IMPHAL, February 21: Armed Forces Special Powers Act crusader Irom Chanu Sharmila who has been on a fast for more than 12 years against the draconian law has expressed her displeasure and dissatisfaction with the working of the Just Peace Foundation Trust on the issue.
Sharmila was speaking to media persons at the Lamphel Court Complex after appearing before the 1st Class Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East this morning around 11am.
She further expressed her wish to close down the Trust headed among others by her elder brother Irom Shinghajit and hand over its control to the state Titular King Leishemba Sanajaoba.
Elaborating further, the AFSPA crusader said the trust which was set up in the first place to raise a voice against the Act is unable to perform its main duty and has been reduced to only a “namesake” by organizing a few awareness camps here and there.
Lamenting that she can witness only a few people or only a section of the society showing solidarity to her and the crusade against the act, she asked what the trust has been doing for so many years if it cannot even encourage the people to raise their collective voice and gather mass public support against the AFSPA.
She continued that her present term will end on March 12 and that she would be rearrested on the same charge for attempt to suicide in a day or two after her annual release.
Sharmila also questioned the state government whether imposing the Act in the state is to get a free flow of central funding in the name of insurgency and added that it is only playing with the sentiments of the people of the state.
She said that in the name of law and order, the government has been on a recruitment spree of youths in the police department, while the Ministers, MLAs and the high officials have been collecting bribes to the tune of Rs 5 lakh for a constable and more than Rs 14-15 lakh for the post of Sub-Inspector in the police department.
This clearly shows that the state government is fully corrupted, she added.
Meanwhile, when asked by a reporter regarding the court contempt case against her as filed by the Patiala Court New Delhi, she said though she is not sure, the state government might be sending her to Delhi on March 3.
Irom Chanu Sharmila was remanded to another 14 days of judicial custody by the 1st Class, Judicial magistrate, Imphal East today.