NEW DELHI, October 8: Irom Sharmila appeared in the Delhi Court on 6 and 7 October for the trial of the 2006 Jantar Mantar Case where Delhi Police lodged a case against her in section 309 of attempt to suicide, and during the hearing, she reiterated her truth that she is not committing suicide, instead she is appealing to protect the right to life, said a press release by Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC).
It said, SSSC volunteers met her during her court appearance, and in the hearing, she also reiterated the undemocratic and draconian effects of AFSPA and appealed for its repeal.
In the press release, SSSC stated that they consider the hearing as a way of suppression of voices of human rights and lodging her in jail with the reason of attempt to suicide, is a judicial failure and disrespect of human rights of world’s largest democracy.
If India is really serious to be known at global level with powers to take part in policy making and advisory for global issues through UN, it must have first and primary requirement of respecting human rights, said Ravi Nitesh, Convener of SSSC in the press release.
It said, SSSC supports Irom Sharmila in all her endeavour and struggle and the campaign has been continuously working since last many years against AFSPA, and moreover the campaign keeps its faith upon non violence struggle of Irom Sharmila and considers her as its leader.
SSSC has worked nationwide in last years to highlight struggle of Irom Sharmila and has organised numerous events, public demonstrations and other activities in almost all states of India and in few other countries to advocate Repeal of AFSPA from all regions, including state of North East Region and of J&K, and SSSC believes that its struggle is against state repression that anyone can see through AFSPA that is imposed in J&K and states of North east region, and therefore struggle will continue against all human rights violations by security forces in these regions, said the press release.
It further said, there have been many incidents of brutal mass-rapes that have been reported in past and justice still elude the victims, which have been proved not only by human rights’ organisations but also by government-appointed committees.
In the press release, SSSC has demanded the government to immediately pay attention towards repealing of AFSPA and also demanded both the state and central government to coordinate and cooperate with each other to end the impasse over AFSPA, for which, state leadership of central ruled party has already promised to repeal AFSPA in Manipur.
AFSPA creates corruption and becomes dangerous with absolute power diverting the normal way of working of security force personnel, which could be proven with so many examples and incidents of killings, rapes and disappearances by the security officials but nothing could be done against them even if evidences were provided before courts due to impunity under AFSPA (section 7), said SSSC in the press release.
SSSC further stated in the press release that India is being honoured globally but the undemocratic and inhuman act is also working to tarnish the image of the country and the demand to repeal AFSPA is not only at national level but also at a global level with international human rights’ organisations and activists advocating for it.
SSSC will continue its efforts and will be organising protests and active campaigning in coming months for advocating Repeal of AFSPA from everywhere, stated SSSC in the press release.
