irom Sharmila. Yes, it is quite an achievement. But, Sharmila’s Gandhian approach find few takers among the Indian establishment, even after 12 long years. So, has the time come for Irom Chanu Sharmila to forsake the non-violent approach and take up an approach which could get instant attention? It is for Sharmila to decide.
